"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough." - Albert Einstein

I later learned that Miss Housemaid's name was actually Amice. She came into my room more often now, although she still eyed me quite warily. The other maids started gossiping, saying Amice was practically my second mother since they knew I enjoyed her being with me. Father noticed too, and I felt proud of myself when he gave me a grand smile.

Since he knew I was understanding him, he started telling me stories. They were usually exaggerated, with large motions and weird voices. Mother joined in too, often reading me stories from her old fantasy books. They had simple plots, like, "Marcus' Adventures: Into the Rainbow Cavern!" Some were loosely based on history; most were on the Hero King Marth, although I wasn't very surprised. In the game, the original Lucina used his name as a disguise or something, so she'd have to had learned about him from somewhere. He was interesting, I'd give him that. Marth had a really cool army. My favourites were his paladins, Jagen, Cain, and Abel. Then again, they were the only few of who I really heard about. His wife Caeda reminded me a lot of Mother, a kind hearted pegasus knight. When I tried to compare Father to Marth, it didn't really connect. Marth was much more level headed than Father, and didn't use much force. It's like comparing fencing to baseball. But, of course, they were ultimately children's books, and therefore didn't contain much detail. They didn't exploit as nearly enough of his and his army's adventures as I would have liked. I wanted to learn more about who the Hero King actually was.

Although Father did come and tell me stories, he didn't show up very often these days, but I was glad when he came nonetheless. He always looked pretty tired. I guess he was stressed out. Being the ruler of a kingdom had great reward sure, but the responsibility would always take its toll sooner or later. Despite all of it, he made sure he showered me with affection. I guess I was a stress reliever then? That was okay with me. If Father was tired, then it was my pleasure to help him in any way I could. Him taking a nap alongside me was always an upside.

Mother looked weary as well, although she was better off than Father. She'd come into my room a little bit after him and would try to get me to practice saying a few words, although it was aggravating. Teeth were what I absolutely needed. I could not stop cringing to myself each time I said the word, 'castle.'

Amice sort of helped me out as well. Not in a way so I could speak better, but unknowingly, she was helping me progress to become more independent. Whenever she was finished cleaning early, she'd play a memory game with me. Most of the time we'd match coloured cards with each other, other times it was a tiny puzzle with giant pieces. Even if they weren't challenging, it was nice to just sit there with Amice's company.

I met one other new-ish person too. He was a tall man, with sharp eyes and brown hair. He wore formal clothing, almost like a butler, yet not at the same time. He was much too alert to be a simple man-servant. His shoulders were too stiff. He adopted a stern expression most of the time, but when Father had brought him into my chamber, his eyes lit up in a way you could easily compare to a child's on Christmas morning. He was hesitant at first, really, he didn't dare take a step into the doorframe before Father pushed him in. I suppose the thought of meeting me seemed to terrify him, for what reason I didn't know. He tried to stall for time by spewing on and on about how he was a simple knight and how he had no right for some reason or another. Father only shook his head and handed me into the man's arms.

The terrified look seemed to surface again but he looked up at Father once more for reassurance before looking back down at me and saying, "Young Princess, I promise to protect you with my very life."

I giggled and squealed out, "Promish, promish!" I clapped my hands together and cooed. This new man, I already liked him. He was one of Father's friends, that was for sure, and he sounded as if he respected me a great deal. I didn't know what I did to deserve such respect, but I wanted to find a way to earn it for myself, I didn't want it right from the start, that just wasn't fair in the slightest. If he wanted to respect me I wouldn't stop him. Although there wasn't much to respect, I was just a baby who slept and ate all day, everyday.

His eyes brightened. "Yes, yes, I promise!" He smiled giddily and hoisted me up higher and higher into the air. "I promise!" He laughed.

I giggled and screamed when I realized how far up I was from the floor. This man was so tall! What like six feet five? That was crazy! I'd never met someone so tall! The tallest person I ever knew was my old math teacher and he was only like six feet one!

Looking back on it and all, I think the man looked extremely happy. I remember seeing Father's face after and how he ruffled my tufts of hair. And alike to how happy the man was, that day was extremely fun.

That was the day I met Frederick.

He was an amusing man, as crazy as he was. There was this one incident when one of the maids was tending to me. Just in front of my open door was Frederick. He peered in and said the maid's, 'technique' was all wrong. He immediately swiped me out of the maid's arms and cradled me in his. He rocked me back and forth and instructed the maid to copy his movements. Albeit reluctantly, the maid did so only holding thin air. She had the same expression which matched my thoughts.

