Sorry this took a little longer than anticipated! I hope you all enjoy!
It was just a normal, sunny day in Ylisstol when the Shepherds and the rest of the Ylissean League came in through the city's gates. Crowds of people approached the streets and lined up like it was a parade.
"Lord Chrom has finally returned!"
"And it looks like they brought back some new recruits!"
"It's assuring to know that the royals are safe."
"Even Sir Frederick has come back."
"Isn't that little girl wearing the same cloak as the tactician, Robin?"
"She's adorable!"
However, some of the gossip started to get morbid.
"I see Khan Flavia, but where's Khan Basilio?"
"I don't see Pegasus Knight Cordelia anywhere, either."
"I wonder what happened to them…"
Severa overheard the people's murmurs and cringed and bit her teeth in response to them, passing by without trying to start anything. Rei'qu noticed this and placed her hand on Severa's shoulder.
"Don't let them get to you." Rei'qu whispered.
"It's okay…" Severa whispered back. "They don't know, so I'm not upset at them…"
After a few hours of unpacking, unloading and getting back into the rhythm of things after months in Valm, Chrom and Robin laid back in chairs in the war room as if a giant load had been lifted.
"It's so good to be back in Ylisstol." Robin said.
"But we still have things to do." Chrom pointed out. "Validar is planning to resurrect Grima."
"We need the last gemstone of the Fire Emblem if we want to stand a chance against Grima, based on what Lucina had told us about it."
"I already have Frederick looking for the last gemstone as we speak."
"That man never rests. I'm not sure whether I should be impressed or worried."
"I already tried talking to him about it a long time ago… Didn't go very well."
"Was that when he dusted me that one time?"
"Yes."
Robin and Chrom had a good chuckle before something popped into Robin's head.
"Oh, I'd better get going." Robin stood up and was about to walk out of the war room. "I promised to show Say'ri around Ylisstol."
"You do that. I'm too exhausted to get up."
Robin left and Chrom just darted glances around the room.
"… I wonder if Sumia wouldn't mind doing it in here…"
Rei'qu was walking around the castle until she entered a library where Morgan was reading through a book, surrounded by towers of books.
"Ah, Morgan, there you are." Rei'qu said.
"Shhh…" Morgan put her finger on her lips to signal Rei'qu to be quiet. "This is a library, Rei'qu." She whispered. "We have to be quiet."
Rei'qu looked around the library. "But… We're the only ones in here."
Morgan checked and saw that Rei'qu was right. The two were the only people in the library.
"Oh, so we are." Morgan said. "So, Rei'qu, what brings you here?"
"I just wanted to spend some time with my little sister." Rei'qu answered. "Fie, but I see you're busy reading something at the moment. Sorry."
"I can always bookmark it. I have a good memory… Even though I remember nothing before coming here from the future."
"Morgan, do you remember anything from the past?"
"Other than Dad, nothing. The way I feel toward you and Mom feels more like an instinct than anything."
"If that's the case, maybe there's still a chance that your memories are not entirely forgotten."
"Yeah, you're right. Maybe another good whack on the head will jog it back." Morgan holds out a very thick tome to Rei'qu. "Hit me with this as hard as you can."
"Perhaps we can find a way that doesn't involve damaging what memories you have left."
In the bustling streets of Ylisstol, Robin and Say'ri were walking around with Rei'qu and a skipping Morgan along with them.
"So, Say'ri, what do you think of Ylisstol so far?" Robin asked.
"We've only started, Robin." Say'ri replied. "But the only difference I see so far is the architecture, clothing and some of your food. I suppose that our excursion in Valm has already exposed much of your culture to me."
"I'm sorry to hear that." Robin said. "If it's boring, you can let me know. I won't hold anything against you."
"No, don't feel bad." Say'ri said. "I'm just happy to be by your side with our children."
"Hey, Dad, where's Severa?" Morgan asked.
"She wanted to know more about the Pegasus Knights, so she's with Sumia right now." Robin answered. "But she might have mentioned that it would've been a bit embarrassing for a group of grown women and a man walking around town together."
"I'm sure she cares about us, she just seems to not want to outwardly show it like we do." Rei'qu said.
"Speaking of Severa…" Robin said. "I know I'm going to regret this… Maybe you ladies would like to go shopping."
"Pardon?" Say'ri asked with a confused expression.
"I am confused as well." Rei'qu said.
"Looks like I lucked out…" Robin quietly murmured to himself.
"Excuse me?"
Robin turned his head to see a little boy holding a piece of paper.
"You wouldn't happen to be Ylisse's tactician, Robin, would you?" The boy asked.
"That's me." Robin answered.
"You and Chrom are my heroes! Can I get your autograph, please?" The boy asked as he handed the paper to Robin.
"No problem." Robin nodded.
As Robin took the paper, he noticed that not only was it folded, but there was some noticeable writing on the other side.
"Go ahead and read it." The boy said. "It's just a note saying how much I look up to you guys."
Robin opened the letter and read it in his head.
'Validar is up to something. My gut tells me the moment you envisioned is close at hand. Don't worry, everything's going exactly as you planned.'
Robin then started writing on the paper.
