"At the end of the day people won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel." ― Maya Angelou
AN: Sorry. Just sorry. I lost my flash drive but I had it in a bag I rarely use and forgot it was in there. Yea so this might be a bit heavy for some readers. This chapter is rated M for sure the next one might be too. Just letting you know.
Chapter 9: Changing the Game
I ignore the weird looks from the guards as I walk around the castle courtyard. It was our first night back and I couldn't let anything change. I know my future self said that you can change things but my knowledge of the game only goes so far. If I change even the smallest thing I don't have same knowledge that I would if I don't change anything. Even so I can't help but think that change is inevitable.
Aversa knew who I was and Gangrel knows as well. I don't know what will happen next and that scares me. Losing any advantage in this world is something all people are afraid of. So, you do anything in your power to keep said advantage whether it's shelter, food, or anything else, you work to get money to keep that advantage in the world. An advantage is anything that can help you stay alive and I don't have any confidence in my new abilities, so I need to keep any advantage I have. Like my knowledge of this world and this games story.
I pull an arrow out and string it up. I look around and my eyes stop on a tree next to the gate. I draw, and pull back. 'I have knowledge with new power. But knowledge can be lost in the blink of an eye with a change in your world.' I take a deep breath and let go. The arrow lands lower on the tree than I thought it would. I lower the bow, sigh, and put it away.
"You weren't this bad with a bow in the future uncle." A feminine voice breaks the silence. I turn around. Lucina was standing under a tree near the back of the courtyard. She had a sly smile on her face. Her hair was up and her mask was hanging on her hip by Falchion. I smile and walk over to her. She almost rushed over to me but stopped before she could start. "It's really good to see you again uncle."
"No need to be formal." I say finally standing face to face with her. The top of her head reached my nose. Because it was dark you couldn't see the brand in her eye unless you were looking for it. I looked at her and saw a kid who saw too much shit for how old she was. I smile at her. "You almost ran to me. Why stop?" she blushed and looked away.
"It takes a while to put my hair up like this and it can be ruined very easily." She muttered. I snickered then thought back to the first time we met.
"Didn't you save Lissa with your hair like that?" I ask.
"Why do you think I hid in the woods?" she shot back. It took me a second to register then I laughed my ass off.
"That is too funny and makes so much sense now." I choke out while laughing. Lucina was shushing me and looking around trying to see if anyone would hear. I calm down. She's looking away with a hand on her sword and the other one crossed against her chest. She leaned forward and pulled herself back a couple times before I knew what she wanted. Without warning I pull her into a hug. She gasped but threw her arms around me, burying her head in my shoulder. I heard a muffled sob and rubbed her back.
"I missed you… so much… I am so… sorry for… for…" another sob ending that line of thought. I said nothing and held on to her as she did the same. We stood like that for a minute before she calmed down. She let go and wiped her eyes. "I am sorry. It just came out at once."
"No reason to be sorry. You have gone through a lot."
"You always said that." She said and smiled. "You have gone through a lot for someone so young." She then closed her eyes. "Your future will be better, that I know." Her eyes opened with resolve. I nod.
"Hmm… I must have been pretty wise in the future." I say in a joking tone.
"And humble." She said pouting.
"Who taught you sarcasm?" I ask impressed. When did she learn any form of humor.
"Morgan, you, and Evely-" She cut herself off. I stared at her like I was trying to figure it out, but I knew. My daughter Evelyn. I always liked that name and I knew I had a daughter so it wasn't hard to figure out. Lucina looked nervous.
"So your cousin and brother taught you sarcasm huh." I say casually, trying to gauge her reaction. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened a little bit. But as fast as that came, it went away.
"You said you would find out if I accidentally spilled Eve's name." She said shyly. "It was one of your favorite names, along with Ezra." I nod. We are now, officially, derailing this conversation away from anything important. We are talking about names and not the assassins that are coming tonight. Which is now confirmed because Lucina is here.
"Anyway, tonight's the night?" I ask. She cocked her head to the side confused. Must have gotten that from her mother. She shot straight up.
"Damn, how could I forget." She says and rushes to put on her mask.
"I'm just a good person to have a conversation with I guess." I jokingly say with a smirk and a shrug.
"So humble." She muttered and looked over my shoulder. I turn around to see what she's looking at. Chrom and Robin were talking and I'm surprised we didn't hear them. Robin had a hand on his arm as he was talking about Emmeryn. He was staring at the ground, rambling with a purpose. Robin had worry plastered on her face.
