Memories of You
Chapter 4
Kingless Rally
Me: You that are writers here as opposed to the ones who just read (Nothing wrong with that) you know how muses work. You want to write something and it really doesn't want to. Even if it lets you write, it's not the one you want to work on… Ahh. But I got inspired to write this, I got a good scene in my mind, but couldn't find a place to put it… and then I was hit with this idea. Hope you enjoy it. Sorry it took WAYYYYYYYY too long… but life is just like that sometimes…
Gaius: But the plot develops a lot so that's sweet.
Lissa: Edward Suoh does not own FEA… as has been stated many, many times. We hope you enjoy Memories of You, Chapter Four; Kingless Rally.
After assembling all of the Shepherds, his most trusted companions, his elite soldiers, his loyal friends, the Exalt announced the decision the council had come to. Gathering all of them took much longer than expected, causing their expected departure date to be pushed back by several days. Donnel and his wife Panne had returned from his village. Tiki returned from her slumber, willing and eager to assist her mortal foe's vessel. Tharja and Libra retuned from Plegia, the former unable to withstand the cold of Ylisse for very long, Lon-Qu and Cherche returned from Regina Ferox to which he returned to for the opposite reason Tharja left... it was far too warm for him, not that he openly complained. With him was Khan Basillo who had given the message to Lon-Qu and his wife. The only one who hadn't responded to the summons yet was Anna. It was assumed she would jump on the chance to look for any chance to make a sale, though locating her was proving to be difficult.
Noticeable all of Adam's immediate family was absent from the meeting, they were having their own orientation. After finally dragging Morgan out of the library and Owain off the training grounds Lissa was attempting to recuperate with her children... knowing full well it would not be easy, fighting so quickly after their loss. Even more concerning was the thought of fighting without their tactician. To make matters worse, this trip might just be getting their hopes up only for them to be crushed again. After all, he was dead, why would he appear now? While they knew there was a high possibility of this, they tried to drown that traitorous thought in the back of their mind.
"Now I'm not forcing any of you to go..." Chrom began and instantly saw the hostility he received.
"We're going Chrom, so you can stop with your noble speeches!" Vaike interrupted. "Do you think any of us would abandon Adam?!"
"Well no..." Chrom admitted.
"T'would be utterly reprehensible to abandon our dear comrade in his time of need, he never once abandoned us when we were in need, we wouldn't dream of not returning the favor." Virion argued theatrically as always, causing a great commotion among the group.
"Hell yeah, you tell 'em Rumples!" Sully yelled cheering while teasing her husband. They were both used to the other's antics by now, but no one else was, evident by the groans.
"I still have a dance he promised to help me with... I need him to finish it... so he'll have to come back. He keeps his oaths... we all know that, but we have to help him!" Olivia argued, loudly for once and then immediately blushed. "Please don't stare!"
"He gave us hope and a reason to fight. Shucks even a farm hand like me became a warrior with his help! I think I speak for all of us. He made us better in more ways than one; he found time for each of us." Donnel spoke gripping his lance. "I'm no longer a face in the crowd, I'M A BRAVE SOLDIER OF YLISSE! So I'll help in any way I can!" A loud roar rang out in response to Donnel's speech and Chrom stepped down.
"Very well it seems it's already decided. Everyone here with the unfortunate exception of me... will be heading out. I regret to say I must stay behind." Everyone was silent. Chrom had been the leader of the Shepherds for several years and had been a mandatory part of each battle. He was the figurehead, the inspiration; the very symbol of the Shepherds…when there was a fight, Chrom was always there; leading the charge. Most of the soldiers here had either been handpicked by Chrom before-hand, or recruited by Chrom during their various adventures. Gaius, Nowi, Tharja, Libra, Tiki, and Maribelle were especially perturbed. Chrom had been the one save them… from what was otherwise certain death.
Gaius would have been slain by the very same Shepherds he was now part of. Nowi would have been recaptured and sold again to those horrid men. Tharja had been able to escape from Plegia and their insane king, living to fight another day, he had trusted her when he clearly shouldn't have. Tiki was protected while she slumbered, despite being severally outnumbered and hopelessly outmatched. Maribelle had been rescued by Chrom after reuniting with Ricken, when she was taken hostage by Plegia, against his sister's wishes and knowing full well a war could easily be incited. He still fought for all of them.
