Through Whatever Fate May Bring

by writingshark

She was different, but then again, so was he. While she surrounded herself with people, he remained alone. They were light and dark, two halves of a greater whole, even if they couldn't see it at first. Slight AU.

8. Chapter 8: Merge

The heavy wooden doors of Plegia creaked open and Roo gasped at the deep chill in the air and the darkness that seemed to creep from every corner of the room that hadn't been there from their last visit. Beside her, Chrom, Frederick, Morgan and Gerome, each sensing the negative energy in the room, stepped forward first, their eyes flickering from side to side, looking for enemies in the shadows. "Well, we're surrounded," Chrom concluded, his hand moving slightly up to his sword handle. "Roo? Any thoughts?"

"Armed men in every part of the room against the five of us? We're screwed," Roo said flatly.

"That's…not what I hoped you would say," Chrom sighed.

"Sorry. Just trying to be realistic. At least you got one more romp around with Sumia," Roo grinned back, and Chrom flushed red, but no more could be said between them as Aversa and Validar stepped into the room, the door slamming pointedly behind them.

"Ah, Prince Chrom," Validar smiled as he held out his arms to welcome them. "I have heard of your great victory over Walhart! Congratulations! It's a relief to have you safely return."

Sure, whatever, Roo thought to herself as she flipped her hood up over her head, disliking the way Validar was eyeing her. It was a disgusting, soul-piercing gaze and every time they met eyes, a shiver went up her spine. "What about the Fire Emblem gem?" Chrom asked, Validar exchanging glances with Aversa and smiling. "You said you would give it to me."

"Of course," Validar smiled as he held out his hand. "The Emblem, please. So that we may join forces together and end this reign of darkness."

Chrom stepped forward, but suddenly, Roo's hand shot out, landing on his shoulder to stop him. "Wait. I'll do it," she said quietly. "Here."

A confused frown crossed over Chrom's face, but he complied, reaching behind him and pulling out the Emblem to put in Roo's hands. "What a good girl," Validar smiled as Roo made her way to him. "Yes, step closer and let me see you."

Roo didn't have to look behind her to see the worried glances on Gerome and Morgan's faces, but her suspicions had be to sorted out and she'd be damned if she was going to let them fall into a trap without knowing Validar's end game strategy. "You look familiar," Roo said as brightly as she could. "Have we met before?"

"Perhaps," Validar said coyly. "We could discuss this more at a later time, but for now, the Emblem…"

However, Roo shrugged, keeping the Emblem in her hands. "I mean, I'm sure you've heard about my lost memories since you seem to know me so well. Man, I'd do almost anything to know what happened to me before I forgot. I mean, the other day, I was in the market, and I saw the cutest little-…"

"Yes, yes, the Emblem," Validar snapped, waving his hand insistently. Reaching out, Roo held out the Emblem, but just before Validar's fingers closed around it, she yanked it back, a playful smile on her face.

"By the way, how did you and Aversa meet?" Roo continued, a smile on her face. "I kind of have a similar story. Ahem. A long time ago, in a galaxy far away…"

"ENOUGH!" Validar roared, his hands lashing out and snatching the Emblem from Roo's grasp. "I've had enough of your stupid prattle, child! At last, I have the Emblem! The power to resurrect Grima cannot be stopped!"

"What?" Chrom snarled, his hand gripping his blade, the other Shepherds doing so as well. "Validar, this is an act of war!"

A sinister smile spread over Validar's face. "Of course it is, Followers of Naga!" he spat. "And you…" looking down at Roo, Validar frowned. "You're no genius. How could you let me take the Emblem so easily? What a disappointment."

"Hm? Yeah, hang on a minute," Roo grumbled, too busy looking around the room as the hidden soldiers that had stood in the shadows began to appear. Moving her finger to count, Roo turned her head around the room. "One, two, five, eight, thirteen of you," she rattled off. "That's it? Really? We're the Shepherds, man. At least give us some credit if you're going to ambush us."

Aversa and Validar exchanged a look before turning back to Roo, confused frowns on their faces. "What are you talking about?" Validar hissed.

"I'm talking about how you think it'll only take a flimsy plan and a handful of idiots to bring us down," Roo shot back. "By the way, you also suck at declaring war. THIS is how you declare WAR!"

And with that, she swung her foot forward, kicking Validar straight in the crotch.

Ignoring Validar screaming out and crumpling behind her, Roo nodded to Chrom. "Time to go!" she called, jumping down to their side.

"Couldn't agree more," Chrom snarled. "NOW!"

Frederick quickly put his two fingers in his mouth and blew, causing a sharp, piercing whistle to echo over the air. A wyvern's roar echoed back, dulled by the walls, but close and before Validar or the soldiers had time to react, a side of the castle exploded inwards, sending stone and debris everywhere.

"WHAT?" Validar screamed as Robin and Minerva appeared in the hole in the castle walls. "What happened?"

"Ugh…I fear my stomach will be unable to hold its current contents for much longer…" Laurent groaned as he leaned forward on Robin's saddle, holding his midsection, Robin giving him a disgusted look. "Flight is apparently no better than sea…"

"Are you seriously doing this right now?" Inigo snapped, struggling to hold Minerva's reins. "Just THROW IT ALREADY!"

Laurent nodded and queasily began to cast a fire spell. In the castle, Chrom, Frederick, Morgan and Gerome leapt out, each taking on a side of soldiers as Roo reached down into her bag and pulled out a wind tome. "Laurent, any time now would be great!" Roo screamed, wind circling her fingers.

"No!" Validar cried out as Roo and Laurent hurled their magic at each other. "Stop them!"

But it was too late. The wind and fire exploded into a whirling vortex of flame and Validar and his men were forced to shield their eyes from the blast. "GO!" Roo cried out, the Shepherds leaping onto the fliers backs, leaving Validar behind.

"M-Master…!" Aversa coughed, "What do we do?"

Validar fumed angrily, his fists clenching together over his stomach and the Emblem, the last remnants of Roo's trademark insult calling back to them on the winds . "Wake my daughter," he snarled. "NOW!"

Suddenly, the Emblem in Validar's hands began to crack and both his and Aversa's eyes widened in rage and shock as it broke away into pieces, revealing cheap plaster and paint underneath gold foil.

Validar fumed. "We will never speak of this again," he seethed.

---

Safe. That was the feeling that swept through the Shepherds as they returned to their camp overlooking a cliff where the sea raged below. "Made it," Roo breathed as Morgan and Robin embraced her. "That was a close one."

"We failed to get the gem, but at least we know where Validar's heart lies," Frederick agreed, watching Chrom tuck the real Emblem away. "Although I fear it will mean another war."

The mood darkened and Chrom gave a heavy sigh. "There is no choice in the matter," he said sadly. "Validar is clearly planning to resurrect Grima, or at least make sure no one is around to stop him if he ever decides to do so. Either choice is unacceptable. We need to stop him. We must, no matter what the cost. For the future." Looking over to Lucina, Chrom gave her a nod to which she gestured in kind.

Meanwhile, Gerome stepped forward to Roo, holding out his hand for her. "Are you hurt?" he asked, a worried tone in his voice, noting the way she rubbed her temples.

"I'm fine," Roo said quickly, purposefully dropping her hand away from her head. "Just…glad to get away from that guy. He gives me the creeps, more than usual. And he smells. Gods, you think someone would bother to take a bath now and then, instead of reeking of Eu de Corpse. Honestly, I'm shocked he doesn't give the entire castle a headache from the stench."

Gerome looked into her eyes, still wary, and Roo tried to smile to reassure him. "I'm kidding," she said, trying to bring herself back to peace more than anything. "Not about the smell, that's real, but-AUGH!"

"Roo!" Gerome cried out as she doubled over, clawing at her head in her hands, Morgan rushing to her side as well.

A dark laugh suddenly rose around them and Chrom pulled out his sword as he moved his eyes back and forth, looking for the source. "The heart still sleeps, but the blood flows through it," the voice said, dark and sinister. "And the blood is strong."

Roo let out another cry of pain and Gerome felt panic rise inside him as he held her. "Coward!" he snarled to the open sky. "Show yourself!"

Dark magic energy swirled in front of them and suddenly, a figure appeared, dressed in a familiar purple coat. "By the gods…!" Chrom gasped as two red, glowing eyes stared back at them. "This is impossible!"

Roo whimpered in pain, but pulled herself together to barely peer at the newcomer. She dressed exactly the same, looked exactly the same as her, the only differences being the long white hair that flowed out from under the hood of her coat and the red eyes that burned at her like two glowing embers. "I've come for my own flesh and blood," the woman grinned, her eyes staring into Roo's. "Ah…there you are. It's been a while, dear sister."

"S-sister? Screw…" Roo tried to get out, but the pain shot through her again and she doubled back over, Morgan and Gerome doing their best to support her.

"Heh, just as loud-mouthed as they say," Roo's sister said as she folded her arms over her chest. "Still, don't try to remember too much. Trying to access certain past memories without me will put too much strain on your poor little mind, as you can feel now." Then, turning to gaze to Gerome, "You there. Step away from her or bring her to me. Either way, do so and you will live."

Kicking up his lance, Gerome gave it a small twirl before leveling the point at Roo's sister's face, scowling at her, leaving Roo in the arms of Morgan.

Roo's sister scoffed and shrugged. "Amusing. You think you can take me on?" she sneered. Suddenly, a furious hate that Gerome had rarely seen stared back at him. "You look familiar, do I know you?" she mused, Gerome staying silent. "Something…but for the life of me, I can't remember what is it. No matter."

Another laugh rose from the shadows and Chrom's eyes widened as Validar suddenly appeared in a flash of teleportation magic beside Roo's sister. "Ah, Prince Chrom, so good to see you again," Validar smiled as Chrom took a fighting stance in front of Gerome, placing himself as a barrier between Validar and his friends. "You left before I could introduce my lovely daughter, Robin."