"…But she never let them see her pain. Only Lissa and I understood." Chrom said. He sounded hurt. Lucina tried to brush past me. I grabbed onto her shoulder and gently pulled her back. She shot me a dirty look.
"Not now." I whisper as I move us to the side of the building.
"It must have been so hard…" Robin says with sadness. Lucina shifted a little bit.
"I cannot claim to know…" Chrom starts. I tune him out to ask Lucina a question.
"Is Robin your mother?" I ask. I'm like 900% sure but I just want to know.
"I thought you knew with saying Morgan was my brother earlier?" she shot back quietly. Huh… tripped up by my own words.
"I just like to be sure."
She sighed. "Yes. That's why I call you uncle." Again, another trip up. I sigh and shush her. She looks bewildered but then peeks around the corner.
"She is Peace. But some men would take advantage of that. Men like King Gangrel. The day he understands peace will be the day death gives it to him. … So perhaps I must be death's agent. Emmeryn would never order him killed, nor would I wish her to." Chrom finished. I give Lucina a little shove. She squeaked but composed herself as she walks out.
"Well spoken sir." She says in her fake ass man voice. I hide myself behind the wall just listening to the conversation.
"Marth…" Chrom said.
"Good evening to you." She says.
"How did you get in?" Chrom asks
"The cleft on the left wall, by the maple grove." She answered a tad bit smugly. I snicker as Chrom loses his cool a little bit.
"There? But how would you…?" Ugh."
Chrom, you know the place?" Robin asked.
"Yes. I bashed a hole in the wall, while training with the shepherds. It's only a small hole and I thought it was well concealed, but…" he admitted sheepishly. I peek out from behind the wall. Robin was looking at Chrom with amusement while he was scratching his arm embarrassed.
"Don't worry, your secrets safe with me. I come here to only warn you." Lucina said.
"Warn us?" Chrom asked, confused.
"The exalt's life is in danger." She says.
"What, Emm? That's absurd. She's guarded at all hours." Chrom states as if it was impossible to get to her.
"Come on hurry up." I mutter to myself impatiently tapping my figure against the wall.
"What if… what if I told you I have seen the future? Would you believe me then? Where she is killed. Here. Tonight." Lucina said matter-of-factly.
Chrom and Robin were taken back. "Seen the future?" Robin questioned.
"Have you lost your wits?" Chrom asked. Lucina sighed.
"Yes, I figured you wouldn't believe me. So allow me to prove it." She said with conviction. She pulled out her Falchion. Chrom pulled Robin behind him and put a hand on his own Falchion. Lucina smirked. "I am about to save your life." She paused and pointed Falchion into the bush to her right. "From him."
The bush rustles and Lucina throws her sword into the air. An assassin launched himself from said bush, charging at Lucina. She leaps into the air and catches her sword. During her fall, she slices the assassin and kills him instantaneously. She lands kneeled, looking away from a speechless Chrom and Robin. I smirk. "Showing off for the family. Who's arrogant now?" I mutter.
"I trust this will be enough proof?" she says sarcastically, turning back towards them. Chrom was in awe and it took him a while to answer. I see the other bush rustle. 'Chrom has Falchion, right? No need to intervene.' I think.
"Yeah." He says as Robin steps away. The second bush rustled some more. 'Shit' I think and I pull out my bow. The assassin shoots out aiming at Robin. She froze and hid her face.
"No! Mother!" Lucina screams losing the male voice and rushes the assassin. I wince as I string up my bow and aim it at the assassin. Lucina then falls in my way and Chrom guts him. I release the tension in my arm and with that the arrow accidently. It flies straight into the chest of the downed assassin. Chrom flips around to me and I pale. 'Whelp… shit.'
"Jordan what are you doing here, and…" Chrom turned towards Lucina who was getting up with her mask slashed in half, hair down and finally able to look her parents in the eye without the mask. "…did you call her mother?" She then looked back at me then at Lucina who was looking away now with tears hinting at coming out. "Didn't you come from over there?"
I was about to speak when an explosion rocked the ground. All four of us looked towards the building. "Good questions, for another time. Lucina, Chrom, Robin, we need to hurry and stop the assassination attempt on Emmeryn." Lucina gasped and I cursed myself out in my head. Robin stared intently at the ground and Chrom ran a hand through his hair.
"You better have an answer for this." He states sternly.
"Call the shepherds together and tell them to meet outside Emmeryn's chambers. Lucy can you show me where that is?" I ask ignoring Chrom. Lucina nodded.
