To celebrate Fire Emblem Engage being released tomorrow, here is a new chapter ^^.

Paralogue 19: Gentle Heart

"Maybe a little bit more blue? Or maybe some cyan?" A young woman asks herself as she looks over the snow filled mountains before her. Standing before a painting, her blonde hair tied into a pony tail, her blue eyes scan the picture she was painting. She was wearing a white Troubadour outfit with hints of blue and grey. "Or perhaps some greys and blacks for the trees?" While she was lost in her world, her horse stood nearby under the cover of a stable, her mend staff holstered on its back.

"Still working on that painting of yours?" An old man asks as he approaches her from behind, a bowl of hot soup in his hands. "I swear, there is never a day when you are not painting. Ever since you first arrived here." The girl chuckles as she takes the bowl with a thankful nod before turning back to the canvas.

"It's on my blood. My mom always loved to draw, and I would always watch her when she did. They way she could bring a drawing to life with pencils had always awed me." She takes a sip of the soup before looking back at the elder. "I just hope that I'm doing her proud." The elder nods at her before leaving her alone. The girl takes another spoonful before looking at her horse, sighing sadly at the satchel on the side. A torn sketchbook, several of its pages missing, or ripped. She places a hand on her chest, her fingers gliding over the ruined starshaped necklace around her neck. "I wonder how you would react to how I'm living my life. Would you be proud? Or something else?" She whispers to herself as the snow falls softly outside.

Unbeknownst to her, she would be getting an answer very soon. For approaching the village gates, were Chrom and the Shepherds.

"Such a quiet town." Naminé says as they enter the small village. Built into the mountains and surrounded by a small forest, with a small river flowing through the centre. "I feel tempted to draw a picture."

"Of course you would say that Nam." Roxas teases. Naminé gives a playful huff before slapping him gently on the arm.

"Ah, travellers." An old voice calls out to them. Turning to the source, they are greeted by the village elder, walking to them in a cloak. "Welcome to our village. It is rare to have visitors of your number, but I assure you we will do all we can to make yourselves comfortable."

"Thank you for your hospitality." Chrom says with a bow before righting. "If I may ask, do you know of an old castle mansion? We are currently moving east to look for it." The elder gives a low hum.

"I think I know what you seek. However, it is slightly to the south, near the great wall. Unfortunately, the shortest path there leads through brigand territory. I hear that they pray on young girls for nefarious deeds. I fear that we may be set upon one day…" Chrom tightens his fist at the Elders words, anger building at the news.

"Do you know where they are?" Chrom asks with steel in his voice. "If you do, please tell us. We will deal with them and see that you are never threatened." The Elder looks at him with wide eyes full of worry.

"Only rumours. But are you sure? I heard that they use nothing but cavalry." The Elder warns Chrom. Chrom simply smirks before replying that they were more than used to fighting waves of cavalry. While Chrom and the Elder spoke, the rest of the Shepherds and Guardians dispersed around the village, with the Future Children staying as a group.

"I could get used to this place, if it wasn't so cold." Yarne comments as he shivers on the spot. "Out of the way, sweeping vistas, no Risen or Heartless in sight…"

"Freezing cold at night. Packs of wolves that prowl for food. Hardened ground. I suppose it is." Gerome adds on, turning Yarne pale. The others chuckle at his comments while Gaia pats him on the back. The group continue on, heading up a small hill towards before spotting a painted picture hung up on one of the houses.

It was a painting of a night sky over an Island, a mixture of dark blues and purples, with a slight blue on the oceans. But what caught the kids attentions was one of the trees. It looked like a normal palm tree, indicating that it is a tropical Island, but it was what was hanging from one of the branches that caught their eyes. It was a star shaped fruit.

"Hey, why does this painting have a Paopu Fruit in it? They don't grow here." Brady points out with his staff.