"Wait…" Frederick gasped. "If she's your daughter, then that means…"

"Correct. Little Roo here…" Validar mused, gesturing to Roo as Morgan and his brother pulled her behind them, "She is of my blood as well. The blood of the Grimleal! The blood of Grima!" Extending his hand to her, he smiled. "You have but to take my hand and join me, your family," he said. "The heart still sleeps, but it shall awaken!"

Despite her pain, Roo growled up at Validar and glared at him furiously. "Family?" she echoed. "I'm already WITH my family. So you can take your Fell Dragon nonsense and SHOVE IT!"

Letting out a cry with effort, Roo flung a spell of wind magic at Validar. Sweeping his hand as if batting away a fly, Validar smiled, Roo's attack dispelling harmlessly behind him. "You have your father's courage, but your mother's judgment," he sneered. "You think you can fight me? Whatever damage that you do to your body in a vain attempt to stop me, the Fell Dragon's blood can repair! I'm slightly surprised you never noticed how your body would heal damage that would cause other men to die on the spot, but I suppose it's only natural since you are a coward."

Roo gritted her teeth bitterly as she ran over her past events in her mind. Validar was right - she should have noticed, especially when she had used her gear in the past. If she had been smarter, if she had caught on faster, if she had just tried to fight in the first place, this whole event might have been prevented and Roo tried not to let the guilt overwhelm her thoughts.

"You're the coward!" Morgan's voice suddenly shot out, bringing Roo back to the present situation. "You have no right messing around with mom's heart!"

"Oh? What is this?" Validar's smile grew wide as he centered his sights on Morgan. "Perhaps I don't need you after all, Roo. Perhaps another can take your place. Even though it may be weaker, blood is blood...and this one is surprisingly compatible. How interesting."

"NO!" roared Gerome and he flung himself at Validar, lance ready.

"Weakling," Robin snorted, stepping in and sending a blast of black magic at him, but Gerome was ready and swung his lance out so that the magic reflected from him and hurled back into Robin's face, causing her to cry out and fall to her knees.

Smoke sizzled from Robin's eyes as she slowly pulled her fury-filled trembling hands down to stare daggers into Gerome. "You dare…" she hissed as Gerome took a fighting stance. "Insolent peasant! You DARE to raise your hands to me?"

Leaping to her feet, Robin began to form a massive ball of energy over her head, Validar smiling and doing the same. "It doesn't matter what you specks of dust do," she spat. "You cannot defeat the Fell Dragon!"

It happened so fast, Gerome didn't even realize that anything had hit him, but found himself hazily blinking up at the sky, dust swirling overhead and a pain in his side exploding through him. With a groan, he pulled himself up, small bits of debris falling from his hair and saw how the Shepherds around him had fallen to their knees or just on the ground, some struggling to regain their footing or others simply not moving at all. A cry of pain caught his attention and Gerome spun his head to see Robin and Validar standing over his son, holding him with one arm, the other seeping black magic between his fingers, while Morgan screamed, clawing at Validar in vain to escape. Robin was struggling to pick himself up to get to his brother's side, but failing. "No…" Gerome hissed to himself as he pulled his body up, despite it protesting with every move he made. "No…!" Reaching down, he snatched his lance in his hands, faltering as he stumbled his way to his feet. "Let go of my son!"

His cry caught the attention of Robin as she turned her gaze from Validar to him, her eyes staring into his, causing him to shiver. "Stubborn little worm, isn't he?" she mused as Validar smirked in response. Pulling a dagger from her side, she moved for Gerome, an evil smile on her face. "Let's see how long you last before you finally break yourself."

Suddenly, a flash of wind magic tore through Robin and Validar, cutting them off from Morgan and he fell to the ground. "What?" Robin snarled as she turned her head back, seeing Roo, magic still sparkling from her fingers. "You!"

Dashing up to her son, Roo grabbed Morgan, roughly throwing him behind her to Gerome in a panic to put space between him and Validar. "If you touch any of them, I'll kill you…!" Roo seethed, breathing hard, a trail of blood coming from her head.

However, Validar and Robin simply stood and brushed themselves off, as if nothing had happened. "Have you really forgotten who you are?" Robin asked, demanding and harsh. "Have you really forgotten your place? Your destiny? Your REAL family compels you to join them." Robin smiled once more as she held up her left hand, the six-eyed mark of the dragon glowing purple. "Search your heart for the truth. You know it is there."

Roo said nothing and did not remove her gaze from their eyes as she reached down and tore at her right glove, the mark of Grima on the back of her hand glowing purple as well. A ripple of shock ran through the Shepherds as they stared in horror, unsure how to react.

"Roo!" Chrom gasped as he tried to get to his feet. "What…"

A deep silence fell over them all. Finally, Roo took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I always knew this day would come," she said sadly. "As soon as I understood where the mark on my hand came from, I knew. I just…didn't want to believe it."

"Save your speech for when you're all dead," Validar spat, pointing a clawed hand out to Morgan. "You may have the best blood for what we intend, but his is just as good as well! If you want to save him from a world of misery and pain, I suggest you JOIN US or watch as your friends die, one by one. You do not have the strength to defeat us."

"Don't tell me what to do," Roo shot back quietly, a small grin spread over her face as she narrowed her eyes at Validar. "I'm not so helpless. I still have...one thing I can do."

He looked up at her as she stood with her back to him. "Roo…" Gerome whispered, reaching for her.

She made no move to reach back, no move to even acknowledge him, her gaze never moving from Robin or Validar, but taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Gerome, it's time for you to keep your promise," she said, Gerome's eyes widening in horror.

"No! Roo!" Chrom cried out, other voices joining in from various Shepherds as they watched on, unable to do anything.

Then she turned to face them. Her eyes were sad and full of pain, but a small smile was reflected on her face as she looked into each and every one of them. "Goodbye," she said quietly. "May we meet again in a better life."

And that's when she broke from their side, tearing herself away as she made a dash for Validar, the tips of her coat just breezing past Gerome's hand. She reached out and tackled into Validar and Robin, a lightning spell coming down from the heavens and around their feet. Validar was screaming, Robin was shouting curses, but Roo was quiet, her eyes closed tight as the rock around them crumbled away and they fell, all together, down into the raging waters below.

---

Several days had passed after they had returned without her. Once again, Gerome was forced to face Robbie and give him a look that caused the wyvern's head to fall, but this time, there were no tears. He only bitterly turned from Gerome's hand and sat himself in his mother's cot where her head used to lay and curled up, speaking to no one.

Morgan and Robin were together as always, but now they stayed apart from everyone, Morgan's eyes never meeting anyone else's. "If I didn't exist, this wouldn't have happened," he said to Robin who shook his head vehemently and nipped at his hair in reassurance.

Chrom had just closed himself off into the war council tent, staring at maps and pieces as if he were trying to take Roo's place or just expect her to come walking back in as if he hadn't seen her fall to her death just days before. Nothing pulled him from the table's side except news of his wife and child, even then, only for brief moments.

However, not all were in mourning. News that Roo was a Grimleal and a child of Validar circled around camp and the men hissed poison amongst themselves. Speculation about when she might have betrayed them flew about. How she would have let Chrom die and Validar take the Fire Emblem if she had the chance. How she really just made a show of leaping off a cliff so that it seemed like she could be welcomed back after her and her father and sister made plans to cut their throats in the night. That was one such rumor that Gerome heard as he passed by a small group of men checking the weapons. "I think she died," one of the men said, not noticing Gerome standing behind them. "I mean, we never found the body, but good luck surviving a fall like that."

"It's a fitting end," the other man said, a third giving a snort of derision. "A good end for traitors and cowards who take the easy way out."

Suddenly, Gerome surged forward like a lion, grabbing the second man by the collar and slamming his face into a nearby wooden post before flying his fist into the first. He turned, his eyes burning with fury upon the third man who had said nothing. The man looked at his friends, then up at Gerome and then held up his hands in defeat and sped away.

The other two, now left with Gerome, let out whimpers of fear as Gerome pulled them up and stared into their eyes. "That 'traitor' and 'coward' ensured you lived to see this day!" he hissed furiously. "I suggest you cease your pathetic lies, because she isn't here now to ensure you see another!"

Something in those words hit Gerome and he stopped, frozen and wide-eyed. The rage in him died and Gerome sadly let both men go, ignoring their cries of protest and false apologies at his feet. Instead, he simply walked away, his mind not even in the same world and headed towards the stables where Minerva waited for him.

It was several hours later, but Gerome didn't care. He sat alone, apart from Minerva, who rested behind him in a small field where, if had he been standing, the grass came up to his knees and the trees surrounding him closed the space in so that it was dark, but the sun and the small insects that once inhabited this place had long gone. He gave a heavy sigh, but did not move his gaze from ahead of him. "You might as well come out and stop staring," he said gently to the figure who had been following him ever since he left camp.

She stepped out of the shadows and Cherche gave him a sympathetic smile. "I brought some jerky," she said gently. "I thought you might be hungry. It's been a while since anyone's seen you at camp, but if you came all the way back here, I'm not surprised. Morgan and Robin miss you."

"Morgan and Robin are in the care of Laurent and Inigo," Gerome said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Cherche said nothing in response to his statement, but simply came over and sat down next to him, her Minerva joining her older self behind them. She gently placed her hand on top of his and looked knowingly into his eyes. "Are you alright?" she asked, gently, quietly and with a tone that reached deep into Gerome and pulled on something from long ago, from something he had tried hard to forget.

