A Reason to Survive

The world around Vincent burned.

The heat was intense, no being could survive it.

Good thing it was a dream.

Maybe.

Vincent looked up from his position on the ground. He still lay as if he were in bed. But he wasn't in bed. He was on a plain of dirt. The grass had long burnt off from the heat.

"Get up kid, conversations need to be had," a familiar voice said. The voice pulled Vincent up to his feet.

Vincent was face to face with himself, though slightly older and more worn. He had a scar tracing from his lower chin down his neck and it probably extended further.

"The hell is going on?" Vincent asked in his vincenty manner.

"It's obvious isn't it? I'm telepathically speaking to you from the future. So really, I'm talking to myself. But the voices in our head do that plenty. C'mon now, times awastin'!" the other Vincent said.

Vincent hastened to follow. Anything weird that happened he had to involve himself in somehow.

The Vincent doppelganger led him to a clearing of the flames. And there sat another Vincent.

Confusing enough already.

"Ah, you found him, good job Two," the even older Vincent said. "Before we start talking, introductions. I'm number three, you're number one, and he's number two," pointing to the Vincents in turn.

"So One, you're probably wondering what Chrom slipped in your drink before you fell asleep right?" Two said with a grin.

"But of course!" Vincent said calmly, but not really that calm because he was talking to himself. Plural.

"Well, we're here to talk about shit that's going to go down. And through the means of time travel and telepathy, we can. Time travel is so fun, it's so wibbley. Fun, now where was I? Ah yes, we're also you from the future. I'm two years in your future or so. Two and a few months. That's my future over there," Two pointed at the older Vincent sitting on the ground. "He's like, five years into the future, he won't give me specifics since it could screw up time. Big time, screw up of time."

The original Vincent looked at Two blankly, "Well…you're definitely me. That's for sure."

"Lovely," Three said. "This will be the most confused you ever feel in your life. Well…not yet. When you get to be Two, then it gets confusing. So get ready."

The original Vincent sighed, "So what do you need me for then?"

Two spoke up, "We don't really need you, Three needs me. You're just here because I was in your place a few years ago. Time travel is a bitch, and this won't be the last of it. So, I'll keep it short, when the invasion comes, go to the ruins second. Get friendly with Anna and Kid. Watch out for the bastard who-"

"Stop," Three commanded. "He can't know who betrays him."

Two scowled. Three continued, "You'll understand it all in due time. Go back to your world of reality." Three waved his hand and Vincent began to black out. He fought for consciousness for a long enough time to hear, "Four is on his way. Dark times are coming for the both of us Two…"

Vincent woke up. "Gah! Weird evil dreams! I'm still here though…in castle Ylisse. Or whatever the hell it's called. How in seven hells did that even work? Dreams are fun, but time travel? That's also fun, even more so than dreams. Dreams of time travel with the apocalypse in the background…now I just need a fierce battle and it'll be complete!"

"Do you talk to yourself often?" a voice asked slyly.

"Yes, it helps me think. And since no one else is here it often gives me an ear ache. Care to join my rambles?" Vincent turned to see Anna standing in his open door way.

Get friendly with Anna…

Well Two, you sometimes might actually have good advice.

"I was sent to get you. Plegian assassins have broken in."

"Shit. Let's go!" Vincent grabbed his Elfire tome and ran out of the door and took a left.

"You're going the wrong way!" Anna called. Vincent quickly turned a half circle and began to run the other way. "Do you have a plan?" she asked.

"No."

"Will you have a plan?"

"No."

"Do you need a plan?"

"No. I have a thing that's like a plan. But better 'cause it's a thing. Now let's go do what I do best!"

"Which is…?"

"Take risks and kick ass."

Vincent and Anna cut their way through the countless Plegian assassins. Now cut is an expression. Vincent burned his way through. To put it simply, they killed many people.

"So Anna, scam any good people lately?" Vincent called out amidst the fighting.

"It isn't scamming! It's productive merchanting!" she yelled back while parting a man from his head.

"That's not even a word! My dear lady, you shouldn't make up words! It is unbecoming!" Vincent torched an archer that was aiming at Anna.

"You make up words all the time from what I hear! There are many tales among the Shepherds of your insanity!" Anna ducked out of an axe's way and the holder was killed by Vincent.

"Insanity!? I assure you, I am not insane…yet. I just am different! In a good way," Vincent pressed his back up against Anna's. They were surrounded.

"I'm open for bets if we make it out of here! If we make it out, you owe me a hundred gold!" Anna shouted.

"And if we don't? We'll be dead! So you owe me dinner before I go to hell!" Vincent yelled out, killing another assassin.

"Dinner? And you'll be paying right?" Anna said, her concern was evident.

"If my lady insists, then I must obey!" Vincent jumped out of their back to back position. He torched several soldiers. And then several more. He became so tired that he was unable to continue his conversation with Anna.

And then an orange haired thief killed several more.

That came completely out of nowhere.

"C'mon lovebirds, we got work to do," the thief said, since he had killed the remaining troops.

"Lovebirds? I'm not even getting to go to dinner with her!" Vincent said in mock outrage.

"Well, you can use that gold you owe me on dinner if you must," Anna said playfully. She walked past both of them. They both hurried to keep up.