"No… we'll be joining you as well." Chrom turned and saw his two daughters standing defiantly. Besides her was the full force of the Future Shepherds, even Morgan and Owain, armed to the teeth, brimming with unwavering determination.
"Lucina… this is no longer your fight. Grima has been defeated… you've earned a little peace. That's what Adam would want." Chrom argued with his daughter, choosing his words carefully. He wanted her to understand that while he still wanted her here… this was not her time, and they had an obligation to Adam to fix their problems themselves. To rely on others to keep the peace he die… he left for would be an insult to him memory. "You spent so much time fighting for your future… now you should go enjoy it."
"Father! This is still my fight… I came back to save you, and avert my doomed time, but I also came to save everyone! I know what ifs are pointless, but that doesn't stop me from wondering… how much pain I put you all through, fighting for us. We need to repay the favor… so we'll find your tactician." She clenched her fist a single tear escaping. "As long as we draw breath…we need to fight; we need to use the peace he gave us, it's only right! It is our birthright as your children to mend our errors!"
"Lucina, listen to your father. This is something I must do… even if only to alleviate my conscious… I found Adam just to have him throw away his life… I'm a terrible friend, so I'm going to make sure his wish of peace is granted." Chrom yelled, forgetting about the rest of the soldiers present.
Everyone looked around wordlessly, their eyes all transmitting the same wordless message. 'He's finally letting it out.' To anyone who knew Chrom they could tell the past few weeks he was deteriorating, decaying internally… most people wouldn't be able to tell, but his close friends they could tell the guilt was weighing on him like an anchor, and being told he could not help in this mission only made it worse. Truly he just needed vent and Lucina was almost asking for it.
He had never yelled at Lucina before… they argued, but they never raised their voices beyond loud talking. The fact that he was yelling spoke leagues about his inner frustration. Hopefully this would be good for him and Lucina as well who seemed to be going through the same problem.
Most of the current Shepherds couldn't tell, but the Future Shepherds who had spent their whole life being led by the Princess could easily see the difference. She felt guilty, very guilty. To live because of someone else's death had been a common practice in her future, something she had vowed to change when she arrived. And she had failed. First her Aunt Emmeryn and then her Uncle Adam. She failed to save them both.
"I was there when he vanished! Don't tell me to just forget what he did and relax… he was special to everyone here. And your letting Owain and Morgan go as well!" Lucina argued.
"No… don't forget him. Remember him and use the peace he gave you… isn't that what he told you? And Owain and Morgan are his children, this is related to them. Besides, who else would serve as our tactician with Adam gone?" Chrom tried to argue but he could see that Lucina wasn't going to listen to him. 'It seems she inherited my stubbornness and her mother's spirit.' Chrom thought, allowing himself to feel a bit proud.
"I will I promise… once we have Adam back and our family is completed. He is my uncle too, I may not remember him as well as I did you, but I remember when we were children he would always play with us, devise little battles and games, war puzzles and the like… he treated us more seriously than anyone else… he recognized us as future soldiers, and we all loved him for it! Even when we came back, and even when I suspected him (Rightful so, but that's not the point) he still made sure I was alright, he looked after me when I didn't deserve it, listened to my sorrows, and helped me go on. I'm going, surely you of all people understand wanting to go… let me go for you. Brady and Severa were forced to interrupt their musical tour (Though no one, with the exception of Brady was that upset about that.), Nah and Yarne had come from the mountains, where they were currently presiding… we all came to help because we want to help. We still owe him for all he has done." Lucina yelled.
"Yeah we're gonna fight for Adam! We promised remember? He's our boss and our friend!" Brady yelled.
"It's just not the same without him around, we need him to keep our spirits up. It feels so depressing, this isn't like my normal rejection, this one stings far worse." Inigo agreed.
"He gave us all hope and confidence… he helped us face our fears, and our past and look towards the future, we could feel safe with him." Noire insisted.
"We need him to protect us… without him I'll go extinct. I don't want to spend every day looking over my shoulder, worrying, so I'll fight if I have to. " Yarne admitted.
"We are all prepared to fight father." Lucina added to the argument. "So please."
Chrom sighed, stroking his forehead in frustration. He wasn't going to dissuade her, her sense of justice and desire to alleviate her guilt was too strong. Just like his. "Fine you can go."