"I think we know how." Oceania says with a budding excitement. She turns around to see one of the villagers before walking up to them. "Excuse me. Do you know who painted that picture?" The villager looks at her before following her hand to the others.

"Ah, that. Yes I do know. She lives in the house just down the road." The villager points to a nearby house overlooking a cliff. "You will mostly likely find her painting away."

"Thank you." Oceania replies with a smile before walking towards the house. The rest of the future children follow her towards the house, the identity of the painter all but confirmed in their minds. Before they enter the house, they notice a stable built into the side, a horse stabled within eating away at some hay. As they move into it, they spot the painter in question, her back to them as she flicks some of her blond hair from her face as she looks over her finished work.

"Omoide!" Oceania crises before rushing into the stable. Omoide turns around in surprise before finding herself on the over end of one of Oceania's hugs.

"Ocie?!" She asks in surprise. "When did you get here? When did ALL of you get here?" She asks as Lucina and the others enter the room, before her eyes fall on Morgan. "Wait, Morgan as well? I thought that we lost her?"

"We did as well, before we recently found her." Lucina replies with a smile, before it fades away. "Marc didn't make it through…" Omoide's eyes fall to the ground at the news, a single tera forming in her eyes.

"I see…" She quietly whispers before looking back over the others, smiling warmly at seeing her cousins stil alive. But she couldn't help but tilt her head at noting a few were stil missing. "Where are Noir, Nah and Laurent? I know they were with us when we came back in time."

"We still haven't found them." Caelum replies. "But we have an idea on where they might be. That's why Chrom is having us do a lap around Regna Ferox before turning back to Ylisstol." Omoide's eyes widen upon hearing Chrom's name.

"Wait, you're traveling with Chrom? Our parents as well?" At seeing everyone's nod, Omoide turned back to her painting. "So that means my mom and dad are here as well."

"Yeah! We can go get them if you want!" Cynthia says in excitement. But Omoide shakes her head. "Huh? Why not? Don't tell me you acting like Kitai." Kitai shoots her a look at the remark before looking away again. She wasn't wrong about that. But Omoide shakes her head again.

"No, that's not it Cynth." She says. "I'm more than happy to know that they are alive again, but I'm not sure if they would approve of the path I'm taking. You have always know that I hate fighting. I hate war and the death that follows it. I only took up the staff because I hate seeing people get hurt just as much." She picks up a paint brush before swinging it around. "Sure, I may have dad's skill with a blade, I prefer painting over everything else. That's why im happy staying here." She turns around to face her friends, a guilty but determined look on her face. "I've done enough fighting for one time line."

Lucina and the others look at each other with conflicted looks. On one hand, part of them would try and convince her to join with them. That she would stay out of the fighting and handle managing the sick tent. But the other part of them argued back, saying that Omoide was right. She was never a fighter, the path of an artist was hers. But would she be safe in this village, so out of the way?

"If that is what you want, Omoide, then we won't try and change your mind." Inigo suddenly says. "We all came back here to get away from that disaster, some with different intentions than others initially." He shoots a look to Gerome before looking back at her. "What sort of friends would we be if we tried to change your mind on something that you are already decided on." Owain shoots him a look that Inigo shrugs at. Omoide looks at him before turning back to her painting. She wouldn't say it, but part of her was conflicted on whether to stay or go.

"We will be here for a few days anyway, Omoide." Severa says with arms folded. "You have time to decided if you want to come or not. But that doesn't mean we can't catch up with each other, right?" Omoide looks at her friends, each giving their own looks of encouragement, before giving them all a warm smile.

"Sure. I would like that."

Snow continues to fall in the mountain region, while birds fly through the storm. In a series of caves nearby, a group of brigands trudge through the gloom, each holding a torch. Soon, they reach a central chamber, filled with brigands and thieves. At the far end, sitting on a makeshift throne with gold and jewels at his feet was a scarred Trickster. He looks over a jewel in his hand, turning it over, before throwing it onto a pile next to him.