"No," he whispered, a vain attempt to keep his voice from being a choking, desperate gasp. "No, I'm not." Gerome shook his head, reaching up and ripping his mask from his face, revealing the tears in his eyes and all the pain in his heart. "Is this my punishment?" he cried as Cherche looked at him sadly. "Is this for how I was so cold in the beginning? How I couldn't even find the words to say until it was almost too late? Why didn't I tell her everything sooner? I want to have faith that she'll somehow return like last time. She has always returned, but still…I am tired of having her pulled away!" he looked up at Cherche, tears falling from his face. "Did she ever know how much I loved her?"

Cherche's arms immediately wrapped around him and Gerome gasped in surprise and instinctively moved back, but she did not falter. Instead she pulled him closer into her arms, her chin resting upon his shoulder. "Of course she knew," she said gently as Gerome's body stiffened in her arms. "She's Roo. She knew everything that wasn't said. She knew you."

"Why?" Gerome asked, closing his eyes and gritting his teeth to try to keep his heart from bursting. "Why do I keep losing my loved ones?"

"You haven't," Cherche replied sadly. "We're still here. Your father, Morgan, Robin, Robbie, Minerva. We're all still here. Even Roo's spirit, bound to you. Do not listen to those men and their ilk. So many people are calling her a hero, Gerome."

However, Gerome shook his head and pulled back, looking into Cherche's eyes. "I don't want a hero," he whispered. "I just want her back."

Pressing her hand into his face, two more tears fell from Gerome's eyes as he closed them for a brief moment before looking back up into Cherche's face again. "Mother…" he said quietly.

Cherche threw her arms around him once more and then they sat together, holding onto each other to try to keep each other supported from falling deep into that darkness from which there is never to return.

---

It was late, almost morning really, when Morgan lifted Robin's saddle upon his brother's back. "It IS a good idea," he hissed to Robin who growled in protest. "Mom wasn't hit by the lightning. We didn't find mom's body. Therefore, LOGIC states that mom is still alive and she needs us."

Another growl and Morgan stopped, putting his hands on his hips. "So what if I'm still hurt? Lissa's healing spell worked enough," he snapped. "Besides, I don't care if it's not safe. I won't let a few Risen stop me from getting her so they don't eat her…" he stopped, trailing off into a sad sigh and resting his head on Robin's side. "If it hadn't been for me…" he began.

"Nothing would have changed," Gerome's voice said from behind him and Morgan whirled around. "She would have given herself anyway. You're the child of a tactician. You should know."

"Dad…" Morgan protested. "You of all people should know why we have to do this. She wouldn't give up on us that easily if things were different!"

Gerome said nothing, simply standing there in the quiet night and giving his son a sympathetic and understanding frown.

"She could still be alive!" Morgan cried out, throwing down the rest of his equipment in anger. "She could be out there, right now, needing us! You're just going to sit here and forget that she even existed! Well, I won't! I'm going out there and I'm going to find her, even if I'm out there all night, or day or week or whatever!"

"I know," Gerome said quietly. "I didn't plan to stop you."

"Good! Then I'm going to find her! I'm going to...she could be…" Morgan trailed off, his shoulders beginning to shake. "She can't go…not like this…!"

Soft sobs were coming from Morgan and Gerome bent down to his son, lifting his head. Morgan's eyes met his and he stared up into Gerome, looking for the world like a child instead of the young man he was. "Mom meant everything to me," he whispered. "How could I lose her again?"

Sadly, Gerome pulled his son into a deep embrace as Morgan cried into his shoulder, Robin placing his good wing around them both.

---

Without a tactician, Chrom and the Shepherds found themselves on the defensive, and retreats and ground lost became common. "Another village, gone," Lucina sighed bitterly to herself as she looked out at the remains of smoking buildings. "More lives lost. It seems at every turn we are bested. How much longer can we continue like this?"

"What's even more confusing is how Plegia is doing so well without a leader," Chrom said, rolling his eyes at Frederick moving bits of debris from his path as they inspected the area. "Surely Aversa would be next in line since Robin was Validar's heir, but this doesn't seem like something of her caliber."

A little ways off, Morgan angrily kicked at a fallen post, watching it crumble into ash. "Damn it! I was sure this time," he hissed bitterly as Robin and Gerome stood beside him, searching the ground for clues. "I planned everything, even reinforcements! How could someone see through it so easily?"

Although he wanted to support his son, Gerome didn't know what to say without unintentionally twisting the knife of failure into Morgan. With Roo gone, he had taken the role of Chrom's tactician and despite his hard work and help from his brother, it seemed whoever plotted against them knew every move, every thought Morgan had, and his confidence weakened with every retreat. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were going up against Mom," Morgan spat to himself, and Gerome opened his mouth to respond, but a Pegasus's call rang over the air, interrupting him.

"Father!" Cynthia called to Chrom as she waved him over. "I found them! I found the villagers!"

A sigh of relief and bitterness drew itself from Chrom. "How many left alive?" he asked, making his way to Cynthia and fearing the worst.

However, now that he was close, he could see the confusion in her eyes as a herd of people, scared and burned, but alive, stood behind her. "All," Cynthia said, a confused yet relieved tone in her voice. "Everyone's still alive."

They set up the war council tent and Gerome stood with Chrom and Morgan, facing the village elder. "Take your time," Chrom said to the old man as Frederick served tea. "I understand you've been through a horrible experience, but if you can, we'd like to know what happened."

A shaking hand took the tea from Frederick and the old man closed his eyes before taking the smallest of sips. "Horrible. That's putting it lightly," he moaned. "The Risen swept in, burning and taking everything of value. Nothing of our home remains."

"Yet you are all still alive?" Morgan asked. "Was an alarm raised beforehand so you could escape?"

"No," the old man continued, Chrom and the others exchanging curious looks between themselves. "Admittedly, they made no move to save us, but they simply passed us by, as if we weren't even there. In doing so, it gave us the ability to escape from our burning homes and into the forest. We were not pursued."

The confused frowns on all their faces grew deeper. "Who lead the charge?" Chrom asked. "Did anyone see a general or tactician?"

The old man closed his eyes, taking a moment to think to himself before continuing. "There were two, although I do not know which roles they played," he said. "One was a darkly dressed woman on a black Pegasus. The other, I can't say for sure. They had a hood on, covering their face. I'm not even certain if it was a man or a woman, although I do remember seeing two glowing red eyes."

"What were they wearing?" Morgan asked, a growing fear in his heart. "Did you see the color of their hair?"

"A long purple coat," the old man said. "As for the hair, I cannot say."

Instantly, a look of hope shot across Morgan's face, but Gerome frowned, doubt cast on his expression. Even if it was the best of situations, it still stood that Robin, the evil Robin, had somehow survived and was making her conquest over the planet, or even worse, Roo had decided not to return to them and had accepted the Plegian throne after all.

It was as if Morgan could see his father's thought process and he frowned at him in disapproval. "There's more to this story than what we know," Morgan said firmly. "Risen with a conscious and not killing people? When was the last time, EVER, when you heard something like that?"

Gerome had to agree, but it still meant that if it was Roo, she was still going around destroying property and maybe not lives, but livelihoods. She would still have to somehow answer for the crimes the people would not so simply forgive. Saying nothing in defense, Gerome stood and left the tent, lost with his own thoughts.

---

Word had gotten out about the strange Risen behavior and the mysterious tactician of Plegia and once again, rumors circled around camp, even after the Shepherds had left the little village far behind them. "I wonder if it's true," Lucina frowned sadly as she stood with Chrom, Frederick and Gerome. "I wonder if it's her? I pray to the gods it isn't, for if it is, then we might have to face her in battle."

"Absolutely not," Gerome snapped, causing Lucina to take a half-step back at his sudden resolve.

Slowly, Chrom nodded his head. "I actually have to agree with Gerome," he said carefully. "Roo is our ally. Our friend. If the Fell Dragon somehow has a hold on her, we must try to break it, not cast her life aside."

"At the cost of your own life?" Lucina cried out, her worried eyes piercing into Chrom's. "Father! Listen to what you are saying!"

"I am, Lucina," he said sadly. "I know Roo would do the same if it were me."

However, this did nothing to appease Lucina who shrunk back and bit on her lips furiously. "I…I had a memory," she admitted. "I remember that Validar had a great tactician in our day known for her eyes said to glow like the coals of a fire. It was thanks to her that Grima came into power in our world. She must be stopped! It doesn't matter who she was or what she meant to anyone if it means we can save the future!"

Chrom gave his daughter a long, pitiful look. "Lucina…" he finally asked. "What if it were Inigo?"

A gasp of shock came from Lucina and she suddenly realized what that meant and she looked over to someone who was supposed to be her friend, but who now glared at her with such a fury she didn't think possible. "Gerome…I…" Lucina stammered, but it was useless as Gerome clenched his fists and quickly brushed past her, saying nothing.

---

Looking out over the smoldering remains of a city, Validar smiled. "Not bad," he mused. "Not bad at all. You are a fine strategist indeed."

"Thank you, Father," Robin said to him, her hood covering her face. "I only aim to please you and Master Grima."

A soft humming noise came from Validar as he frowned. "You're sure the Prince will come?" he snapped, a dangerous undertone in his voice.

Robin gave a slight nod. "Of course. He believes in truth and justice. He won't let even the smallest village stand alone."

Suddenly, Validar's hand shot out and grabbed Robin's collar. "You better be right," he snarled as Robin stood silent, but her eyes widening in fear. "I've been hearing some…concerning…news of your personal…conflicts, shall we say. While the lives of the masses are something I can overlook, I expect that when Chrom arrives, you will show your full loyalty to me."

"O…Of course, Father," Robin stammered, bowing her head in respect. "I just did not want the Risen to fill themselves on unimportant chaff."

Validar's face softened, his grip loosening and he smiled gently as he repositioned his hand to rest lightly upon her face. "I am sure you will excel," he said. "You are my daughter, after all."