Lucina and the other cheered, hugged and drew their weapons. "We swear we will repay the debt our time owes to Adam… Grandmaster of the Ylissean army." They all chanted together.
Seeing the younger generation so pumped invigorated the current Shepherds and they began chanting themselves. "Well find Adam… no matter how long it takes!"
"Pipe down… We're going to absolve a potential crisis." All eyes turned to the Seat of War who stood at the door. "Looking for the prince is our secondary objective. Keep that in mind. So keep your eyes open, because we won't have time to go on a wild goose chase or venture aimlessly. After all, wishes and good intentions do not revive corpses, we're relying purely on luck here."
"I apologize, he means well he's simply stressed out about returning to battle." The seat of Peace apologized, bowing quickly. "I simply came to see you all off…"
"HEHEHEHE such a touching scene, too bad I didn't bring any tissues." A menacing voice chuckled.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!" Chrom yelled drawing Falchion. The rest of the soldiers drew their weapons as well wearily, trying to locate the voice.
The chuckling grew louder and began resounding around the room.
"I'm right here!" The voice announced. Suddenly a blindingly light filled the room. When everyone opened their eyes they saw Excellus standing in the room besides Chrom.
Acting on instinct Chrom swung Falchion only for the sword to run directly through him.
Excellus chuckled. "That won't work foolish prince!"
"Didn't you die Excellus? I saw you fall!" Chrom asked in shock.
"Merely my shadow… you have all been puppets in my game since the beginning. The fight with Grima, the Risen, all of this has been a part of my plan since the beginning." Excellus chuckled. "Do you see know, I've orchestrated even the gods themselves as my playthings! You are insignificant to me!"
"What are you doing here?" The Seat of War asked drawing his lance.
"I'm here to say hello to my brother, and to formally declare war on Ylisse." He smiled evilly and turned to the Seat of Peace. "Well, you look just like our father now don't you… too bad you didn't inherit his brains like I did."
"Is this true Dorian? Is he your brother!?" Chrom asked in shock.
"I… I don't know… I was raised in an orphanage. That's how I originally met Emmeryn." Dorian answered his hands shaking, his normally placid composition crumbling. "How could I be brothers with this man?"
"Yes, father had an affair with some Ylissean whore." His face turned dark and anger consumed his features. "Needless to say, I didn't like being replaced by a peasant's offspring."
Suddenly Dorian collapsed, spurting blood from his mouth. "Serves you right bastard child." Excellus spat as he dissipated from the room.
"What does all of this mean?" Lucina asked.
"I don't know, but I do know one thing… Ylisse is at war once again. This is no longer speculation. We better find your brother Chrom. We'll need every man we can get." Kirke stated kneeling beside his friend. "That damned mage, I'll kill him myself."
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"Now choose little prince! The emblem or your beloved sister, which will you sacrifice?"
"Chrom, Lissa… It'll be all right." Emm smiled assumingly, she stepped to the edge, closed her eyes and prayed, tears escaping the Exalt's eyes. She prayed for her friends as the last of her time slipped away. Then she fell…
"HAHAHAHAH! What a delightful fall… and here I thought death was ugly, but that was beautiful! Remind me to gather up her body and display it in my museum!" Gangrel laughed mockingly.
"There's nothing you can do! We have to run… we have to go…"
"There is nothing you can do… nothing you can do… nothing… nothing…NOTHING!"
Rising from his chair Chrom kicked the weapons crate in front of him in anger. The shock of the box numbed his foot, but did little to subside his rage, his wrath overpowering his sense of pain. "Damn you Gangrel." He uttered again as his mind unwillingly replayed the day's events.
"Milord, I suggest you get some rest soon, we will not be ready to march until late tomorrow. You're only hurting yourself and helping Gangrel."
"What do you know Fredrick!? You failed as a knight, you let Emm die!" As soon as that harsh insult left his mouth he wished he could take it back. "I… I'm sorry."
"No… you're right sir. I have failed as a knight, I have no excuse." Fredrick lowered his head in dismay.
"Milord, Adam and Lissa wish to see you, they say it's urgent." Fredrick turned and saw a solider entering from the outside.
"ADAM! EARTH TO ADAM!" A large fist shaped object moving rapidly made contact with the tactician's head and the resounding thud was able to finally awaken the tactician.