"Hah. All these trinkets and all I rule over is a cave in a mountain." He bemoans before looking over a map of Regna Ferox. "If I were the Khan, I would se our power to take the world. Not these feeble East and West Khans, but a true Khan." He mumbles to himself, as a group of mercs walk up to him, carrying boxes.

"My lord, we have just finished another raid on a convoy moving through the mountains." One of the Mercenaries speaks before opening the box full of gold. "We should have more than enough to hire those riders in the east." The Trickster looks over the gold before picking up one of the coins, spinning it over his hand.

"Indeed, we could. And yet, would they join us while we rot in this cave?" He asks the men. "While we do have cover and solitude, we do not have pasture. While we have security and safety, we do not have fresh water. Our hideout, while adequate for us, is ill suited to house riders and their mounts. We need a staging ground."

"I believe I know a place." One of the mages points out before placing a hand on the map. "There is a village located here. It is in the mountains, with few ways in. Yet it has room for pastures and caves nearby for mining. And best of all, no guards. All we need to do, is walk in, enslave the people and force them to mine and work fields for us. And for the supplies we can not grow or mine?" He points to several roads nearby the village. "Caravans frequent these passes on a usual frequency. It is the perfect spot for us to build our strength, for it favours those who defend."

The Trickster looks over the map with a feral grin, his eyes imaging a new empire forming from this one village in the mountains. "And so it shall." He proclaims before standing from his throne. "Let it be known that today is the day that our rise to power begins. Today, we begin our rise as a globe spanning empire!" He shouts to the room, earning a thunderous cheer from his followers before turning around and picking up a banner of a black dragon cradling a white orb. "Now, we march, to the village of Talta! Our Empire begins there!" The roar was thunderous as it echoes throughout the cave, the mercenaries around cheering on their leader.

Yet at the far back was a lone man who had no interest in forming an empire. AS he watched the army before him roar in acceptance, he was slowly backing out of the cave before rushing to the entrance unseen. Attack Talta village!? Hell no am I doing that! I might be a bit strapped on cash but burning a village to the ground? No way! Sprinting out of the cave, he rushes to his horse nearby before removing the reigns and mounting it. "I've got to warn them!" He says to himself before motioning his horse into a galop.

Even with the winds against him, he would not stand around while people were in danger.

Several days had passed since the Shepherds and Guardians had arrived, with Omoide avoiding them at all opportunity. Staying in her house, she watches as they walk past her house, her breath hitching when she wees her uncles and aunts walking nearby. More so when she saw her mother and father. Even now, you still hold onto that book mom. She muses as Naminé walks past, her sketching book held in her hands as she opens it to start drawing with some pencils. Omoide sighs before walking over to her horse and taking the ruined book from it, opening it to a page that was burnt, yet the image could still be seen.

It was a drawing of all of the Guardians and Say'ri in one group, with their children right beside them. Drawn right before Chrom was killed. She gives a sigh before looking out the window, watching as the Guardians begin to leave the village with the Shepherds, unaware of her presence.

Too late to change my mind now. Omoide tells herself before walking over to the canvas for her next painting. Already, she had drawn the humanoid shapes on it, in the form of her friends and cousins. The primary colours are already applied, just waiting for the details. I had hoped to have this ready before they left. Oh well… She begins to work on it, adding the shading and reflection of metal before the hurried sound of footsteps draws her attention. Who's that? She wonders while turning around. To her surprise, it was one of the children running into her stable/art studio with a distressed look.

"Omoide! Come quick! The Elder is calling a council!" The child cries before rushing back out of the room. Omoide tilts her head before putting her brush down. Following the child to the village centre, she saw the entire village in the centre, all with worried expressions.

"What's going on?" Omoide asks as she joins the crowd. One of the villages looks at her and shrugs before looking back at the Elder, who raises a hand for silence.