Robin gave a small smile and nodded, but something deep inside of her was screaming out to deny it, to run as far as she could from his side. Once Validar left to attend to other matters of their invasion, Robin's breath rapidly grew in anger and frustration and her eyes searched for nothing, as if an answer would just appear before her. She was a Grimleal and destined to be the vessel for Grima, but every time she thought about one man, one entity ruling over all things, or if she raised her hand against another living being to take its life, something inside stopped her, although she didn't understand why.

She also had been dreaming. A dream of an open sky, light shinning everywhere and she was flying on the back of a great black wyvern, highlighted with blue scales. She should have been repulsed by the light and wind in her face, but she felt as if she belonged there, as if the wyvern himself was taking her somewhere safe and she discovered that whenever she looked into his dark eyes, an endless well of trust and love reflected back at her. However, when she woke, she always found herself in the darkness of the Grimleal tent, the only light being fires that were burning the remains of a city and her hand on her chest, as if to fill an empty hole where something had been.

"Sucking up to our father?" a voice cooed behind her, bringing her back to reality. "Not very lady-like, I assure you. What do they call it? Electra complex?"

"Aversa," Robin sneered, turning around and giving Aversa a sinister grin. "I'm sorry, but who ordered you to head the charge this time around? Oh, right, it was MY father. The man who called me his daughter just before he left. How about that?"

Aversa bit her lip angrily, her hands clenching into tight balls. "I have been more of a daughter to my Master than you EVER have," she snarled. "Even now, I can see it in your face. You haven't fully taken over HER, have you? I can hear you as you sleep at night. You still call out for him."

An ugly, hateful glare grew over Robin's face and her eyes flashed a blood red color. "That's none of your concern. Just make sure you stick to my plan this time and don't go flying off on your own and getting your squad killed," Robin spat before pushing past her.

Suddenly, a great cry rose over the air and Robin and Aversa turned to see blue banners appearing in the distance. A smile broke out onto Robin's face as she chuckled to herself, her eyes glowing red. "So…they finally caught up," she mused. "Aversa, get your Flier. You've got a little battle to win."

"I refuse any part in any of your plans, you witch!" Aversa hissed, but Robin's hand swung into her face, knocking her to the ground.

"Witch? That's hilarious, coming from you," Robin spat. "Either get on your Flier or run away from this place, I couldn't begin to care what fate you choose. You say you're loyal to Validar? Well, I'm his tactician and my words are his orders. I say mount your Flier. I say fight. I say you better do it NOW, or else you might as well stick the dagger in your own back yourself."

Aversa glared up at her, blood tricking out of her mouth, but said nothing. "Good," Robin said with a sinister tone in her voice as she walked away, waving Aversa off with her hand. "If you have anything else to argue about my tactics…you can shove it."

---

They had arrived at the Dragons' Table and Gerome frowned to himself as he looked up at an impressive fort. "It's not going to be easy," Morgan said, leaning on his lance beside him, Robin growling in agreement. "Although it doesn't look like anyone's home?"

"Of course they are," Gerome said. "It's an ambush. Surely, you must have known that."

"Oh…yeah! Yeah, a trap," Morgan stammered as Robin rolled his eyes behind him.

"Your brother is right," Gerome frowned. "You are letting your fears hinder your judgment."

He tried to open his mouth to argue, but Morgan only made a decent impression of a fish, his lips opening and closing, but nothing coming out. His father and brother were right, of course. They were always so calm and collected, even in the face of great danger and that little amusement gave Morgan the slight ease in his heart. He and his mother had a secret joke that Gerome and the wyvern were truly cut from the same cloth, and looking at the same stubborn expressions they wore, Morgan felt a stab in his heart that if his mother were here, they would be smiling at each other with a silent understanding. Grinning and closing his eyes to take a moment to himself, Morgan shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Letting the subject change, Morgan frowned and looked up at Gerome. "Dad, do you think she's in there too?" he asked sadly.

Gerome shot him a look, but sighed and let it go. Now wasn't the time to be arguing Morgan's unwitting stubbornness about not using proper terms. "Yes," he said confidently. "You know it as well."

Suddenly, Morgan turned and he and Gerome looked up to see Chrom standing beside them. "Are you ready?" Chrom asked, a worried look on his face.

"Yes," Gerome said, picking up his lance and leaping onto Minerva's back.

"If anybody sees her…if Lucina sees her…"

"I know," Gerome interrupted. "That's why I am going to get to her first."

"Or us," Morgan chimed in and Robin growled softly in agreement, causing Chrom to smile and nod.

Suddenly, the fort's great wooden doors creaked and the Shepherds looked up. "Little prince, little prince!" Aversa's voice suddenly rang out over the air. "Come out and play-aye! Little prince! Come out and pla-aye!"

Immediately, Chrom drew his sword, the other Shepherds doing in kind. "Aversa!" he called as she flew down in front of the fort with her Dark Flier. "Where's Validar? Tell him to fight his own battles!"

However, Aversa leaned on her Flier, an amused smile on her face. "Oh, you don't want to play with me?" she whimpered in mock sadness. "I'm so hurt. I even promised Master Validar I'd take extra special care of my dear sister's friends."

Shock ran through the Shepherds, but Morgan and Robin cried out in delight. "Mom is there?" he called, Robin drawing himself up to see more clearly.

"Well, that depends," Aversa teased. "Do you mean Roo or Robin? I'm just not sure I have any idea which one you're talking about considering they're one and the same."

"Anything but!" Chrom spat back, but Aversa laughed.

"You'll see soon enough, my little playthings," Aversa sneered. "After all, the vessel is about to ripen and then the Fell Dragon's return will be unstoppable! She will finally stop living in the shame when she raised a hand against her family!" Her smile returned and Aversa leveled her gaze at Gerome. "Or will you find it in yourselves to strike her down?" she cackled. "After all, what's one person's life in the shadow of millions?"

Although nothing was said from him, Gerome and Minerva took off into the air, barreling towards Aversa, lance raised. "So foolish," Aversa mused as she snapped her fingers and Risen rose from the ground, weapons ready.

"Attack!" Chrom cried out and the Shepherds rushed forward, clashing with the Risen and the cries of battle rose. Aversa also joined in, laughing maniacally as she shot dark magic at Gerome, causing him and Minerva to veer away to dodge her assault.

With Minerva having to circle about again, this let Morgan and Robin reach Aversa first, and Aversa gave a small giggle as she met Morgan's eyes. "So you're the whelps," she teased. "And both so handsome! Aren't I lucky to have the attention of such a pair of catches!"

"Shut up!" Morgan snarled, Robin roaring in agreement as they sniped at Aversa with fire and stabs from Morgan's lance, but she dodged their every attack and retaliated with magic of her own.

"So I see you have been paying attention during training," Aversa mused. "But I wonder how much that will help you when the last thing you see is your mother's face before she snuffs the very life from you! How very poetic!"

"SHUT UP!" Morgan roared, shooting a blast of fire magic at her. Cackling, Aversa flipped over the fire with her steed.

"She told me about you two," Aversa sneered. "How she secretly hated you because you just came into her life and changed everything! How the rumors ate away at her because of your existence! And how she never should have taken pity on you and left you to die in that godforsaken valley because you were nothing but trouble for the rest of her days!"

"STOP IT!" Morgan and Robin screamed as they raced towards her, lance and teeth flashing, but Aversa smiled.

Out of the corner of their hearing, Morgan and Robin could hear their names being called, but when they turned to see, Minerva burst into their vision, knocking them away as Aversa's magic flew over where they were just a second ago. Robin had to flap hard to reorient himself and both him and his brother looked up to see Gerome and Minerva protectively putting themselves between them and Aversa. "Don't listen to her!" Gerome snarled, not taking his eyes off Aversa who grinned down at them. "Anything she says is a lie! Would you really believe so little of your mother?"

Shame ripped through Morgan and Robin and their hearts fell. "Minions like you and Excellus nearly took everything from us," Morgan spat bitterly. "How can you live without lives of your own? Only for a master that wants to destroy the world! It's pathetic!"

"What's pathetic is that you almost let us," Aversa shot back. "And don't lump the likes of those Valamese scum with us. They were all just toys in our hands and were disposed of when we desired. Did you know that Walhart intended to destroy Grima as well? A pity he didn't listen when he was offered a chance to join you. And Excellus! Even after he fled Valm, I convinced him to bring Roo's darkened heart as a trophy in exchange for the Fire Emblem so that you could all destroy each other! Too bad he almost completely misunderstood my request. I only meant for her to lose herself to despair so she would be easier for the merge, not try to outright kill her. Ah, well. Men think they're so clever when they're really just idiots."

A bitter realization hit Morgan and Gerome. "So that's why Excellus tried to burn Roo and why you didn't give us soldiers, but resources instead," Gerome snarled. "How clever."

"You are slime," Morgan glowered, Robin hissing. "You are lower than slime."

Aversa simply smiled and shook her head. "Sticks and stones," she mused. "But much as I love the attention of handsome strangers, the time has long passed for you to die!"

Gathering a great ball of magical energy in her hands, Aversa began to laugh as she shot it towards Gerome and Morgan. Instantly, the two riders split and the magic passed by. "Dad!" Morgan called and Gerome nodded in agreement.

Gerome sped forward, his lance raised and he clashed with Aversa in the air, Aversa using her dark magic to block. With a cackle, Aversa suddenly lashed out and Gerome pulled back hard on Minerva, causing them to drop down, but allowing Morgan to shoot forward in his place. Aversa blocked the incoming attack, but it was just a sniping stab before Morgan and Robin rocketed upwards in the sky.

"What's this?" Aversa sneered, unable to keep eyes on both of them. "Trying to be cute, are we?"

Fire crackled in Morgan's hands before he flung it into Aversa's direction, but Aversa dodged it easily. "You must be getting pretty tired if that's the best you can do," she said. "Don't worry. I have a kiss for each of you…"

Suddenly Aversa's eyes widened as the fireball that Morgan had sent flew back to her. "What?" Aversa cried out as the fireball hit her Flier, causing it to scream in agony. They began to fall and Aversa snarled as she saw Gerome underneath her where he his lance still glowed red from where he had reflected the fire magic.