"Of course. Follow me uncle." She says, winces, and rushes out of there. I begin to follow when someone grabbed my arm. I turn back to see Robin staring at the ground. She then looked up at me with a firm but nervous expression. Her eyes were watery and her lip quivered.
"What is going on?" she asked, voice wavering. She turned and looked towards the door where Lucina ran off through. "Who was she?" Robin turned back to me. "Who… who are you?" My heart just got crushed by a hammer. Her big dark eyes staring up at me, pleading for answers that she knows will hurt to hear. I grit my teeth lightly and blink a couple tears away. Robin has trusted me for the whole time she was here and I lied directly to her face. Several times. I lied to Chrom and the Shepherds. I lied to Olivia as well. Her and Robin hurts the most.
"A liar." I say and I break out of her hold and run after Lucina. The tears slowly streamed down my face. "Why, why, why!" I shout and kick a bookshelf over while I ran. I regret never telling them. I regret that it had to turn out like this. With the assassin going after Robin means that Validar knows the plot. even with a fresh start the past can come out of know where and kick you in the ass. I ran and didn't deal with it. Like I did with my parents. Like I did with Arron. Like I did with my sisters. Like I did here. I don't fight I run. So why fight now.
"Damnit!" I shout, thinking about it. Why did this happen! I let it happen that's why. Somehow in the future, Grima knows the story and is told Validar and Aversa. She told them early obviously, so that has to mean she is going to change the game and render me useless without my knowledge. No one should have figured it out. Then nothing would have changed and I would be the only one. I sigh as I turn left to see Lucina standing in front of a room. I'm fucking pissed at myself.
"Uncle!" she shouts seeing me. I run straight to her and skid to a stop. "What happens now? I called Robin my mother and you uncle and-"
"Stop." I say putting both hands on her shoulders. I could see she was freaking out. "We will figure it out once we get there, for now defend Emmeryn with your life." Her eyes were darting between me and the door. Her fingers were twitching on Falchions handle.
"Bu-but we changed the story. You told me that I shouldn't tell my parents until after my birth otherwise something terrible might happen." She said nervously. I nod and let go of her shoulders. I run a hand through my hair.
"We have a hole to dig out of now." I say. Lucina loses the nervous look for confusion. She opens her mouth to speak but I cut her off. "It's a metaphor for we have a lot to explain and do." Her mouth shuts. I rub my face and think it over. I shouldn't have been there in the first place. I should have let events carry out the way they should but I was to paranoid. Now look where worrying about things got me. Scared over telling the truth. Truth will set you free but scare the shit out of you first. No more secrets. I sigh and let my hand fall. "We have to tell the truth." Her eyes pop open.
"We can't yet! That could change too much!" She says appalled.
"We have already changed too much to go back!" I retort. "Can you think of anything else we could do?" She looked worried but shook her head. "Then we have too. You don't have to tell Chrom that he is your father."
"Chrom's a father!" A high-pitched squeal scared the shit out of me as I jump into Lucina who fell over because I bumped into her. I turn quickly to see Lissa staring at Lucina. "I thought he liked Robin." Lucina jumped to her feet and waved her hands.
"You have a misunderstanding." She stuttered out. "You simple misheard. Unc- Jordan said that Fa- Chrom is farther away." Lissa looked her up and down then her mouth made an "O".
"Marth? That's what you look like?" she said. Lucina nodded. I looked around and see the other Shepherds rushing in here one or two at a time. Last to arrive was Chrom, Robin and Olivia and I paled. Chrom saw the two of us and the worried expression he had on his face turned into a pissed one. He grabbed Robin and Olivia by the arm.
"Tell me what the hell is going on here right now or I will have you fight all of the assassins on your own." He was pissed and I was scared. Olivia was staring at me with a fearful expression. Small tears pricked her eyes. I think I died then, not sure.
"Jordan…" She starts. "…What's going on?" She is pleading to me and I hate it. My vision starts to get blurry. "Robin told me that you're a liar." I look over at Robin. She was looking to the left hiding her face. "Why?" I turn back to her. The truth will set you free but won't only scare the shit out of you, it'll kick the shit out of you as well. I sigh and feel a tear streak my cheek.
"Because I-" I cut myself of as I see the worry in her eyes and the fear. I hate myself for letting this happen. "Because I am." I say. Robin pulled her arm out of Chrom's and left to talk to the Shepherds. Olivia brought her hands up to her face, covering her mouth and I heard a muffled gasp. I heard voices from the halls and remember why we are here. "I'll explain later, I promise, but right now the Exalt is in danger and we need to protect her." Chrom nodded and walked away. Olivia stood there letting a tear or two fall. I walked up to her and reached out to put a hand on her arm.
