"...I do love Chrom, Lucina." Alex finally answered, before looking back at the blue haired female. Her thoughts were final, and she understood now what she wanted to do. "But I cannot just let you kill me."
There was another moment of silence. "I understand... Then draw your weapon! We shall let battle have the final judgment!" Lucina shouted.
"I am not going to fight you." Alex said, shaking her head.
"This must be done! For the greater of the world, and the future! Now, draw your weapon I said!"
Again, Alex shook her head. "I am not going to fight my best friend's daughter.."
"ENOUGH!"
The two woman jumped when they heard the familiar male voice. Chrom rushed over to the two, looking very angry.
Lucina looked at her father, and shook her head. "Father, you don't-"
"Lucina, lower your sword." Chrom said, his voice with power as well as anger.
"But, father-"
"LOWER YOUR SWORD!"
There was a moment of nothingness, until Lucina nodded. "A-all right.." she did as told, and brought the sword and her arm down to her side, looking away from Alex and her father. "..I can explain." she finally said, looking up a bit.
"There's no need. You're not the only one who can eavesdrop. I heard every word. Lucina, I know your heart is in the right place... But I trust Alex. You cannot shake my faith in her." Chrom said, her anger calming, but her voice was still full of power, with his heart in every word.
Lucina finally looked up at her father, and practically looked at him as if he were a madman. "This is not about trust! She'll be the death of you!" Lucina shouted, pointing at Alex with her free hand. It might as well have been a stab with the sword, as it hurt just as much to Alex.
"Alex and I have held fast through good times and ill... We swore to be two halves of a greater whole. You underestimate the strength of those ties, the bonds we share. I believe in them more than some foretold "destiny."" Chrom explained. Once more, Alex felt the tears come to her eyes, moved by Chrom's kind words.
"That is easier to say when you haven't seen it yourself..." Lucina disagreed, shaking her head.
"Lucina, aren't our ties stronger here now than they were in your future? You said so yourself. In this flow of time we are bound tighter than ever, you and I. Not just as father and daughter... But as friends. We can change things—we already have...and we will again."
A moment of silence as a light breeze swept through the golden field of the setting sun, until Lucina finally answered. "Very well, father." She turned to face Alex, her eyes and expression much different than they were before. "I would ask your forgiveness, Alex, but I cannot expect it."
Alex shook her head, and smiled at the female a bit. "I do forgive you, Lucina." she said, understanding the purpose Lucina had.
"I pray... That is, I trust the both of you will prove me wrong. And that this future will fall to pieces before your bond ever would." With that, Lucina turned and left, walking back in the direction both her and Chrom had come from.
As the female walked away, Chrom turned to Alex, who felt her heart sink slightly and looked away from him. She almost abandoned their army, and she expected him to be very angry with her, and possibly kick her out of the Shepherds, which might have been a good thing. However, what she wasn't expecting, was Chrom suddenly hugging her tightly.
"You're my closest friend, Alex, and I fully trust you." he said, and once more Alex felt the heart he put into every word he spoke. "We'll find a way to stop Validar. Don't you worry. I know you'll never betray me."
Again, the tears came, and Alex openly cried, not having the will to hold them back any longer. She put her arms around Chrom and hugged him tightly, and he comforted her until she stopped crying, and the two returned back to the Shepherds together.