"AHHG!" Adam sprang back in surprise, and winced at the lump on his head. "So violent."
"Geez, and you claim to be an infamous tactician from an alternate timeline, I don't see why the young Prince believes you. You act like any old fool to me." The man sighed pulling out his reports. "And you look like a buffoon sleeping in the middle of a cemetery."
"I wasn't sleeping, Sivler I was mourning Emm. The Emm from my timeline who did die, not the one here who is still alive. And even if I was, don't wake me that way!" The tactician answered ignoring the odd look he was getting.
"Still spouting that alternate timeline nonsense? Never mind, look at this." He said pulling out the papers.
He scrambled to his feet and looked down at the papers. "What are these?" He asked grabbing them.
"The usual, land ventures, business arrangements, development fees and the likes. Lord Chrom wishes for you to look over these papers and decide what to do as you see fit." The politician sighed. "It seems like the work never ends."
"At least we're at peace." Adam sighed contently. "Back home, I had just as much paperwork, but I also had to take care of everyone. This way is much better."
"As long as you get these done in time." Sivler left cursing the tactician's name. "Damn him! Everything was just fine until he showed up." He though quite vexed. He thought back to his unsuccessful meeting with the Exalt.
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"He's delusional your highness! Should we really be letting a madman have such a high position in Ylisse, if word got out that a quack was making all these important decisions, we can be certain there would be rioting!" Sivler argued with Emm.
It was rare for people to speak back to Emm, but Sivler was a well-known politician and had a large number of devout followers in the common folk, and he knew it. He could afford to have an opinion even in this day and age.
"Silence Sivler, know your place!" The captain shouted.
"No Teichi, let me speak." Emm ordered softly. "I thank you for your concern… but everyone is allowed to speak their mind. That was what I decided at my coronation and I do not plan on revoking that right to anyone."
"Yes ma'am, sorry." The captain blushed, embarrassed he let his emotions get out of hand in public again. Emm had that effect on everyone. She was like a shining angel who made you want to follow and be morally upright. A servant of justice… a symbol of righteousness…Sivler despised her.
"What do you want us to do, we have just as much reason to believe he is telling the truth as we do he's insane. He knows several of our secrets, where else would he have heard them from? And besides, delusional or not, we can't risk him leaking these secrets, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. We'll make sure he is happy here. He has shown no signs of being a bad leader or being unable to help us prosper. It almost seems like you're more worried he'll take your position." Emm answered wisely.
Sivler had stormed out of there furiously. Whether or not he was delusional wasn't the issue, he knew he wasn't, after all… he had been in contact with a man from another world as well, his alternate self. He needed him out of the way, in order for his plan to work. If someone with his strength intervened he would have no chance. This world was weak and with some help from himself he could easily conquer this country. But Adam was a dragon slayer for Naga's sake! If he was well equipped and prepared he could easily conquer the world, stopping him would be no trouble at all… that could not happen.
How he was contacted by himself was still a mystery, he just appeared one day with a brilliant plan. And he had listened, and now the preparations were almost complete.
He stopped, a brilliant idea forming, smiling he pulled out his wallet he headed towards the confectionary shop by the river.
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Rubbing the lump on his head Adam turned to where Emm's grave would have been back home. Currently it was empty, and he hoped it would be for a long time. Subconsciously he had thought back to Emm's death… the calendar here didn't quite match up with his back home, though since he didn't know how long the time between his "death" and his discovery made that difficult to prove. But in this world anyway Emm had died exactly four years ago. His thoughts had wandered, and then Sivler had come.
He remembered the long trudge back to Regna Ferox, the feelings of despair and the weight of the hopelessness of the situation.
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Lissa had quietly slipped away once they arrived at Regna Ferox. As soon as Adam noticed she was missing he knew something was up. Slipping out of the crowd as well he began searching. After discovering she wasn't in the infirmary, the barracks, or the armory he got lucky and found her in an old training room.
"Lissa…" He spoke quietly, approaching her slowly, his brain already trying to find a way to comfort her.
Her head shot up and he saw tear stained eyes. She quickly used her arm to wipe the tears away and turned back with a false smile. "Oh Adam… do you need something?