"Everyone, I fear I have grave news for us all." He begins with a tone of resignation. "Not long ago, a caravan had entered our village. They were survivors of an attack by brigands." The villagers nervously talk between themselves at the Elders words. "They attacked without remorse, without care. The survivors wounds were serious. Before they passed, they warned us that their target, is us." With a resigned sigh, the Elder faces the ground. "I fear we are not long for this world."

"What about those warriors? Could we not ask for them?" One of the villagers asks in fear. The Elder looks at him before shaking his head in resignation. Omoide understood why. They were to far out. By the time one of them got to them, it would be too late. As she looked around to the villagers, she could see the despair in their eyes at the news. At that moment, she could see resemblance to the people of her time, powerless in the war against Grima. Powerless, just as usual.

I can't fight. But I can at least distract! Omoide mentally declares before rushing back to her house, ignoring the confused looks she got form the villagers. Moving to her horse, she hooks the reigns off the post before moving outside. "I'm sorry girl, but we are the only one who can stop this. We can't let these brigands reach this village. Even if it costs us our lives." Her horse looks at her, before gently hitting her head with its own. Omoide smiles at her horse before mounting her and heading to the village entrance.

"Omoide. Where are you going?" The Elder asks as she nears the entrance. Omoide looks at him with a warm smile before answering him.

"I'm going to distract them. Hopefully long enough for those warriors to return." She replies, shocking the Elder. He tries to stop her, telling her that she is sentencing herself to death, but Omoide would not be swayed. "I'm sorry." She whispers before rushing out of the village, despite the Elders cries for her to stop.

"Are objective is the bandits located to the East of here. It will be a hard journey, but I am confident we will be able to make it." Chrom announces to the Shepherds and Guardians as they rest in a valley. "Once done, we will head South to Ylisse—" He was interrupted by the sound of hooves impacting the snow, as a man on a horse approaches them.

"Travellers! Please! Hear me!" He cries as he rides up to them, his horse exhausted.

"What troubles you?" Frederick asks stoically. The man looks at them with worry in his eyes, before throwing his arms around in a panic.

"Brigands! An army of them! Marching towards Talta Village!" He cries with panicked breaths. The Shepherds and Guardians instantly tense up, missing the looks of horror on the future children. "I overheard that they plan to use it as a staging ground for an empire! You have to save them, please!" Chrom looks at the man's eyes and finds no hint of him lying.

"Very well." He says before turning around. "You heard him! Back to the Village now!" Without a word, the Shepherds and Guardians return to the village, with Sumia leading the flyers ahead of them. Unsurprisingly, they were the first to arrive, finding a village in a panic. The moment they land and are recognised, the Elder walks towards them with a relieved look.

"Thank the spirits that you are here. Where you told of our plight by her?" He asks hopefully. Sumia and the others look at each other with puzzled looks, while Cynthia, Gaia and Gerome look at each other in alarm.

"No. We encountered a merchant just as we left for the east. Did someone leave to warn us?" Sumia asks worriedly. The Elder shakes his head with a sense of great sadness.

"I'm afraid not. She left to distract the brigands and give us time to prepare." He says grimly. "I fear that Omoide has ridden to her death." While Sumia and the others give sorrowful looks, Cynthia and the others grow pale with shock. What was Omoide doing!?

"This is not good. If she is by herself, she will be easily captured, or worse." Xion says with a grimace. "We have to find her before the Brigands do."

"Let us search for her." Gaia declares. "We will return to Chrom and gather others before we set out." Xion was ready to say a different plan. Still, the look her future daughter was giving her told her otherwise. Reluctantly, she allowed her, Gerome and Cynthia to travel back to the group, who were just climbing up the path to the entrance. Regrouping with them, they explain the situation to Chrom, who immediately agrees to have them search for her. Knowing that speed was needed, Kitai declared that he would go as well, being the lightest of the mounted among them.

Surprisingly, Roxas also wanted to go with them, saying that having a mounted archer would help, including Donny. With no time to argue, Chrom agreed, with the six mobile units picking up Lucina, Caelum, Oceania, Owain, Morgan and Naminé.