"Now!" Gerome cried out and he and Morgan sped towards Aversa, coming in fast from opposite directions. There was nothing Aversa could do as the two lances sliced through her, causing her blood to burst out like a firework in the sky.

She hung in the sky for a split second, her hand reaching out for the castle and a dark figure standing on the top of the battlements. "Father…" she whispered before she began to fall, her eyes closing at last.

Robin said nothing as she stood alone, watching Aversa's hand fall along with the rest of her body to the ground.

---

With the Risen defeated, the Shepherds made their way inside the castle, Morgan and Gerome leaving Minerva and Robin behind to guard their backs. "The walls and ceiling are too low to fit all of us," Gerome said, giving Minerva a reassuring pat on the head. "I will come back for you. Protect us and each other."

Although Robin had protested, Minerva was old and wise enough not to argue and a snap of teeth from his former instructor was enough to make Robin reluctantly back down, giving Morgan and Gerome a worried look. "It's alright, brother," Morgan smiled. "I'll protect him and bring mom back. Just wait and see."

That's what I'm worried about.

"Ass."

And so they continued on foot, fighting their way up the halls until at last, they burst into the main chamber where two figures waited for them in front of the throne of Plegia. "Ah, finally," Validar smiled as he slowly clapped his hands. "You made it."

However, Gerome was not focused on Validar, but on the person beside him. Dressed in a familiar purple coat, two glowing red eyes stared back at them from under the darkness of her hood. However, the hair that snaked out from the shadows glittering white and Gerome felt his heart drop at the sight of it. "Robin…!" he breathed as she smiled back at him.

"At LAST someone gets my name right," Robin chuckled as she held out her hands in a mocking shrug. "How many months has it been? Years? How disappointing that it's now, at the end, do I feel like you have truly called my name."

"You're not her!" Morgan suddenly cried out, his lance and tome ready. "I heard what Aversa said about you! There's no way she could have possibly known about all of that if you're really Robin and not my mother!"

A smirk appeared on Robin's face as she turned to Validar. "Our family certainly seems to have a history of misguided youth," she mused and Validar laughed in return. "Father, the merge is almost complete. Why don't you finish up the ritual? I have some old friends to entertain."

"Very well," Validar said, standing and heading towards a side door. Giving Robin one last glance, he frowned. "Do not disappoint me."

Robin bowed her head before turning back to the Shepherds, a smile on her face. "I would never disappoint you, Master. After all," she said to the Shepherds. "We are family."

"Mom!" Morgan protested, but Robin amusedly tilted her head and folded her arms across her chest.

"Such a strange thing to hear it from you," Robin sighed, her tone mocking. "As if you think we still have a connection. How foolish can you be? It is my destiny to be the vessel of Grima, just as it is yours to die alone and unwanted! Even now, I should thank you, for if it hadn't been for you, I never would have come back to my true family, to my true path!" Reaching out and clenching her fist to test her strength, Robin smiled. "The merging process is almost complete," she said. "The heart still sleeps, but the blood is strong."

"What does that mean?" Chrom frowned. "Do you understand what will happen? Do you understand you're about to destroy the world?"

Robin let out a cackling laugh. "It's what I hope for!" she crowed. "The Table is set and the feast will begin soon! But I don't expect the base masses like you to understand anything. So here!"

A sound of crackling thunder was heard and the Shepherd's eyes grew wide as Robin reached into her chest and pulled it apart, revealing Roo inside of her, tendons and flesh binding her to Robin's body and her eyes peacefully closed as she leaned slightly forward. "What madness is this?" Chrom gasped as Robin laughed at them, the marks of the Grimleal glowing on the backs of her uncovered hands.

"It's the merge!" Robin said. "We are two halves of a greater whole. You see, I am not of this world. In my time, I was defeated, but the heart, Grima's heart, was still filled with darkness and so it was not destroyed. I came to this plane of existence, but the journey through worlds tore my heart in two and this amnesiac weakling you see before you was born in that field as a result. I held all our memories, but she held all our strength, taking our body to whatever ridiculous place she pleased while I was confined to a bed, waiting for her return. She was useless to us with her heart cleansed of my influence, and believe me, we attempted several times to have her fall into darkness. But now, her despair is strong and once I have assimilated us back together, the vessel for Grima's resurrection will be complete!" Pushing herself back together, a light drew itself up from the bottom of the seam where Robin had torn herself, leaving behind her fully healed clothing, skin and Roo back inside. "Whatever damage I do to myself, the Fell Dragon's heart will heal," she explained, reveling in the Shepherd's shocked faces. "Whatever damage you do to me will heal. So come on, then." Giving a smile, Robin's lightning energy crackled in her fingers. "What better way for Roo to lose hope for good than to see her own body kill her friends?"

"No!" Lucina cried as she dashed forward, sword raised. "The future MUST be saved!"

"Lucina!" Inigo cried out, but Lucina ignored him and leapt for the attack. Casually, Robin flung her hand out, lighting crackling between her and a burst of energy hit Lucina head on, tossing her away.

Inigo didn't even have time to cry out for his wife as Robin shot forward with inhuman speed, throwing lighting and slashing with a dagger she pulled from her side. "Did you miss me?" she cackled, her voice ringing of Roo's more than Robin's. "I heard I was hailed as a hero after my death! Tell me, what will they say of me once history writes down that I killed you all!" One by one, the Shepherd's fell, lightning ripping through their bodies or red gashes appearing on sides and limbs. "I know all your strategies!" Robin crowed. "All your moves! What plan do you possibly have against me?"

"Roo, stop!" Chrom cried out, trying to raise Falchion to block, but Robin ducked under his blade and casually shot a bolt of lightning into his side.

The world seemed to stop turning as Lucina watched her father fall, magic energy still crackling around him. A scream of horror and sorrow tore from her and she grabbed her sword, dashing for Robin who turned to face her with a cold, calculated look. Without any hesitation, Lucina swung her sword at Robin, aiming straight for her heart.

Suddenly, a blade shot out and Lucina's eyes opened wide in shock as she stared into Gerome's as he shielded Robin with his lance. "Gerome…what are you doing?" she snarled as she tried to press down harder. "Get away from her!"

Gerome said nothing except a grunt of effort as he pushed Lucina away, keeping his back to Robin as she began to laugh. Raising her sword again, Lucina took another fighting stance. "You would betray us?" she hissed as Gerome gave her a sad frown. "Did you not see what she has done to your friends? To my FATHER?"

"Do not interfere," Gerome said, his words cold and bitter.

"Gerome!" Lucina cried back, raising her sword in protest, but Gerome made no move to stop her and Lucina's swung down, stopping only a sliver away from Gerome's neck. Gerome said nothing, only raising a hand to gently push the blade down and away as a silent apology before turning back to face Robin, leaving Lucina collapsing to the ground, trembling and tears running down her face at her father's side.

A smile broke out on Robin as she put her hands on her hips in amusement. "Ah, it's you," she giggled. "I suppose I should thank you for saving my life."

"I didn't do it to save yours," Gerome said.

"Of course not. For love, or whatever," Robin spat back. She tilted her head, staring into his eyes for a long, deep look. "I still don't remember what it is about you," she snarled. "But I will remedy the problem. Once I have merged the first thing I will do is throw your bones in the river and erase all traces of you from our mind."

Turning his lance in his hands, Gerome slowly raised the point to Robin's face. "I admit, I have always wondered how I would compare to the great tactician," he admitted. "But as I stand here now, looking at you, I already know the outcome of this fight."

"Dad!" Morgan called out, not sure of what to do, but Gerome gave him a quick look and Morgan understood and stepped back.

"You think you can defeat me? Cute," Robin spat as she took a fighting stance and summoned electricity to sparkle from her fingertips. Then she lunged forward, magic bursting forth, but Gerome quickly knocked it away with his blade and twisted his body so Robin moved past him. Bringing his lance around, Gerome let out a cry, Robin doing the same and they clashed together, sparks flying all around them as blade and magic met.

Attacking again, Robin let out a laugh as she pushed Gerome back. "How do you think you're going to win?" she cackled. "You are just one of the millions who will die in the feast for the Fell Dragon! You are facing a GOD!"

"You're not a god yet!" Gerome shot back. Ducking under her attack, Gerome swung the blunt end of his lance down into Robin's foot as she howled in pain. Fury came over her face and she lunged for him, but Gerome took full opportunity of her blind rage to lean back and below her, causing Robin to lose her balance and for Gerome to slam his elbow into her stomach.

A snarl of pain and anger came out of Robin as she fell to her knees. "It's over," Gerome said quietly. Then, as the other Shepherds gasped in shock, he held out his lance for Robin to take.

"You…what is this?" Robin spat, but Gerome held her gaze, his hand steady and calm.

"You're the tactician, you should know," Gerome said. "As I did the moment I raised my hand against you. I will not, I cannot kill you, no matter what form you take." Robin's eyes opened wide in shock as Gerome frowned sadly at her, his gaze reaching past Robin's down further inside to something much deeper. "If you are truly gone, if there is no hope, then I would rather be a ghost, lingering beside you in your memories. What is one life against millions? If it is yours…it means everything."

He could hear Morgan calling for him, but Gerome knew he wouldn't come to his aid, not that he wanted it anyway. The other Shepherds were trying to reach him, but they wouldn't, not that he cared. It was only the one before him, Robin, who smiled and snatched his lance from his hands. "You really are the stubborn one," she mused before she stabbed the lance towards his chest, aiming right for the center where a red pendant with blue flecks like fire glimmered back at her.

And then she stopped.