"Lissa, it's alright to mourn, you don't need to hide it; we're all here for you." He comforted hugging her tightly, but he felt resistance that was unlike Lissa.
"No it's fine, I don't want the others to get depressed. I'm supposed to help morale right, of they all saw me crying, that wouldn't help at all now would it?" She sniffled pushing back from the hug. "I don't want to be a burden."
"Oh… I'm sorry I just feel so helpless… I couldn't save Emm, I can't console Chrom, I can't seem to help you either, and I can't even come up with a suitable strategy for beating Gangrel. I'm a failure, as a tactician, as a friend, and as a person. I'm utterly lost. " Adam sighed and slumped down running his hand through his hair in despair.
"Don't say that, you are not a failure!" Adam looked up at Lissa who was earnestly consoling him. 'She's the morale… she'll rise to the occasion should she need to help others.' Adam smiled internally. To think the best way to console her was to let her console him.
"But I failed, and when it really counted too." Adam argued. He thought he would let Lissa heal herself, but the words that came out were truly his, his guilt, and his pain. They weren't lies. She really was helping him. What had begun as a ruse was now his vulnerable and raw emotions put on display. "How can I have any worth?" He sniffled, a lone tear escaping his eye.
"You are a wonderful person, and you are very dear to me." Lissa promised taking his hand in hers. "You did everything you could, you couldn't have made it any different, I'm sure Emm understands that." She smiled and stroked his hair.
"And what about you… do you believe that as well? Does Emm understand that you tried as well?" Adam asked tightening his grip on her hand protectively.
Lissa remained silent so Adam continued. "You need to hear this too, your special to me, and I don't want to see you hurting, so help me and let me help you. Emm must have been happy to have such a wonderful sister." Adam pulled himself and Lissa up into a standing position. "So stand tall… and cry if you need to."
"Do you really think that?" Lissa asked hopefully. "Is it okay to fail?"
Adam nodded. "I do… as long as you get back up again."
"And what about you… are you going to keep fighting?" Lissa asked fidgeting her thumbs.
"To my dying breath." He swore. Lissa shot him a concerned look and he chuckled. "Though hopefully it doesn't come to that."
Lissa smiled and tears began forming in her eyes. She wiped them away and playfully struck Adam on the shoulder. "Why is every time I'm with you I end up crying?"
"Because I'm an idiot." Adam admitted honestly.
"Yes you are… your always worrying me… who knows how many times I've had to patch you up. You never get to spend time with me… and worst off all… your so run down it's hard to look at you… you often come back bloody, with broken bones… dirt and sleepless nights ruining marring you face." The princess began listing.
"I don't think your being entirely fair…" Adam began.
"But… but I know this war is something we must do… so promise me even though I hate seeing you and Chrom and everyone like this… promise you won't stop. Not until we can come home peacefully." Lissa ordered, a sniffle escaped her but no tears formed.
"I promise…" Adam swore raising his hand as a pledge.
"And you promise you'll never leave me?" Lissa asked blushing as she stared at the ground.
"Lissa even when we're far apart… our hearts will still be connected. As long as you keep me close to your heart…" He blushed and continued. "If you do that… I won't stop loving you, no matter what."
"Even if a beautiful dancer tries to seduce you while I'm away!?" Lissa almost yelled as she tightly gripped her dress that had several holes and tears, as well as patches of dried mud stuck to the outside.
"This was quite specific Lissa…" 'Did she have that example in mind before-hand?' Adam could only guess as his beautiful princess stared in worry at him.
"Just answer it!" She yelled. "I don't want to lose you… but still I know I'm… not exactly the most pretty or…"
"I promise. I won't be swayed by any other woman… I shall remain faithful to you until the day I die." Adam promised. "One day soon once this war is over… I'll prove it you. We'll have a fancy wedding, I'll buy a beautiful ring for you, and I'll make you happy I promise."
"Aren't you skipping a step?" Lissa asked teasingly. "What makes you think I'll say yes?"
"Are you implying you'll say no?" Adam asked with a face of fake concern.
"No but you have to ask… didn't Maribelle teach you anything?" Lissa mocked. "There's supposed to be a ring and you need to be on one knee."
Adam paused for a moment and then backed away.
Lissa rose and followed the tactician. She gripped his arm gently a slight twinge of fear preeminent in her eyes.