"About what?" She asked quietly. I put my hand on her arm.
"About what, what?" I ask.
"What did you lie about?" She asked. More pleading and fear in her voice.
"About who I am?" I tell her. She moves back from my weak attempt at an embrace.
"Who are you?" she asked. I stare at her for a little. Who am I? I am Jordan Meyer, oldest of three children. I have two sisters Grace, and Kelly ages 16 and 14 respectively. I am attending the University of Oregon, majoring in Journalism, minoring in Media Studies. I am 18 years old, almost 19. I am an avid reader, movie watcher, and video game player, who likes the plots and stories over anything else. I won a state award for journalism in Colorado in high school and my basketball team took 5th in state. All those things don't matter here. I have no accomplishments here. I was just shoved in here for the shits and giggles I guess. Why chose me? I am not unique or special. I am a face in the crowd and a watcher instead of a doer. In short.
"I don't know, I'm nobody, and I don't belong here." I say. Her eyes open wide and she stares at me. I feel another pair of eyes digging into me as well. Lucina was most likely staring at me. I sigh and walk towards the place Robin left to get my orders. As I walk pass Olivia she takes my hand. I look at our hands then at her. She had a tear on her right cheek and another one waiting to fall one her left.
"Do you believe that?" she asks. We stare at each other. I wipe the tear that is on her right cheek and give her a sad smile.
"You matter more than me for a lot of reasons that you wouldn't understand. Me? I'm no one. So yes, I do." I say and I walk away.
Ridley bounded up to me, jumping up on me. I smile and give her a quick pet before pushing her down. Robin was relaying orders and protection plans for the Exalt. She saw me and quickly looked away. "…Sully and Fredrick along with Chrom will rush the right side. Donnel and Lissa will be right behind them. I will lead Sumia, Virion, and Vaike down the left. Stahl, Miriel, and Kellam will stuff up the middle and rush when they can." She looked over to Lucina and Olivia standing by the door. "Uhh… Olivia, Lon'qu and Marth will stay by the door. Lon'qu!" he pushed forward so she could see him. "There you are. Make sure Marth doesn't leave after we are done. I still have… questions for her." He nodded while looking a bit pale. "Now find the assassins responsible for this and protect the Exalt. GO!" she ordered.
Everyone scattered and I realized I had no order. Robin was walking away so I had to catch her now. "Robin!" I call out to her. She turns towards me and promptly turns back around. "I know you heard me!" I shout. She just kept on walking. I snarl and run up to her and pulled on her shoulder. "Robin!"
"Yes Jordan." She sneered my name. I furrow my brow and feel the scowl growing on my face. 'Calm down, calm down.' I think before talking.
"I just want to know my orders." I say with some bite in my flat tone.
"Ohh okay, wait is that a lie?" she asked with venom. Now I'm pissed.
"Can you wait till after to be pissed at me." I state. She makes a fake shocked expression.
"I'm sorry, I thought that I was just asking a question that was reasonable since, well, you lie."
"You don't even know what I lied about!" I shout. She stands her ground and pokes me in the chest.
"I know you lied about something with Marth, or was it Lucina. I know you know why she called me mother and you uncle. I know that you know that there would be assassins here tonight because you were the only other Shepherd out of the barracks tonight besides myself. I also know you lied to Exalt straight faced about our relationship! I also defended your ass when you fell out of the tree! I saw something falling from the sky that day! Chrom, Lissa and I were worried for Fredrick so we rushed over there to find him almost spearing a young boy! You lied about your backstory and your family dying! So, I have a pretty damn good idea what you lied about!" She got angrier with every sentence. She paused then screamed the kicker. "OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP IS A LIE JORDAN!
I stepped back. She was furious and after naming all that she had a right to be. She was right but I was mad, and right now, I was mad at Robin. I turned and punched a wall putting a hole in it. She stood still. I pulled my fist out and stared at her with anger. I have anger issues sometimes. I break shit when I'm angry. I lash out when I'm angry. And today has been a big fuck up in my opinion. One thing wrong after another and now I let it out. But instead of screaming at her or doing anything to her. I turned and ran out into the hallway where the fighting was happening.