It was as if they had frozen in time and the Shepherds stopped in their tracks as Robin kept the lance steady at Gerome's center, the tip of his lance just barely touching the stone.

Suddenly, the lance clattered to the floor and she screamed, clawing at her head and her eyes wide and crazed. "STOP IT!" she screeched, stumbling back towards the throne, as if to run away. "The merge is almost complete! You are powerless to do anything!"

Morgan began to take a step forward, but Gerome's arm shot out to stop him, both of them only able to watch in horror as Robin dragged herself up the stairs and to the throne's side. "I am Grima!" Robin spat out, her hands tearing at her hood. "I am the Dragon's Heart!"

Then, to everyone's shock and horror, Robin suddenly plunged her right hand into her chest, screaming as blood began to pour from her fingers. With a cry of agony, her hand burst forth again, a heart between her fingers, beating softly with a dark purple light. "What are you doing?" Robin cried out as her own hand began to squeeze the heart painfully. "Stop! You'll kill us!"

Roo's voice cried out from Robin's lips. "You…you can take the Dragon's Heart and SHOVE IT!"

"FOOL!" Robin screamed as her body suddenly pulled away from Roo's, leaving Roo standing with her heart in her hands and Robin snarling behind her, gasping in pain and stumbling back. "Be thankful it's Grima's magic you can do this!" she spat furiously. "Be thankful that you won't be conscious to see your friends have their flesh torn from their bones!"

Sadly, Roo stared down at her organ, the soft thumping sound roaring out over the silence of the room. The black strands of Grima's magic wrapped tightly around it began to pull her heart back into her chest and a thin dark magic line sealed the hole she had made once it was safely back inside her. Weakly, she looked up and gave Gerome a sad smile before her eyes closed and she collapsed onto the ground.

Without any care to Robin still behind her, Gerome sped forward, gathering Roo's body into his arms. "Roo…!" he cried out, but her eyes were closed and her body lay limp in his hands. She was breathing, but lightly so and Gerome held her close, fearing the worst, motioning for Morgan to come to Roo's side. "Get to safety!" he ordered, Morgan not arguing and gently picking up his mother and escaping towards the exit. Turning his attention to Robin, Gerome kicked up his fallen lance, twirling it around his body before pointing the tip at her. "Now you have nothing to hold against me," he growled dangerously, Robin's eyes widening in fear. "Now I shall not hold back!"

Robin barely had time to gasp out as Gerome shot forward, the tip of his lance aiming for her head. In desperation, she blocked with magical energy, but the blade still cut into her and Robin cried out as her left hand burst open with blood, now black instead of red. Even so, Gerome did not let up and let out a cry of rage as he swung again, slicing open Robin's arm. There was nothing Robin could do as Gerome moved like a whirlwind around her until finally she was just forced to stand there as Gerome continued his assault. Stab after stab and slice after slice, Gerome twirled his blade around and black blood pooled at Robin's feet, but her wounds kept healing in a vicious cycle of immorality and pain. Finally, Gerome cried out as he pulled back his lance and after taking a second to aim, thrust it straight into Robin's heart, impaling her on the end as the point burst from her back.

"Filthy peasants…!" Robin hissed as she squirmed on the end of Gerome's lance. "Do you really think the might of a mere man can defeat me?" Grabbing Gerome's arm in one hand, Robin began to laugh again as she raised her other, magical lightning sparkling around her, holding him to her. "Only blood can defeat blood, and you are found wanting!" she cried, her eyes burning into Gerome's as he glared at her.

"To hell with you anyway!" a familiar voice cried out and Robin screeched furiously as an axe came for her head and smashed into her arm, shattering it, but separating the two.

"You!" she snarled, her arm healing slowly with dark magic as Basilio stood in front of her, raising his axe defensively. "You're alive?"

Basilio gave an indignant snort as he nodded his head towards Lucina. "You thought I was dead? I pretended to be dead in Valm against Walhart thanks to Lucina's warning! You're no Roo, you witch! Neither as smart nor as strong! Completed a merge? Bah! You still haven't realized that Roo was fighting you this whole time and you've been tricked!"

"What?" Robin spat, but another blade swung for her and Robin stumbled back, screaming in pain at the slash in her back.

Spinning around, even as her wound began to heal with dark magic, Robin's glowing red eyes met Chrom's. He was breathing hard and a wound still oozed blood from his side, but he was alive, Falchion burning brightly in his hands. "Father!" Lucina cried out in happiness.

"Roo…weakened you just before the strike," Chrom spat. "We are all bound by an unbreakable bond. You can't defeat us!"

Rage boiled in Robin's face as she turned to snarl at the Shepherds. "Damn you ALL!" she roared before an enraged scream tore from her mouth and a magic ball of lightning in her hands slammed into the ground, blinding everyone. Only Gerome, with his mask shielding the flash of light, saw Robin turn to him and give him a strangely heartbreaking look before she teleported away.

---

"She still hasn't woken up," Lissa said sadly, shaking her head. "It's hard to tell if she ever will. Tearing out your own heart and having it hastily healed with dark magic isn't the best thing to do to yourself, although thanks to Grima's magic, I think it saved her."

"Remind me to thank Validar later," Gerome spat bitterly.

He, Morgan and Lissa were sitting together in the healer's tent, Roo sleeping peacefully before them and Robbie silently lying at the foot of her bed. "We can't shake her or something?" Morgan asked, Gerome giving him an annoyed look. Seeing his father's expression, Morgan snapped his mouth shut and turned his gaze to the ground.

"Thank you, Lissa," Gerome said, ignoring his son who fidgeted with his hood nervously. Although he loved his child dearly, sometimes it was hard not to smack him in the back of his head like his older brother often did.

"I did my best," Lissa replied. "For now, I think it's best to let her sleep."

Gerome and Morgan gave sad nods, Morgan bending down to pick up Robbie who cooed in protest, but allowed himself to be led away. If the best thing for Roo was peace, then she would have it and Lissa, Morgan and Robbie left, leaving Gerome behind. He waited until they were gone and turned back, kneeling down by her cot and taking her hand in his, as if to push his life into her through his touch, his thumb running over the mark that still faintly glowed on her right hand.

"Until recently, I had only lived for my own future. Then you came and my life of solitude ended," he said quietly, taking her pendant from around his neck and placing it in her hand, closing her fingers around it. "The future is brighter, but only if you are there beside me. Please come back. I love you."

There was no answer, and although he didn't expect one, a stab of sadness and disappointment still ached in his heart as Gerome stood and quietly left the tent.

---

In the war council tent, Lucina, Frederick, Gerome and Chrom sat together, going over the day's events in their minds. "I guess they don't call her a 'Grandmaster' for nothing," Chrom sighed. "She had us all around her little finger when we fought."

"Of course," Gerome said. "Roo has been acutely observing us for as long as we've all been together. If Robin had access to her memories, she would naturally exploit them to use against us."

Lucina nodded in agreement. "She'll be back," she said. "She and Validar want Roo for their evil intentions, but I think we may have an advantage. Roo fears to fight and so we should not include her in our number when we face them again. This way, they cannot use her against us at all."

Chrom and Gerome both exchanged annoyed looks at the old insinuation behind Lucina's words. "That's not the reason why Roo refuses to raise a weapon, but I understand your point," Chrom frowned, Lucina shrinking back under his disapproving stare.

"But Father," Lucina protested. "This past time, Roo may have been able to hold back enough to save you, but next time…!"

"Roo is my chief advisor and myself and your mother's best friend," Chrom snapped back. "We WISH to have her by our side as often as we can and as long as she is willing to stay. Have you forgotten everything that she has done for us? For you?"

Lucina fell quiet and looked away, her lips pursed bitterly. "Sir," Frederick interrupted, coughing lightly to catch their attention. "Even if Roo is our ally, we must still consider what Validar might do. If Lucina's prediction from the future is correct in that someone dear to you betrayed you, then we must consider all the possibilities, no matter how much we may not want to. Robin said she and Roo are the same, and there might be a chance that a part of Robin lingers in Roo, even though she fought against her other half. The mark on her hand still glows."

Immediately, Gerome narrowed his eyes at Frederick who stiffened and glared back. "Have you forgotten that she tore out her own heart for us?" he snarled. "You still don't trust her to do the right thing?"

"I didn't say that," Frederick said curtly.

A bitter look came over Gerome. "No," he said quietly, a dangerous tone in his voice. "You've never trusted her at all. But that's how things are done here, isn't it? Despite everything we say, we still trample over the bodies of our friends for peace." Giving them all one last threatening look, Gerome pushed past them and out the tent opening.

The meeting was over.

---

It was late when Lucina stepped inside the healer's tent, a grim look upon her face. Standing in the entryway, Lucina closed her eyes, took a deep breath and stepped forward to Roo's cot where she slept peacefully. "I apologize for coming to see you so late," Lucina said quietly. "I…I was hoping we could have a word together."

There was no response, but Lucina didn't expect one and she looked away, her eyes filled with sadness and memory. "I remember my father from when I was little. Before he…died. He was courageous and kind and everyone spoke fondly of him." She closed her eyes and smiled. "People say he was brave right up until the end," she turned to Roo once more. "As you were. I…never imagined someone could tear themselves open as you did. I must admit, whenever I saw you with your horse or your wyverns, I always thought poorly of your carefree attitude. I see now, that it simply hid your courage and strength. I am glad Gerome could see what I could not. He was lucky to have you." Lucina's face fell again and her hand reached for Falchion's handle. "I have always wanted to know my father and now that I do…now that I have had the chance to be by his side again, you must understand why I have to do this."

A sharp ringing sound filled the air and Lucina pulled Falchion from its sheath. "Today's events have made it clear you are at Validar's mercy and if he gains control over you again, you will be more powerful than all of us. The future will be lost. If you truly believe the future can be changed, if you and my father believe that the dark future I know can be averted, then sacrifices have to be made. I know this is murder. I know you cannot even fight back for your own life, but that's why I chose to do this now, so it will be quick and painless." Raising her sword above her head, Lucina steeled herself. "I don't expect for you or your family to forgive me," she said sadly, "But I am sorry."