"No… not now. Lissa I can't promise you anything. I wish I could but… who knows if I'll survive the next few battles… I don't want to make a widow of you this early." Adam sighed. "I want to survive for you… and for everyone else. But… but I can't promise anything…"
"STOP IT STOP IT SSSSTTTTTTTTOPPPPPPPPP IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!" Adam fell back in surprise at Lissa's protest.
"Lissa calm down!"
"I will not! You can't go and almost propose to me and then tell me you're going to die! That's not fair! Promise me you'll live." Lissa yelled. She crossed her arms in protest and pleaded while maintain the look of unbreakable determination in her eyes that Adam had come to love.
"Lissa… I can't promise you that. I still don't know how or why I was born. How can I know how I'm going to die?" Adam bit his lip knowing Lissa wasn't going to accept that answer.
"Fine but then promise me… promise me…" Lissa paused for a moment.
"Promise you what?" Adam asked taking Lissa's hand while brushing a few stray stands of hair away.
"I don't know! Just… promise no matter what happens… you'll find a way to come back to me. Even if you die." Lissa spoke softly trying to put her feelings into words.
"Okay…it'll be easy. After all…even when we are far apart our hearts are still connected. No matter where we go… we'll find a way back to each other. I promise. I will do everything I can to live… and to keep everyone else alive."
"Let's find Chrom. We're going to win this war, I believe in you and this army, these Shepherds… my family." Lissa tugged on Adam's arm and began dragging him to Chrom's chamber.
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"Milord, Adam and Lissa wish to see you, they say it's urgent." Fredrick turned and saw a solider entering from the outside.
Chrom turned and saw his sister and his tactician arms linked walking towards him.
"Chrom we have a plan! Rally the troops." Adam cheered triumphantly.
"You do? Share it with me." Chrom breathed a sigh of relief for the first time since they had planned Emm's rescue. Not only had he failed to save his sister, but Gangrel had remained unharmed… completely safe and still living in his palace, guilty without his punishment.
But the worst was Adam's silence. He had no plans, no strategy, absolutely no ideas. It felt like the war had already been lost. From what Chrom understood of chess… their King was gone. This was checkmate, and the morale of the Shepherds proved it.
But now they had a chance… a glimmer of hope in this madness called war.
"We've received news that Plegians are throwing down their swords in Emm's name. She was right. Even Plegia wants peace. We just need to liberate them from the Mad King."
Tears of pride sprouted in the prince's eyes. "Emm always was right…" he paused for a moment. "But what about the Risen? Can't Aversa summon them?"
"Libra knows certain enchantments that can make our weapons anti-Risen. We just need a small strike force to dethrone Gangrel. If he resists we will not hesitate, the sooner we can move the better. If we wait too long Gangrel may be able to quell the panic." Adam explained chuckling lightly. "We will win!"
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The room was poorly illuminated, allowing the assassin to remain hidden from his employer. In his line of work it was best if you couldn't be identified if a job went south. It made it far more difficult to be accused of crimes in a court of law. His name was unrevealed as well, most just called him the Moonlight Assassin.
"It's a simple assassination… but…" The mysterious cloaked man asked.
"But what? Is there a problem with the payment?" The assassin's employer asked hesitantly while adjusting the candle to keep the wax from spilling onto his hand.
"Oh no two pies, two jelly cups and seven chocolate blocks will do just fine. It's just… you're a politician, generally politicians go after kill those whose deaths would benefit them. I don't see how this helps you." The assassin explained.
"This is for the good of Ylisse." The man argued. "I have no other reason for this."
"Sure Sivler… I'll contact my associate, he'll handle the job no sweat." The Moonlight Assassin stroked his orange hair and chuckled. "Pleasure doing business with you."
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"Owain halt."
Owain turned and saw his cousin Lucina and Laurent. At first he was suspicious… after all there were rumors about those two… but perhaps they were just rumors. "Yeah Lucina… something to say before head out?"
"Umm… there's no easy way to say this but… why are you still here? And Morgan as well?" Lucina asked uncomfortably.
"What are you saying Lucina? That since my father is gone I should just get lost too?" Owain asked angrily. He knew Lucina would never insinuate that. He wasn't truly angry at her, but himself… she was just a convenient outlet.
"No of course not it's just…you mentioned…" She hesitated but then resumed. "You said your father died in the future… taking an arrow for you from a Risen… correct?"
