My next encounter with the Shepherds was on the day of Aunt Emmeryn's assassination. Prior to that day, King Gangrel of Plegia almost declared war on Ylisse, using Maribelle as a hostage to lure my father into his plans of invading Ylisse. If I did not try to rewrite the events on that day, we surely would have been spiraled into the same chain of events leading to Grima's revival.

I snuck into my household, or the home that my infant self would soon grow up in. My father told me of a tale when he sparred with his ally Vaike, and accidentally punctured a hole in the castle wall. He tried to conceal the opening with bushes, but I still noticed it clearly.

My father was explaining our family's history with Plegians to Robin, and how Aunt Emmeryn was truly the beacon of hope they needed in those times.

He rarely mentioned her in the future. Perhaps the void my aunt left was still never filled once he took up the role of the Exalt. He seemed to dread or hesitate every time I asked about Aunt Emmeryn, and Aunt Lissa had a similar reaction.

In this current time, everyone talked about her. Villagers would express how grateful they are to her or how they admire her leadership and aspire to be like her. Little girls voiced their opinions of wanting to become a princess, and to behold the kindness and sympathy the Exalt possessed. They hoped that Lady Emmeryn's reign would be long and prosperous.

I could not let the Exalt be assassinated.

I had expected no one to believe of my warning, especially my father. He was the one that most likely needed to believe my words the most.

In the future, Aunt Lissa described this night. My father was attacked by an assassin, who slashed at his shoulder blades and waist, leaving him vulnerable and unable to wield Falchion for a period of time. With my father weakened, they murdered the Exalt, leaving Ylisstol defenceless.

I anticipated the enemy's moves, leaping into action the moment I heard rustling from the bushes. I made a long cut in his back, quickly ending his life.

It was done.

Or so I had thought.

To my surprise, there was another enemy. I had heard movement after the first enemy fell. In a split second, I tried to evade the counterattack, but I had slipped over the previous assassin's sword. I barely dodged the attack as his blade connected with my mask.

My identity was no longer hidden.

I saw the remains of my mask sitting on the grass as I stumbled back. My father rushed towards the second, and thankfully last, assassin and stabbed him in the gut. I saw the confusion in his face when he saw me, a woman, and not as a man.

"Wait…Y-you're actually a woman?"

I had not intended anyone to find out my gender. My original plan was to leave as soon as the Exalt's life was saved, and nothing more. I was to enter as Marth, and to leave as Marth.

I had to scrap that idea, and my new "shocking" revelation, just pursue my main objective: saving my aunt.

The plan went swimmingly. There were no casualties, few injuries, and a grateful Exalt.

Validar was murdered at Gaius's hands. I never would have thought that the sweet-thief would have killed the leader of Grimleal assassins.

Emmeryn still stood at the top of the monarchy, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I rushed out of the castle without a word, hoping that no one would bother to follow.

For the first time since I arrived, I slept easy that night.

That peaceful rest did not last long.

Before my eyes, Gangrel had already set the time and date for Emmeryn's execution, which was entirely new to me.

Damn, how did the timeline re-align itself after I stopped Emmeryn's initial death?

I was fairly certain that stopping the assassination from before would have stopped time's deadly fate in its tracks.

I rushed to the scene, but was too late.

I knew my aunt for a few months, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone again.

She sacrificed herself for Ylisse's future: a future she saw with Plegians and Ylisseans at peace. One that I knew would never come to pass.

My heart nearly stopped when I saw her lean over the cliff.

Not only did I have to see Aunt Emmeryn die, but now she had died twice in my life.

I felt like a failure.

Nothing was going how I planned, and we were all doomed to suffer our written fate.

How did people in this time stay optimistic, and stay strong?

It was the bonds of others, as Robin once described to me, that kept soldiers fighting. Bonds forged between people strengthened their relationships with one another, and they supported each other as those bonds grew. Sometimes those bonds grow into something greater: something I had wished to forget.

Growing up, even though the risen infestation became such a crisis, I could see that people were happier than I would have thought. Families helped each other through thick and thin, friends aided an ally's side, and of course, lovers supported each other as well.