"What are you doing?"

Horror and shock filled Lucina's face as she turned, matching her gaze with Morgan's equally horrified and shocked expression. "Morgan…!" Lucina stammered, time freezing their bodies in place.

A cry of rage rang out over the camp and Gerome turned to the sound just in time to see Morgan and Lucina tumble out of the healer's tent, both of them grabbing for Falchion as Lucina struggled to hold it out of Morgan's reach. Morgan's hands were already bleeding from the cuts that had been made as he tried to grab for the sword, but also from throwing his fists into Lucina's face as he cried out in blind anger. Letting loose a cry of her own, Lucina managed to kick Morgan away, and they scrambled to their feet, Lucina taking a defensive stance and Morgan grabbing a nearby lance from a weapon's rack, each other them leveling the points at each other's faces. "Morgan!" Gerome cried out as he dashed to his son's side, furiously grabbing his collar, but Morgan refused to budge, keeping his blazing gaze locked on Lucina as they both panted heavily.

"Whatever your excuses are, I don't care!" Morgan screamed, ignoring his father and the growing crowd around them. "I heard everything anyway! You think killing my mother is the solution to all your problems? You can defend it however you want, but you're right about one thing, it's still murder!"

Gerome's hand dropped and he turned to stare at Lucina in shock. "I don't expect you to understand my reasons for my actions!" Lucina shot back. "You haven't come from a world full of death and despair! A land where you don't know if you will die in the next minute, the next second! If you did, you would do as I and take ANY measures to ensure it never happens!"

"What's going on?" Chrom's voice roared over them as he stepped forward to Lucina's side. "Lucina! Lower your weapon!"

"No, Father!" Lucina cried back and Chrom drew back in shock at her defiance. "I am doing this for our future! For you! I HAVE to!" Turning back to Morgan, Lucina narrowed her eyes. "There is no other choice!" she said firmly, as if to convince herself more than the others. "If you are going to stand in my way, I will strike you down!"

She dashed for Morgan, blade raised high and Morgan, seeing his friend coming for him, faltered slightly, giving Lucina the opening she wanted. Showing no signs of stopping, she slashed for his throat, but before the blade could touch him, the clang of metal against metal rang out and Lucina's eyes opened in shock as Gerome glowered back, using Morgan's lance to block her strike. "Gerome, no!" Lucina cried out as she pushed hard against him. "Don't you understand what's at stake here?"

"Do you?" Gerome spat back as he shoved her away, standing protectively in front of Morgan, taking his lance from him and pushing his son behind him.

The other Shepherds had gathered now, Inigo and Laurent in their numbers. "Lucina, what are you doing?" Inigo cried out as he tried to go to her side, but a glare from Lucina stopped him. Seeing his wife and his best friend facing each other, intentions of stopping the other at any cost in their eyes, Inigo clenched his fist angrily. "We're supposed to be friends! Is there really no other way? Just stop and think for a minute!" he shouted at them both, but Gerome and Lucina remained deaf to his pleas.

They stood against each other now, Lucina trying to steady her breath as she held Falchion, while Gerome stood calm as always, a barrier between a death sentence and his family. "I have thought about this," Lucina continued, her eyes cold and hard. "I wish with all my heart that didn't mean her. That it didn't mean him," she nodded to Morgan who glared back at her, "And that it didn't mean you," she finished, matching Gerome's gaze, "But you will not stop me."

"Fine," Gerome snarled. "Then this is farewell."

Suddenly, Gerome dashed forward and clashed against steel, but it was not Lucina's Falchion that blocked his strike. "Father!" Lucina cried out, Chrom standing in front of her, pushing back against Gerome's attack.

Gerome narrowed his eyes at Chrom who swung his sword forward, knocking him away. "You're not the only one who will defend the ones he loves!" Chrom spat bitterly to Gerome, who leveled his lance calmly. "You would strike for the kill?"

"What did you expect?" Gerome asked rhetorically.

Chrom gave an angry sigh, his eyes focused in on Gerome. "Very well," he said quietly. "Let's put the past to rest and see whatever future is in store!"

Taking a step back, Gerome twirled his lance in his hands once more as Chrom held his sword back, using his other arm for defense. A breath passed and they suddenly shot for each other, blades clashing together, causing sparks to fly between them. "Wait, stop!" Lucina called out, but her words fell on deaf ears, Chrom and Gerome continuing to strike at each other with deadly ferocity.

She tried to rush forward to stop them, but a gentle hand rested on her shoulder, giving her pause. "There's nothing you can do," Inigo sad sadly as she turned to face him, horror in her eyes. "They won't stop until one of them is dead."

"No…!" Lucina whispered as Inigo tried to pull her away, not wanting her to see. "No, this isn't what I wanted at all! Please…!" But her words were useless as Gerome and Chrom clashed together over and over again.

Blood was being drawn, but in the fray, it was impossible to tell who struck first. Red lines just seemed to appear on the two as they fought on, paying no heed to their injuries. No words were exchanged, but there was no point anyway. Despite the fact they were allies, despite their new friendship, their pasts still haunted their movements and reflected in every exchange. However, Chrom still held the heavenly sword and Gerome could feel his lance begin to chip away from the massive damage being inflicted upon it with every blow. Hoping to end the fight, Gerome pushed forward, driving Chrom back and with a swift swing of his lance, sliced Chrom across the stomach with his blade, causing Chrom to cry out and fall to his knee before Gerome.

Although Lucina screamed and the other Shepherds cried out in fear, Chrom was deaf to it all. In his own mind, memories of the past flooded into him again and the old frustrations and anger of being unable to do anything as he watched his world crumble away around him rose in his heart. His sister dying, the burden of being the new Exalt and a commander during a time of such suffering, his friends and allies disappearing from him one by one and Roo refusing his love. It was all because of him. All because of the Wyvern Rider before him and although something in the back of his mind called for reason, emotion completely overrode any logic and Chrom cried out in rage as he suddenly stood, finding new strength in his anger and struck out.

A shattering sound like glass was heard and Gerome stumbled back, his lance in two. However, Chrom didn't let up and with another roar, leapt for the attack, forcing Gerome to throw away one half of his broken weapon and use the other as a pathetic barrier to block Chrom's attack. The force from the following blow from Falchion caused Gerome to fall back onto the ground and Chrom gave no quarter as he swung Falchion overhead and brought it down like a hammer, over and over again until splinters began to appear in Gerome's last defense.

It was only a matter of time and the piece of silver in Gerome's hands burst into fragments. Letting out a howl of fury, Chrom raised Falchion over his head once more to finish it once and for all.

"STOP!"

Something in Chrom finally snapped together and Falchion stopped, just millimeters from Morgan's forehead. It was as if the world came back into focus again and Chrom stared down in horror at Morgan's fearful, open eyes. Roo's eyes.

A great weight suddenly slammed into him and Chrom flew back, hearing the roar of a wyvern in his ears as he rolled. Picking himself up, he met Robin's golden gaze, filled with anger as he stood between Chrom and his brother and father, wings outstretched protectively. Behind them, Robbie hid behind his father, quivering in fear. "Don't kill my dad!" Morgan half-screamed, half-pleaded, his arms still outstretched in front of Gerome who was staring up at his son in shock.

It was over and Chrom clenched his fists angrily, allowing Lucina and Frederick to haul him to his feet, although he did not turn to thank them afterwards. His own words rang in his head as he stared down at his hand, the hand that had almost taken his best friend's lover and child from this world.

"It could have been. It could be. Just like my father."

There was no expression on his face as Chrom closed his eyes and sheathed his sword. "It's over," he said quietly, opening his gaze to Morgan and Robin who began to lower their guard. "Everything is over. Morgan, Robin, I would ask your forgiveness, but I do not expect it."

"Father…" Lucina whispered, fear growing in her voice. "Does this mean…?"

"It does," Chrom said firmly, placing his hand over his shallow wound. "Lucina, I shall place my trust in Roo. I won't give her up to Validar and I will hear no more debate about it. I must believe in her." He sighed, his eyes holding a silent apology to Gerome who had stood. "I must believe in my friends."

Although no words were exchanged, none needed to be and Gerome gave Chrom a nod.

Chrom returned the gesture before facing his men again. "Prepare for battle!" he ordered, men scrambling to get out of his way. "The next time we face Validar, it will be the last!"

Although she wanted to, Lucina knew better than to protest and she hung her head as Chrom passed her. Soon, it was just her and Gerome and his family and Lucina shyly looked up at them, but the distant and bitter gaze on Gerome's face, even with the mask, kept her silent and Lucina turned away sadly, headed back deeper into the camp.

"Dad?" Morgan asked quietly once they were left alone, Robin coming to their sides. "Are…are you alright?"

Gerome took in a deep breath of air before giving Morgan and Robin a slight nod. Instantly, Morgan threw his arms around his father, the wyverns also rushing to join them in kind. Taken aback by this sudden display of affection, Gerome coughed nervously, Morgan and the wyverns releasing him, but without shame on their faces. "We always almost keep losing you two," Morgan explained sadly. "We just want you to know how much you mean to us."

Slowly, a smile spread across Gerome's face as he took them all into his arms once more, pulling them close.

---

"Dad!"

It was early. So early that Gerome didn't think anyone would be awake at this hour and he groaned and tried to block out the growing light with his hands over his head. "What is it, Morgan?" he grumbled irritably, curling up in his cot.

"Mom is gone!"