'What is happening,'

Frederick nodded approvingly and left with word that he'd heat my bottle of milk. Father intercepted him quickly, and asked for him to let the maids do their own jobs, and he do his. Apparently Frederick neglected the training of a few rookies for my sake. While it was flattering, he didn't need to do that. I mean he really didn't need to. I mainly ignored the rest of what they were talking about so I could spare myself the trouble. I knew Frederick could take things out of hand sometimes, but I hadn't thought he'd be pampering me. He was enjoyable company on occasion, even if there were times when he could be too much. Either way, he became apart of my little circle.

I was glad and scared at the same time once I realised my circle was expanding drastically.

I hadn't thought much about the future or if I was going to change it at all, if I was correct in thinking that I was in the first timeline. So, I prepared myself mentally and sorted through what I knew.

First off, Lucina came from an apocalyptic future. The Fell Dragon Grima basically had rule over the world and used his zombie soldiers to pillage towns and villages until everyone died aside from Lucina herself. She was the only survivor. With the help of the goddess Naga she traversed through into the past where she found the Shepherds.

Second, she fought her father Chrom in a battle arena, where she lost and Ylisse got help from the Khan Flavia. She stopped the original assassination of the Exalt Emmeryn in the castle, but time took its original path and Emmeryn sacrificed herself so the war between Ylisse and Plegia would end.

The last I could remember of was the two year timeskip up to where Lucina revealed herself to her parents and helped out with the war against Valm. And then the other Khan, the man, Basilio died against the large, red armour wearing man, with a name that started with a, 'W'.

So, if hypothetically, I was in the first timeline, what could I do to change things? Well, there wasn't much I could do with the zombie apocalypse. Lucina would've been too young to do much, not to mention it probably started before she was capable enough to fight. Then the whole going back in time deal…. Well, I guess I'd have to do that, but was there a point? I mean I knew there was but, wasn't there a whole law about not meddling with time? Cause, I could not do what she did. I wouldn't be able to carry through the day knowing I could either be a small butterfly or a big one. I could easily screw everything up with just a word, and I did not feel comfortable with such knowledge

I felt bubbles of anxiety drop in my stomach like led. How did Lucina do it? How determined was she to save the past? Was she so determined, she couldn't feel how much weight she had on her shoulders? I felt the tears well up in my eyes and I exhaled. Crying like this would get me nowhere, this wasn't going to be like what happened with Uncle Lon'qu.

If this was the first timeline, then I'd die. I accepted that. There wasn't going to be a happy ending, and I accepted that. I lived once already, I didn't need this second chance.

If this was the second timeline, then I'd live. I wouldn't have to fight anything or anyone. I wouldn't have to be strong and that was okay with me. I was perfectly happy being a weakling.

And hopefully nothing would change that.

I rustled in my crib as I woke from my sleep. My vision was adjusting and everything was blurry at first, yet I saw the door open and prepared myself. I'm pretty sure I was being overly paranoid as always, but ever since I had my interactions with Amice I was keeping myself as cautious as possible. I saw a body enter through the frame and saw Mother in….Armour? Slowly, she walked over to my crib and picked me up. She nestled me in her arms as comfortably as she could (metal plates, ouchie,) and kissed my forehead. I was very confused. She led us through the door, into the hall and turned into the throne room. Why were we heading here, and why did I need to be present for whatever this was going to be? In the throne room I noticed a few people. There was Father, Frederick, Aunt Lissa, Uncle Lon'qu, and one other man.

I felt my eyes widen by looking at him. The dark cloak and white hair definitely confirmed whatever I was thinking in my brain dead mind. He was the default male avatar from the beginning of the game, Robin. I berated myself for looking over details. Of all the things I had to miss it had to be one of the most important things in game! If Robin (or if his name even was Robin!) wasn't leading the Shepherds into battle, then who was!? Certainly not myself! I calmed myself down, saying that I was too caught up in the general story of Lucina that I hadn't actually bothered to think about him. But the entire game story revolved around Robin, and I forgot about it. That was extremely stupid of me.

Before I knew it, Father and Mother were discussing about them leaving. I felt my jaw drop a bit but I calmed down seeing Father protesting that Mother stay with me. I mentally begged Mother to stay. I wasn't about to be left alone. I never liked being alone. And then Mother suggested wet-nursing me, whatever that was, but I knew I didn't like what it meant. It meant Mother was going to leave and I was not okay with that. Frederick left to gather an escort and Mother took it as her cue to place me back in my chamber.

