Freedom will Rise once Again

Vincent sat upright, his head pounding. The world burned around him.

Familiar.

"Hello Two, miss me?" an older Vincent looked down at him.

"…Three." Vincent knew where he was. This was the future dream thing.

"Exactly. It's odd to see that expression on me. Though that's what I looked like I suppose," Three shrugged. "Go find One. That's what happened last time."

Vincent sighed and turned around to go look. He wasn't in the mood to argue with himself. Not after that fight.

Eventually he stumbled upon a much younger him lying on the ground.

That's what I looked like? Hmm…

"Get up kid, conversations need to be had," Vincent said. He reached down and pulled Vincent to his feet.

"The hell is going on?" One said in disbelief.

"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'!" Vincent motioned for him to follow.

Vincent led One to Three.

"Ah, you found him, good job Two," Three 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?" Vincent said grinning.

"But of course!" One said calmly.

Amazing how I stayed calm through that.

"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," Vincent pointed at Three. "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."

One looked at Vincent, "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."

One sighed, "So what do you need me for then?"

Vincent thought back to this event two years ago, "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."

Vincent scowled. Three continued, "You'll understand it all in due time. Go back to your world of reality." Three waved his hand and One began to fade out. Three turned to Vincent "Four is on his way. Dark times are coming for the both of us Two…"

"There's a fourth of us?" Vincent said surprised. He'd forgotten that bit over the years.

"Yes, but you'll be leaving when he gets here. So, we're at when Gaius betrayed you, right?" Three said calmly.

Vincent nodded angrily. Three continued, "Well then, there isn't much to tell you, but it is imperative you listen. When you are in the Conqueror's castle, take the path to the dungeons. It will save a friend of a friend's life. And most importantly, when the time comes whence you have no other choice but for the ultimate decision, do it. I guarantee you will not regret it."

"…That's it?"

"Yes."

Vincent groaned, "This sounds worse than before. I know you, if you're being vague that means there'll be hell to pay."

Three quirked an eyebrow, "You know me so well."

"Bitch," Vincent muttered.

Three leaned back and sighed, "If Four is on his way, I don't think I'll like why he's here."

"Do you know why?" Vincent asked.

"I have a vague idea, but I'm not certain," Three yawned.

"And that is…?" Vincent motioned for him to go on.

"To right a wrong," Three said mysteriously.

"That's not much to go on," Vincent muttered.

"Three doesn't need anything to go on, I do," a new voice said.

Vincent turned to see another Vincent. This one was the oldest by far. He wasn't wearing the purple cloak of amazingness either. He was wearing a black leather cloak. Odd.

"I am Four. Two, leave. Now," Four waved his hand.

Vincent blacked out.

Vincent bolted upright in his bed. He looked wildly around, only seeing Lowell, Matts and Heather.

"Heya Commander," Matts said cheerfully.

"Feeling better?" Heather asked with a smile.

"…" Lowell gave a puff of smoke from his pipe.

Heather made a face of disgust, "Lowell, how can you even breathe that gross smoke in? You know it's bad for you, why do you do it?"

Lowell looked to be thinking for a moment, then said, "To forget."

Matts interrupted any response Heather might have had, "So Sir Spymaster, how're ya feeling?"

"Sore," Vincent said simply.

"You were thrashing about in your sleep quite a bit. We've all been taking turns watching you," Heather chimed in.

"And since that was boring, we drugged you to make you sleep," Matts finished.

"So then why are you here?" Vincent asked, confused.

"We were just having a conversation and we didn't think it would be right to not include you," Heather said simply.

"…I was unconscious."

"Exactly," Lowell said, shooting a look at the two other spies.

The two of them shrugged.

"Lowell, report," Vincent said.

"Chrom found and saved more children from the future, a wyvern rider, a priest, and a pegasus knight. All of them are now a part of the Shepherds. He and the majority of the army have gone to battle at Fort Steiger," Lowell said between puffs of his pipe.

"And they left me here!?" Vincent exclaimed.

"You were asleep Vincent," Heather rolled her eyes.

"Oh, right," Vincent chuckled.

"You two," Lowell pointed at Matts and Heather. "Let's go. I'm sure his family is itching to see him."

The two spies nodded and left the tent. Lowell lingered for a moment.

"Lowell, will you be all right going up against Walhart?" Vincent said seriously.

"…I'll need to be," and with that Lowell left the tent.

Vincent sat alone in his tent for a while.

Will Lowell be able to get over his past… I'll need him for that battle.

Have faith. Give him time and I'm sure he will.

His thoughts were interrupted by a red assassin hugging him. Behind Jessie, Vincent saw the rest of his family.

Not knowing what to say, he settled for the generic, "Hey."

"You scared us, father," Remy said with a smirk.

"As if the great Vincent would ever fall in battle," Jessie winked.

"C'mon Remy, you are from the future, you'd knew this would happen," Morgan persisted.

Remy shrugged, "I didn't know the specifics."

"What matters is that I'm alive," Vincent said. "And so are you. Pretty great plan of mine, right?"

Remy pointedly didn't look at Vincent and Jessie rolled her eyes. "That plan could have used some work, father," she said.

Vincent shrugged, "I did my best. Don't hate, appreciate."

Vincent could tell he wasn't the first to notice that Anna hadn't spoken yet. Remy had seen it too. "Hey Morgan, I think I saw Inigo waiting out there," the hero said to the tactician.

"Really?" Morgan said surprised. Then she got the message too. She ran out of tent as if Inigo was out there.

For Jessie, Remy just grabbed her and pulled his twin out of the tent.

Now it was just the merchant and the spymaster alone in the tent. Vincent fidgeted nervously. "Is something wrong Anna?"

"You scared me."

Inwardly, Vincent let out the breath of air he was holding. He thought it might have been something worse.

"Well…I'm back. Huzzah!" Vincent exclaimed.

"Never do that again!" Anna slapped Vincent. "You had me worried…I thought you were going to die in that fight!"

Vincent got out of his sick bed, "I never intended to do that. I wasn't going to let the man who kidnapped my wife and children go free. I had to stop him. I'm sorry I scared you." Vincent kissed Anna.

"I'm glad Gaius is gone too. I wanted to thrash him myself after what he did to Morgan," Anna growled.

"What did he do?" Vincent asked curiously.

"All those injuries on her, he inflicted them," she said angrily.

"I'm doubly glad I ended him then," Vincent said. "Thankfully we never were the best of friends…"

Anna suddenly got up, "I need to go manage the shop. I'll let you rest."

"Like hell I'm staying in this damn bed, I'll help!" Vincent exclaimed.

Anna winked flirtatiously, "I heard from Remy that Morgan and Inigo are starting to get serious…"

"Is that so…