Gerome shot up like a rocket, barely managing to grab pants and a shirt before stumbling out of his tent and into the day. Blinking in surprise, Gerome stared at the nearly empty camp, most of the Shepherds still asleep in their tents, but some early risers milling about with their morning tasks. If Roo really had vanished, Lissa should have been up as the first to know since she was head healer, but soft snores were coming from her and Vaike's tent, and as usual, most of the louder snores did not belonging to Vaike. Behind him, Morgan sheepishly walked up to him and handed him his mask, Robin and Robbie following behind. "You're the first one I've told," he admitted. "I mean…I tried to wake Lissa, but…well, you know."

Watching Morgan rub his cheek that was flushed red in a circular spot, Gerome sighed and took his mask, placing it over his eyes. "You seem really calm about all this," Morgan mused. "You and Robin got that half of the family."

"Yes, and you got your mother's enthusiasm for leaping into situations without thinking," Gerome shot back. "If it was a real emergency, the camp would be in an uproar and you would have stopped at nothing to wake Lissa before myself, yet you are here. I take it you've seen her?"

Morgan nodded and pointed to a direction into the woods away from camp. "She was headed that way," he said. "I called her, but she didn't answer. I don't think she wanted to talk to me. No one else noticed she left, either."

"As expected," Gerome mused. "Your mother is a tactician. She will pick her fights and conversations when she so chooses."

Suddenly, Gerome heard Chrom call his name with an urgent tone and Gerome sighed, turning his head to see Chrom dashing up to him from the healer's tent, Lucina behind him. "Roo is missing!" Chrom gasped as he stopped before Gerome. "We've got to send a search party! Get into the sky so we can look for her! I can get Frederick to get horses…!"

"No, don't," Gerome said firmly. "I know where she went. She's just waiting."

"She left without telling us?" Lucina frowned and both Robin and Gerome glared at her, noting the suspicious look that had flashed across her face.

"She left because she first wishes to speak with me alone," Gerome explained. "She will come back once we are finished."

Chrom and Lucina both exchanged worried glances. "How do you know?" Chrom asked as Gerome pushed past him, headed off into the direction Morgan had pointed in.

Gerome didn't answer and Chrom turned back to Morgan and the wyverns, rubbing his head in confusion. "Well, I guess he knows her best," Chrom mused. "Tell me when they get back, ok?"

Lucina nodded and Chrom walked off, headed back to his own tent with a smile on his face. It was just Lucina and the brothers now, and Lucina nervously shifted from foot to foot, Morgan looking up at her curiously at her continued presence. "Is there…something you want to say?" Morgan offered as Lucina began to chew her lip and wring her hands together. "Some worry eating at you?"

She could barely meet their gazes and Lucina gave a small cough to clear her throat before continuing. "I just…it's…it's a grim memory that refuses me peace," she admitted. "I…tried to kill your mother."

At the words, Robin snorted loudly, blowing back some of Lucina's hair and Robbie, seeing his older self's reaction, snorted twice as powerfully as he could, only succeeding in blowing a huge wad of snot on Lucina's boots. "Robbie!" Morgan cried out as Robin let out a huffing laugh and Robbie snorting madly to clear his nose. "Bad wyvern! Bad! Mom said not to snot on people's shoes!"

"It's…alright," Lucina choked out. "There have been far worse things than this on these boots. Besides, that is not the matter. Morgan…Robin and Robbie…I'm truly sorry for what I've done."

"It's ok," Morgan said quietly, a smile on his face. "I forgive you."

Shock ran over Lucina as her jaw dropped and her eyes grew wide. "You do?" she stammered stupidly. "But…I mean…I did it!"

Morgan shrugged. "Yeah, you did," he mused. "But at the same time, I understand why you thought you should. When you said you would want to avoid your future at any cost…I understand. Mom's other half came from a world like that, didn't she? Look where it got her because she let those thoughts overwhelm her. You kept fighting. You didn't fall into despair like the evil mom did and so, I forgive you. However, this guy," he nodded to Robin who glared down at them both and snapped his head to the side, "Is the stubborn one. Maybe even more stubborn than dad."

A sharp growl came from Robin and he huffed at them both before stomping away to the edge of the camp and dramatically sat down, his back facing Lucina and Morgan. Seeing his older self's reaction, Robbie huffed in a similar fashion, padded away and plopped down next to his bigger version. However, unlike his older self, Robbie gave Morgan a quick glance of apology before sucking air back into his chest and twisting his nose to the sky. "Yep. Just…like…dad…" Morgan droned.

Although their rejection stung, it was what Lucina was expecting and she had to accept it. Turning her attention back to Morgan, Lucina frowned. "Do you really think the future can be changed?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

"Of course," Morgan beamed, his hands on his hips, reflective of Roo. "Mom is certain we can. So is Chrom. Even my dad believes it, but I guess that's because he hung out with mom too much. We're all going to make things different than before…or I guess, what will be? Or before? No, will be is correct…?"

Despite her sadness a small chuckle came from Lucina as she watched Morgan struggle with his words. "Ah, there's a smile!" Morgan said brightly as Lucina looked at him in surprise.

"You really are full of energy, aren't you?" Lucina said, her surprise giving way to polite amusement. "You take after your mother."

"Of course," Morgan said, his eyes peering deep into Lucina. "We're the same, you know. We both don't remember a whole lot, so everything is new and wonderful. That's why she never wanted to hurt people. She discovered the pain she could cause to others when she didn't have to. She found that with reason and thinking, using words, conflicts could be settled. Everyone could have a chance at being happy and alive and so she didn't want to forget the power behind the will of the individual. She's great, isn't she? When I get older, I'm going to be just like her." Morgan nodded his head discretely to Robin. "He's going to be a stupid sourpuss."

A clod of dirt flew out at smacked Morgan in the back of the head. "Ass!" Morgan shot back, rubbing where the dirt had hit him. Turning back to Lucina, Morgan gave her an exasperated look and shook his head. "Don't worry, he'll come around," he said as Lucina frowned sadly and looked away.

"What I did to your family is unforgivable," Lucina said. "But I am still willing to wait as long as it takes to make amends."

"Chicken."

Lucina looked up, a puzzled expression on her face. "Excuse me?" she asked.

Morgan simply smiled and winked. "He likes chicken," he whispered before giving her one last stare and breaking away to join his brothers. Behind him, Lucina sighed, a happy smile growing on her face.

---

She was standing in the middle of the darkest part of the woods, her hood up and her back facing him. "Stop there," Roo said firmly, but gently as Gerome paused, a few paces away from her.

"Why are you afraid to face me?" Gerome asked quietly.

Although he couldn't see her face, he didn't have to. He knew she was crying. "Because of what I did," Roo choked out, her voice cracking. "The things I've done to the people. The homes I've burned down. I even stood against you, against our children. How can you even stand to look at me?" Roo tilted her head down to the ground, her hands trembling fists, the pendant dangling from her fingers. "I actually wasn't sure if you would come," she admitted.

There was no hesitation in his movements and Gerome strode forward, putting his arms around Roo's shoulders and pulling her close, feeling her body tremble beneath him. "Then you were wrong," he said gently. "Were you not the one who showed even Lucina that destiny can change? Weren't you the one who fought back against your father and pulled yourself back to me?" Carefully, he turned her around, letting her head drop against his chest. "Weren't you the one who said I would always be a…stupid sourpuss?"

The familiarity of the memory caused Roo to snort in amusement and she looked up at Gerome, seeing an understanding smile on his face. "So confident, and yet, even you can make mistakes," he assured. "Do not feel ashamed. You taught me we all have the strengths to best our fates. That we can have a choice in shaping the events to come. Don't tell me it was all a lie and leave us again."

"Never," Roo whispered, tears welling up once more as she clutched him to her.

He smiled and took the pendant from her hands. "Welcome back," he said happily, clasping it around her neck once more.

---

Although she shrunk behind Gerome like a nervous child when they returned to camp, nothing but happy sighs of relief and smiles greeting Roo. Even Frederick, who had been the most suspicious of her in the beginning, bowed his head in respect and offered to get her whatever she needed. Roo slowly felt herself relax back into her old confidence, but she also figured it might have been an easier transition with Gerome, Morgan and the wyverns by her side, ready to sever any unwanted hand that might have been laid upon her.

"You're ok," Chrom sighed in relief as he and Roo hugged tightly. "Thank the Gods."

"Chrom, I'm sorry…" Roo began, but Chrom shook his head and smiled.

"There's no reason to apologize," he said firmly. Then, giving her a stern and confident look, "We won't give up on you. You're one of us and your home is here."

A sad smile crept over Roo's face as she took Gerome's hand in hers. "Thank you, Chrom," she said, knowing the meaning behind his words.

She had seen everyone except one and Roo turned to see Lucina nervously step out from behind her father. "Roo…" Lucina mumbled, her gaze unable to meet Roo's confused look. "I…I don't know how to say this, so I'll just say it. I'm so sorry for almost murdering you in your sleep."

"Uhhhh…" Roo trailed, her eyebrows rising in surprise. Turning to look at the others, Roo pursed her lips together as gazes were instantly averted, everyone suddenly finding deep interest in the distance or on the ground. "Well, guess I missed a few things, huh?" Roo continued, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Thanks…for not killing me…I guess?"

It was as close as she was going to get and Lucina would take it as she smiled and nodded. "By the way," Roo said, nodding to a large sack beside Lucina's feet. "What's with the bag? It smells like…"

"Oh, it's chicken jerky," Lucina said, reaching down to grab the bag and hold it out for Robin to sniff at. "For you."

It was almost comical to see the pained look of longing on Robin's face as he looked down at the bag and then at Lucina and then down at the bag again. Finally, an exasperated groan came from the older wyvern and he snatched the bag from Lucina's hands, quickly stomping over to the edge of the camp and giving everyone a hard warning stare before beginning to wolf down the meat.

Lucina beamed.

---

Sorry about the delay - the holidays got to me _ Thank you for all the reviews and reads :)