I sobbed into Mother's breast until she placed me back in my crib. "Mama!" I cried, trying to grip onto her plated armour.

She shushed me softly despite my screams and thrashing. "We'll be back before you know it Lucy," Her expression was completely earnest and I wanted nothing more than to believe her. She turned for the door and made a move to close it.

"Promish!" I yelled desperately, knowing full well she heard me.

I heard her whisper, "Promise." back but it didn't reassure me as much as I wanted it to. It only created more dread within me.

I didn't see Mother or Father for a while, and when I did, Father wasn't even there. Mother was the only one who came back and I worried about Father. What had happened to him? Was he okay?

I didn't have much time to worry about him when Mother was rushed into a large room with a random healer. I managed to crawl in before they slammed the door shut.

"Mama?" I inquired, tilting my head to further the curious but cute expression. My eyes trailed to Mother's stomach. It was huge! Wait that meant….

"Hi Lucy…." She muttered, almost as if she was in pain. "You're going to be a big sister….!" I was taken out of the room on order of the healer before I could squawk in protest.

I was carried back to my room, again, and the maids made sure I would not, could not, escape. My mind was racing. Who the hell had sex during war time!? Father what the hell!? I criticized him mentally with every ounce of anger I had. You value your sex more than the safety of your wife!? Get a grip man!

Mother's screams echoed through the palace. Do you see know how much pain she's in Father!? And you abandon her during this time!? Her screams went on for hours and I covered my ears with my hands. Not that it helped much.

By the time she was done I was allowed back into the room. "Mama?" I inquired once more. Hopefully I wouldn't be kicked out this time….

"Lucina," She said tiredly. I vaguely remembered that tone. It was the same one she used when I was born. "Meet your little sister, Cynthia." I climbed up the side of her bed and she reached her arms out to show me the sleeping form of a baby in a pink blanket. I compared her to me. She had short, blue hair. Mine grew longer during the time I hadn't seen my family, but it was only to my shoulders. I couldn't see her eyes, they were closed, she was sleeping, but I assumed they were also blue.

"Shishy?"

Mother nodded. "Uh-huh, her name is Cynthia."

I tested her name on my tongue or, if you will, still toothless mouth. "Shyntia…" I butchered it.

Mother looked proud and her eyes drooped. "Yeah, Shyntia…." She half laughed, half yawned.

The maids ushered me out of the room once more, but let me on the ground to play with the soldier toys. It was disconcerting how they were willingly raising children with the fact that war was practically a regular passing like football. They were literally hoping to mold kids into troops. Sure it wasn't so bad as to call them child soldiers, there was an age that one had to qualify as a legitimate soldier, but being one was embracing the fact you had to kill, and it made me feel disgusted.

My mind wandered on what Mother said while I aimlessly played with the small paladins. I had a little sister. I was…. I was a big sister again. I wanted to laugh, scream and cry to the heavens. I could be a sibling. I thought about how I carelessly died and left my brother alone. I wasn't about to do that to my new sibling as well. I swore on my little sister's name.

'Cynthia, I'm gonna live for you.'

...I told you I'd speed things up.

The part where Lucina/OC says that cannon Lucina was the only survivor is only her not knowing about the other children characters.

Also she's confused when she thinks that Chrom and Sumia did the unmentionables. She's just lost a sense of time. They're not actually in war time. They're sorta in the middle of the end of the Valm campaign and the beginning of Chrom's death. I dunno, the way the timeline was written in the game is kinda screwed up. Lucina says she was taught swordplay by her father, but he died when she was a baby. Lucina is supposed to have a sibling, but Chrom's death placement kinda screws everything up.

So Lucina/OC is a pessimist. She doesn't like or want to fight, and she's perfectly okay with dying if she's in the first timeline. I was cringing a little when I wrote her whole, 'Not having a will to live' piece.

Life is a good thing. I'm not about to go on a whole speech about why suicide is bad, but it is, so don't kill yourself because you're scared or you're under stress. Suicide eliminates the chance of getting better.

Anyway, we learn Ms Housemaid's name is Amice, Lucina met Frederick, and now she's just being introduced to Cynthia.

Question: If you could learn to master one weapon, what would it be?

My answer: Well, if we're talking real world weapons then a sword. They're badass. If we're talking Fire Emblem weapons, then a tome. Tomes are cool.

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