With no time to lose, the twelve set of in search of Omoide, while Chrom led the rest to the village. Time was against them.

Why am I doing this? Omoide asks herself as she rides towards a mountain pass. Guess I'm more of my father than I knew. Or is it my Uncle Sora? This is certainly something he would do. She chuckles to herself before he hears the sounds of an approaching force. Gulping to herself, she moves around the corner to see the approaching Brigands.

Despite her fears of finding a force that would number the hundreds, she was surprised and secretly happy to find it only numbering around fifty strong. Still far too many for the Village to handle, though. Taking a deep breath, she moves out of cover into full sight of the Brigands, who stop as she makes herself known.

"What's a pretty little thing like you wandering around these mountings for?" One of the Brigands asks a Berserker. Omoide stifles a shudder before speaking back.

"I am but a simple painter looking for inspiration. Might I ask why a group such as yourselves are walking in these mountains? They are not known for being the safest places to go after all." The Brigands chuckle to themselves at her question before the Trickster leader walks to the front.

"Oh, we are simply looking for a place to warm up after a little adventure. You wouldn't happen to know where Talta Village is, do you?" While he put on a convincing look, Omoide could see the gleam in his eyes. There was no question about what they planned to do when they reached the village.

I can't let them reach the village! Time to see if they will buy my lie. "Talta Village? I'm afraid there is no such village around here. Or rather, there was one. But a sudden landslide of snow wiped it out. I'm afraid nothing remains of it apart from wooden logs and a broken sign." She spoke as casually and innocently as she could, while on the inside, she was panicking. Come on, fall for it…

"Is that true?" The leader asks, sceptical of her words. Omoide nods at him, still projecting an air of calm. The leader seems to consider her words before sighing dramatically. If that is the case, we will need to carry on." Omoide internally sighed in relief before noticing the leering gaze he was giving her. "I'm sure you know of another village we could stay at? I'm sure you wouldn't mind showing us the way, will you?"

Uh-oh… Omoide gulps as her horse instinctively backs up, feeling her rider's nervousness. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I've got a class to attend in the Capital, so I can't really stay—"

"Oh, but I insist." The leader says darkly. "You will be in VERY good company." He turns to the Berserker with a devilish grin. "Take some of you boys and escort her. We shall head to Talta Village and pick through the remains. Don't do anything to damage her, understand?" The Berserker nods with a sadistic grin before he and twenty others start walking towards Omoide. She didn't need to stick around to know what they planned to do with her.

Without hesitation, she motions her horse into a gallop, rushing into a nearby passage nearby as the Berserker and his cronies chase after her.

High above, Gaia, Cynthia and Gerome scan the mountains with Morgan, Owain and Caelum.

"I can see her anyway. How about you?" Gaia asks Owain as she looks to the ground. Owain shakes his head with a grim look before turning back to his search. Down below, he could see Kitai, Lucina, Donny, Oceania, Roxas and Naminé searching along a ridge line.

"We have to find her! Who knows what those ruffians will do to her if they capture her!" Cynthia exclaims. The others could only silently agree with her as they continued to look. Eventually, movement caught Gerome's eye as he looked at a lone path moving towards a cliff. Squinting through the falling snow, his eyes widen behind his mask as he spots Omoide rushing through the pass with twenty brigands chasing after her.

"Do you see something, Gerome?" Morgan asks, noticing Gerome suddenly look in a direction. She follows his gaze before seeing Omoide calling out to the others. Seeing Omoide in trouble, the six fly down to the others, informing them of the trouble ahead. Morgan looked back to where Omoide was rushing to, remembering that it was a dead end of a cliff. She couldn't help but smile as a plan began to form in her mind before turning to the others.

"I've got a plan."