I saw many lovers amidst the hundreds of soldiers. Couples would share a kiss before heading off to battle or they would hold hands and pray to the gods that their significant other would be with them the next day.

I knew almost nothing about love.

My brother always told me I was too stiff, and too serious. He said that in order to find love, one must loosen up and get in touch with people, rather than worry the day away. Then again, I was talking to the man who gets slapped by at least three women per day.

I would take being serious rather than being rejected by girls any day.

It was not that I did not believe in love or was not in it, I was just rather, uncomfortable about my situation.

I am in love with Robin, which is a fact that no one knows, and should not know.

Being in love with a woman, in my opinion, is taboo in Ylisse at least; so I have to keep my feelings locked up.

Second of all, I am of royal blood.

Princesses are supposed to get engaged to a wealthy nobleman and "have a million babies", as Inigo put it. How would the Ylisseans react if they found out their future heir was have a wife? I do not want to bring any shame to my bloodline.

I do not want to think of what my father and mother would think of me. I do not want them to look down on their daughter, and I do not want to feel like a disgrace.

Over the course of time, I had quite a few suitors try to court me. I had to admit, a few were quite charming and handsome, but I never found myself attracted to any one of them. I wished I had the ability to love them, but my heart desired the same thing it always did.

I was in love with Robin, but that didn't mean that I did not find other women attractive, I just never had the attachment and infatuation that grew towards her.

Inigo was free to flirt with women to his heart's content, whereas I felt chained up. Perhaps I wanted to take a woman out to tea, or some other rendez-vous, but I could never allow myself to speak with such romantic implications.

I never fully admitted to myself that I was gay, I did not want to.

I was hiding behind a mask that no one could see. I was masking my identity in another way, I was also masking my identity to myself.

I couldn't save Aunt Emmeryn.

My identity was no longer a mystery to many.

My plan had derailed from its original purpose.

I had no idea what this altered future led to.

Gangrel was now defeated in Plegia after the mourning of Emmeryn's death, which meant the Royal Wedding of Chrom and Olivia was not too far away; also meaning it was less than two years until my birth in this timeline. Lucina, the first child of Chrom, the newly crowned Exalt, and his wife, Olivia the dancer.

I was nervous; I had hoped to accomplish what I had come here for before my birth, but it looked as if I was going to stay for another few years.

I snuck into my parents' wedding, just before the vows.

The tranquility of the chapel calmed me down. At least, there was peace for a while. From the balcony I could take in a breath taking view of Ylisstol.

It wasn't long until Robin stepped out on the balcony beside me, and she looked stunning in her ensemble. We talked about love and its bonds. Many times people have told me that my parents were bound to divorce because they did not know much about each other. However, they stayed together even in death.

"…Do you have someone you love, Marth?"

Her word's pierced deep within my heart's core.

If only she knew my pure devotion and affection for her, the emotions that I wanted to show.

I did not lie when I said fate gave me a chance to see the person I loved again.

I am eternally grateful, but whether my feelings reach her is up to me now.

I held her hand tightly that afternoon.

I cannot lose her again.

This chapter was quite difficult for me to write. Hopefully the transitions weren't too awkward. Anyways, I will take this time to reply to some of the reviews I have received:

First, thanks to all who reviewed, they really do help :)

Matt Rogan: In regards to Morgan in this story, it's difficult to say much without spoiling too much of what I have planned, but I think most people will like what I'm going to add, so stay tuned!

(I have actually planned out most of the story by now, but feel free to suggest anything, as things are not set in stone yet)

RandomChameleon: I'm so glad you enjoyed the previous chapter! I can confirm that this story will now swap between Robin and Lucina's perspectives as of next chapter.

Thermometer: Actually I was saving Lucina's thoughts on her sexuality for this chapter, so hopefully you liked it. Lucina's thoughts are generally negative, whereas Robin's, although slightly negative, are still fairly positive.

Next chapter will feature Robin, after the two year skip.