"Yeah… but he di… he's gone now because of…" He stopped. "You get the picture right?"
"And what's even stranger is I have memories of him as well… memories from my infancy and childhood… memories that never took place or never should have taken place…" Lucina turned to Laurent who nodded and she turned back to Owain. "I had a theory and Laurent says it may be possible… these memories we have are memories that the current us… will one day experience."
"What are you saying Lucina? Get to the point." Owain asked.
Lucina truly hated to see her cousin this way. Owain was categorized by his dramatic and attention grabbing theatrics as well as his over-the-top antics. He hadn't mentioned his sword hand in days, it was truly hard to watch.
"I'm saying… these memories we have are the memories that the you and I from this timeline will soon experience. Right Laurent?" Lucina gestured for the scholar to speak.
"Precisely. Our time-space continuum meddling has resulted in a chronological malfunction disrupting and adjusting that which we recall to that which will eventually occur as the recollection of our time is nigh a delusion."
"English please." Owain sighed. He understood just enough of that to know that he probably wouldn't understand even if he could tell what Laurent was saying.
"The memories we have of events that have not transpired are the memories we the time-travelers of this current era will one day obtain. As the future has been altered so has our perception of it. We are so to speak… no longer warriors from a doomed future… that timeline has been averted… it no longer exists. We are the future children of the Shepherds of this timeline… in a world without war. We have received the memories of our past selves of this timeline."
"So that means these memories of my father… are ones yet to happen, but ones that will soon happen in this timeline?" Owain asked finally understanding. But if that was true then…
Lucina smiled and nodded. "Yes… Owain this means…"
A smile formed on Owain's mouth as tears of joy formed in his eyes. "Father…. Father is… FATHER IS ALIVE! AND HE'LL BE BACK SOON! HAHAHA!" He cried forgetting all sense of public decency, as he began dancing around and hugging Lucina. He even tried to hoist Laurent but the young mage was able to see that coming and quickly retreated.
Tears streaming down his face he ran to the room where Morgan and Lissa were packing their things. "I need to tell Mom and Morgan… Father is alive!"
Lucina smiled. "Owain still appears the same age right?"
Laurent nodded. "And so Adam must reappear soon in order to birth his children. I estimate his return within the year at most."
"I'm glad… no one had to die for me… not anymore. The bonds we shared pulled him through… father was right." While her voice did not waver, a lone tear escaped her face, one that didn't go unnoticed by Laurent.
He smirked and replied. "We should always trust our parents. They've saved us more than once… they surpass all logic. It… it frightens me to be honest. They perform miracles as easily as you or I breathe. They truly are something amazing."
"I know."
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"Mom!"
Lissa turned and saw her son Owain with her daughter Morgan standing cheerfully. "Yes?" She asked trying to keep her composure around her children.
"Father's alive and he's coming back soon!" Morgan cried our happily.
Lissa's world froze… Adam… Adam was…. Her husband was alive.
She laughed.
Owain looked puzzled. "Mom were serious."
"I know… I always knew he would come back… he promised me… right when we sort of got engaged." She chuckled. "I promise you Adam if you can hear me… I'll wait as long as I need. Come home soon. I love you."
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Adam couldn't explain it but as he was reminiscing he felt a comforting and familiar presence… Lissa. He remember her whispering words of love to her… and the way she looked at him that told him just how much she cared for him. He imagined his ring back on his finger and smiled. "Even when we are far apart our hearts are still connected. I'll find my way back to you Lissa I promise…somehow. I know I will because I must… so don't cry. I love you.
Author's Notes
Me: Well I'm not even sure what to say… the plot is finally developing! Hooray! With Sivler's nefarious plotting, the Shepherd's new conflict, the renewed hope in the search for Adam and Excellus' revenge I've got so many ideas at once. Though it'll probably be a combination of fluff and fighting for a while with a little plot sprinkled in. I've got most of the story finished off in my head so it should be a bit easier. Plus this was my longest chapter ever by far. 15 pages! So yeah (Still took too long but maybe this will make it up a little). Have a nice day (Or night… it's like 11 when I'm uploading this so yeah…). Hope you enjoyed… be sure to review tell me what you liked… point out errors and give some constructive criticism (be nice please). See ya.