Why can't these jerks take a hint! Omoide internally yells as she continues to run away from the Berserker. Honestly, she should have known this would happen. If only she could cast magic, she would try and create an avalanche behind her. At least there are only thirty of them attacking the Village now. I only hope it will be enough. She was so focused on what was behind her she didn't realise she was rushing towards a cliff. Thankfully, her horse did as it skidded to a halt. "Whoa! What's the matter!" She asks in surprise before looking out at the void before her, her stomach sinking.

"Aww, what's wrong? A dead end?" The Berserker asks as he and his boys walk onto the plateau, grinning like madmen. "End of the line, girly. Give yourself up now, and I promise we won't hurt you. Much." The men chuckle at his comment while Omoide grimaces. The men move forward, intent clear as day before they could hear the soft beating of wings on the wind. The goons look around in confusion, curious as to the source of the sound.

Suddenly from behind the cliff, Gaia, Cynthia, and Gerome appear from under the cliff. Morgan, Owain and Caelum jump off and land in front of Omoide.

"Foul brigands! You shall rue the day you crossed paths with Scions of Legacy!" Owain boldly declares while the five with him roll their eyes at him. The Berserker, however, was unaffected.

"And who are you supposed to be? A circus?" He asks mockingly. His men laugh at his comment, only to stop when they hear hooves hitting the snow. From behind, Roxas, Donny and Kitai burst and plough through the centre of the ruffians before sliding to a stop next to the others, with Naminé, Lucina and Oceania jumping off. "And who the hell are all of you!?" He asks in irritation, noting that three men had been killed by the sudden attack.

"None of your business." Roxas replies before letting loose an arrow of light at one of the thugs. Taken aback by the sudden attack, Donny, Morgan, and Naminé launch an arrow and spells of their own, striking down three more as Kitai charged into their formation with a Sonic Blade. Gaia and the other flyers dived from above, blocking their escape. At the same time, Lucina leads Caelum, Oceania and Owain in a frontal charge, herself engaging the Berserker.

The man swings his axe in a rage, hitting Lucina on the shield on her arm and knocking her back. She could feel a sting running up her arm before a calm warmth fell over her. A quick glance behind showed Omoide casting a healing spell with her staff, earning a nod of thanks from her before she charged back at the brigand. The man smirks, thinking she was making the same mistake as before, only to see her duck under his strike before slicing his arms off with Falchion.

He didn't have long to cry in anger before Roxas put an arrow through his head, ending his life.

Omoide sighs in relief as the Berserker falls, noting that the rest of the brigands are being dealt with by the others. "Are you alright? You're not hurt or anything?" She gasps softly before looking at Naminé, looking at her with concern in her eyes. Omoide shakes her head before answering back.

"No, I'm fine. You arrived right on time." She says with a smile before growing concerned. "What about the Village?"

"You needn't worry. Our friends are there. They will make sure that it's safe." Naminé replies before her gaze falls on the damaged sketchbook on the horse. "Is that a sketchbook? Do you draw?" Omoide glances at it, debating what to say.

Eventually, she couldn't hide it anymore.

"No, it's not mine. It actually belonged to my mother." She replies while getting off her horse. She notes that Roxas and the others were approaching as she reached to retrieve it. "I've been keeping it with me when I lost her in a fire, along with my dad." She holds the damaged book in her hands before handing it over. "There's only one drawing that survived…."

Naminé gently takes the book from her, gazing at the damaged cover. For some reason, it felt familiar to her in her hands. Roxas looks at her as he stands next to her as Naminé opens the book to the only page. They both gasp as they see the drawing before slowly looking up at Omoide. She looks at them hesitantly before reaching into her tunic and pulling out the ruined necklace, its lower left and upper right points missing.

"Omoide… You are our daughter?" Naminé hesitantly asks. "And you were at the Village the entire time we were there?" Omoide nods before looking at the ground, ready to be reprimanded for doing something so recklessly. Imagine her surprise when instead of a verbal shout-down, she was warmly embraced by Naminé. "I don't know why you didn't show yourself to us. Or why you did something so recklessly. But I am happy to meet you." Omoide didn't know what to say. Thousands of words flashed through her mind, struggling to form a sentence. In the end, all she could do was return the hug.