'Excellent. There's a good chance Validar will catch wind of Frederick's search, so he's likely going to try and steal the Emblem. But there's something I want to confirm first. It's best to know all factors before officially putting a plan into motion. I don't want anything like two years ago to happen again.'
"Here you go." Robin handed the boy the folded letter.
"Thank you very much!" The boy smiled and then looked at Say'ri. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"Y-yes, she is." Robin lightly blushed.
"She's really pretty."
Say'ri then blushed lightly. The boy then ran off down the street. After a fair distance from Robin, he went into an alley where a tall and broad cloaked figure was waiting.
"Here you are, Mister." The boy handed the letter to the figure.
"Thanks a lot, kiddo." A deep voice came from the figure and he handed the boy a bag of coins. "For your troubles."
Later that night and Rei'qu was combating a training dummy with a wooden sword when Robin approached her.
"Rei'qu, what are you doing out here so late?" Robin inquired.
"I just came out to get some fresh air, but then I saw this dummy and wooden sword." Rei'qu answered. "You can figure out the rest."
"I have some questions about the future." Robin said.
"If it's about what happens to you, unfortunately I cannot answer. Even if I did know, I shouldn't tell you about it."
"I understand, but can I at least know whether or not I was a good father to you and Morgan?"
"I still can't answer that."
"Because of the future?"
"No, because you left right after Morgan was born."
"I… left you and Say'ri?"
"I was too young, so I never understood the reason why you left. All I know is that you taught Morgan tactics and Mother taught me swordsmanship."
"Well, rest assured that I would never leave you or Say'ri. I'd stay with you all until the very end."
"That's…" Rei'qu suddenly turned around.
"Rei'qu?"
"Pardon me, but…" She sniffled a little. "But I need to be alone for a minute."
Rei'qu walked away, leaving Robin a little exasperated.
"It's good to know she has some emotions. She always seemed so reserved whenever I was around."
The next day in the barracks, Chrom was alone, looking around the room and sighing to himself, just as Robin came up to him.
"I know that face…" Robin said. "'Dueling with unpleasant thoughts', are we?"
"You know me well, Robin." Chrom responded.
Robin looked around the room, feeling pleasant nostalgia from when he first came to Ylisstol over two years ago.
"Hey, remember when Lissa first brought me here?" Robin asked. "When I met all the Shepherds? And Sumia… Haha! Oh, what a day! Actually, that's my first memory in a way."
"Heh, I suppose so." Chrom then looked down. "I wish all our memories since could have been as joyful."
"I know…" Robin looked down as well. "So much needless bloodshed…So many days of pain and doubt and fighting… We would have never made it without you there to guide us, you know."
"Funny. I was going to say the same to you."
"I guess we really are two halves of the same whole."
"Anyway, I've been reading up on the Awakening ritual. It seems whoever attempts the rite must brave Naga's fire. If both body and spirit survive the agony, they are blessed with the Divine Dragon's power. Otherwise… the candidate dies."
"What?! No!" A feminine voice gasped from the doorway. "Er, that is…"
Chrom and Robin looked over and saw that Lucina had been eavesdropping on them. Since she was found out, she walked toward them.
"Father, must you attempt this?" Lucina asked in concern.
"Eavesdropping, are we?" Chrom asked.
"Forgive me, Father." Lucina said. "I didn't intend to. I came to speak with you, but I couldn't find the right moment and-"
"It's all right, Lucina." Chrom calmed down his daughter. "It'll be all right. I WILL withstand Naga's fire. I'm sure of it."
"Milord, I have returned." Frederick said as he entered the room.
"That was quick." Robin commented.
"Frederick, did you find it?" Chrom inquired.
"I believe so, sire." Frederick answered. "King Validar has extended an invitation. He says Plegia has been guarding Sable, and now he wishes to return it to you."
"Validar…" Chrom muttered.
"They sent word to me, milord." Frederick stated. "They must have caught wind of my search. In any case, Validar asks that you visit him in person, that he might formally present it. Perhaps needless to say, milord, but I don't like this one bit."
"Neither do I, Frederick the Wary." Chrom said. "Neither do I. At best, it's selfish political maneuvering at a time when the world can ill afford it. At worst, our run-in with the Risen on Carrion Isle was no accident. But we'll meet with him. Send word at once."
"Milord, are you… certain that's wise?" Frederick questioned.
"No, but we haven't time to be certain." Chrom answered. "And my sister never refused a diplomatic gesture, no matter how foul smelling. If he doesn't give us the stone, he may at least reveal where it is. Don't worry, Frederick. I'm not walking into this blindly. We will make certain everyone is armed to the teeth."
"Then, milord, you should at least leave the Fire Emblem behind." Frederick suggested.
Chrom lightly touched the Fire Emblem attached to his left arm. "Unless that's what Validar expects and he sends men to steal it with our best fighters away. It's safest at my person, Frederick."
A/N: I was originally planning to have Robin give Say'ri a cultural tour of Ylisstol, but then I realized she probably already saw most of this during her time all across Valm. So, I decided to show the bonds between the characters while I still could since it's going to be a mad dash through the final chapters of the game. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed! Stay tuned for next time!