I feel my morality and logical side of me screaming for me to stop but emotions overpower logic any day. I was about to go all Anakin Skywalker from Attack of The Clones on some Plagian assassins. Stahl and his group had cleared out some of the assassins but it was my turn to do the rest. A thief rushed me. I caught the blade, not caring about the pain and pulled it out of his hands and wack him with the blunt end. He stumbled back with a horrified expression. I flip the sword and pull out mine with my left hand. He started to run to the left. but I caught up and stabbed him with each blade, making an "X" coming out of his chest. I sliced and kept moving towards the direction he was running. Another thief was rushing towards me now along with a fighter. I through the sword in my left hand which caught the thief in the cape and pinned him. I block the fighter's overhead swipe and kick him in the stomach. He stumbled back. I pinned his foot top the ground. He let out a scream in pain before I silenced him with a knife through the throat.
"Shut up." I snarl and push him back. He gagged on his blood and fell to the floor. The thief was petrified. His hand rested on the sword like he was trying to pull it out. His mouth was open and he was trying to shuffle away. I pull out the sword from the foot and walk over to him.
"No, please, no!" he begs. I rush in for a stab and it goes straight through his chest. I made it fast. I step back and pull out both swords. Horse hoofs catch my attention and I twirl around. A Plagian cavalier is galloping my direction. I drop the swords and pull out my bow. I quickly string up an arrow and shoot at the horse. It hits right in the front left leg and they fall. The horse crushes the cavalier's legs, leaving his upper body free. He cried out in pain. I put my bow back, picked up the swords, and walked over to him.
"Ahh… ugh... AHH" He cries out. I kick him in the head and he gets knocked out and I get a bruised foot. I turn towards the exit and start to walk out. I stop at the door and pull out my bow. I fire an arrow into the cavalier's chest and walk out.
Validar was standing in the middle of the lawn, looking all smug and gross. He had ugly gray skin, and greasy jet-black hair. He wore a high-ranking sorcerer outfit and held a tome in his hands. He smirked when he saw me.
"Welcome Jordan, or would you like son?" He asked then cackled.
"You are not my father!" I scream at him.
"But you call my daughter your sister. What does that make you?" He asks, tapping a long bony finger on his chin. 'Not anymore…' I think '…I think I got disowned.' I stay quiet and he continues. "Never mind about that…" he waves his hand aside like he is brushing it aside. "Master Grima told me you would be here tonight. She also told me about you…" Pointing at me. "… and where you come from. I know the future young Jordan. I have the ability to change it like you do. But one thing is set in stone." He pauses like I am supposed to ask him a question. I just walk towards him. He looks rather dejected that I won't play his game but I know its fake when he starts laughing again. "Even when you came here, Grima still conquered all. You or the future children can't change that." He laughed again. I swung my swords in front of me like you see in action movies.
"Shut up." I snarl and charge at him. His eyes widen and he quickly dodges my attack.
"My my so feisty." He says and opens his tome. He shoots out a fire ball. I roll to my right and charge at him again. Go for a stab with my left and he jumps to the right. I slash at him with the sword in my right and get him on the arm. "Argh!" he screams out stepping back holding his left arm. "If I knew you actually wanted to fight I would have grabbed a better tome, but I'm only here for two things. Killing the Exalt and distracting you." That caught me off guard.
"Distracting me?" I ask him. I don't get an answer as something sharp is sent through my stomach. I drop both swords and fall to my knees. Holy shit, holy shit, HOLY SHIT! I look down at the object still lodged in my stomach. It was a purple spike like… I try to turn but I can't as the pain is searing through me. Blood is spewing out of the wound and I start feeling short of breath. I spit out some blood as I fall to my hands. Validar was laughing up a storm.
I spit out some more blood and I feel tears falling. I reach one of my hands down to touch it. I gave it a tug to try and get it out.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you… Brother." A menacing, dark, powerful, female voice said. "You're not going to die… yet. But anyway Aversa, can you knock him out?" The voice asked but it sounded demanding.
"Of course, master." A sensual voice said as I was pushed onto my side. I saw a pair of boots that looked like Robins and a pair of high heels walking towards me. I tried to look up but a bag was placed over my head.
"He better find him." The voice said before I got hit from behind and blacked out.
AN: SO there yea go. This chapter is where shit hits the fan. I hope the reactions of the characters where realistic. When you find out that someone you trust has lied to you and is still lying how would you react? The next couple of chapters will definitely diverge from canon but they will flesh out Jordan, and Grima shockingly. The reason I put the quote at the top was that I couldn't find a place to put it anywhere in the story and I think that the quote is true. I will try to get back to once every two weeks on the chapter updates. I will move the Christmas special to it's own side story shortly. probably after I finish my plethora of homework. please leave a review and thank you for an amazing 2017 and here's hope for a great 2018. -3008