"I'm sorry." She mumbles into Naminé's shoulder as tears leak from her eyes. Roxas watches on with a calm smile before giving Lucina and the other an accusing glance. For their part, all they could do was smile and shrug.

They had some explaining to do when they got back to the village.

Soon they returned to the village, finding it still intact and its people safe. Outside lay the bodies of the brigands, their leader lying under a pile of snow. The villagers were happy to see Omoide was alive and well before breaking out a feast to thank the Shepherds and Guardians for defending their village.

Eventually, as the sun dipped below the horizon and everyone broke for the night, Roxas and Naminé decided to ask Omoide. "Why did you not tell us you were here when we arrived?" Roxas asked as the three sat in her temporary house. Omoide sighs before glancing at her portrait of the mountains. When Naminé learned that she painted it, she couldn't help but praise her for her skills. But this was a question she had to answer.

"I hate war father. I hate the needless and pointless death." Omoide replies to her father with sadness. "Even though I inherited your skills with a sword, I couldn't see why it was needed. That's why I devoted my time to training with a staff and artistic skills. Even during Grima's rise, I couldn't get past my disgust…."

"It's only natural to think that." Naminé replies softly. "No one is born a warrior. I honestly wished we all thought like you, Omoide." Omoide smiles softly before looking at her cup of tea.

"Part of me was worried you would not approve of the path I've taken. Isolating myself here to stay away from the fighting while everyone else is risking their lives to fight against Grima. I must be a disappointment."

"No. you're not." Roxas says resolutely. Omoide looks up with surprise at her father as he breathes deeply. "Believe it or not, I was the same at one point. I wanted nothing to do with Keyblades, Organizations or anything like that. All I wanted was to live a quiet life with my friends. But I quickly learned that, no matter what I wanted, fate forced me to do so anyway." He looks at Omoide with a look of understanding. "Believe me when I say this, Omoide, no matter how you try and fight it, destiny will find a way to make you fight."

"But if you say that, then doesn't that mean Grima will always be fated to rise? That what we are doing is pointless?" Omoide asks back, fear in her voice. Naminé responds with a soft laugh at her daughter before looking at her with calm eyes.

"Try telling that to Sora in the Keyblade Graveyard. It was 'destined' that light would fall and darkness rise, but what did Sora think of that? He took that 'destiny', threw it in the trash, and forged our own. And if we could do that there, we can do that here." Omoide couldn't help but laugh at that. That was a true fact. As the atmosphere lighted, Roxas couldn't help but ask a question that was rising at the back of his mind.

"Omoide. If it's possible, can you tell us how we died?" He asks softly. Omoide winces at the question before taking a calming breath.

"I can." She turns to look out the window, the snow continuing to fall softly. "It was in the capital of Ylisstol. Grima had unleashed his final assault on the palace. The city was burning as Heartless-Risen ran over the place. We were in the western part of the palace, fighting back a horde along with Vaike and Miriel. Without warning, a fireball exploded in the area, setting fire to the hall and cutting us off. You were trapped in a room that was engulfed in flames. And with Aunt Aqua already dead…." She sniffs softly before lightly grasping the burnt book. "It was all you could do to pass me this and your necklace before the roof collapsed on you…."

Naminé moves to her side before enveloping her in a hug as Omoide quietly cries into her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Omoide. I'm sorry we failed you like that." Naminé's eyes harden as she and Roxas share a glance before looking back at her. "We will not fail you again."

And that was a vow she was going to keep.

I'm going to get distracted with Fire Emblem Engage, so sorry if the next chapter after this and the Unit stats takes a while to come out. (Especially with the Dead Space Remake next week as well. Gamer brain XD )