Becca POV

I release a sigh of relief as Marth finishes off the last of the zombie creatures, and look down at my outfit, leather boots tied firmly up to my knees with sturdy knots, shorts just reaching to my mid thighs, and my sleeveless, skin-tight shirt covered by a cloak, all in dark blue and black to blend in with the night. I pull my attention away from myself and watch the tense exchange between Chrom and Marth before deciding I need to get closer and find out a reason for this person being here at the same time as the monsters.

I jump out of the tree and to the ground behind Marth, leveling a blade at his neck as he talks to Chrom and Robin, his face hidden behind a blue butterfly mask like mine is hidden by an elegant black and white mask, both of our masks matching our outfits. "Explain how you got here." I whisper in his ear, pressing the knife ever so slightly against his neck.

He gulps and barely moves. "I was sent by Naga to prevent a calamity in this world."

I slowly pull the knife away and step back, earning a strange look from Sully, Frederick, Robin, Lissa, and most of all, Chrom and the noble in the frilly suit. "You know Chrom, I would have thought you might recognize me, even if it has been several years," I mutter with a smirk, pulling off my mask.

A grin lights up his face and he laughs, running up to me and wrapping me in his arms. He crushes my ribs, but I don't complain as I squeeze him back just as tightly. "You're finally home," he laughs, burying his face in my hair.

I grin and squeeze lightly around his neck. "I'm here to stay, finally. I missed everyone, but you the most," I whisper in his ear as Frederick approaches on his horse. I release Chrom and offer a hand up to the knight. "It's good to see you've kept those two out of trouble for so long."

Frederick takes my hand and shakes it gently, a small quirk of his lips being the only sign of his happiness to see me. "It's been a challenge, but nothing I couldn't handle."

Lissa, who has been standing with Robin, lets out a sob and barrels right into me, nearly knocking us over before I regain my balance. "I thought I was never gonna see you again!" she wails as she proceeds to squish me.

I hug her tightly and smooth her hair as Sully comes over to clap my shoulder. "It's great to have you back! How long have you been gone? Four, five years?"

"Nearly six," I whisper, as Lissa lets me go, "but I'm back now, and that's all that matters."

Chrom crushes me against him again, pressing a kiss into my temple. "I've missed you more than you could know," he whispers, his hand trailing along my spine, leaving a trail of fire.

Marth clears his throat, regaining my attention. "You have all been warned, and my job is done for now."

As he begins to walk away, I call out to him, "Hey Marth?" He stops and turns his head to look at me over his shoulder. "Sorry I held you at knife point."

"Water under the bridge, I assure you, milady," he responds as he walks away once more, vanishing into the forest night.

"Not much for conversation, is he?" the noble in the frilly outfit asks, before turning to me. "Anyway, who is this young lady?"

"Ruffles, this is our favorite person in the world, Becca!" Sully announces, gripping his shoulder tightly. "And just as a warning, don't even try courting her, she's still only sixteen."

I blush slightly and tuck my hair behind my ear, shrinking into Chrom's arms, hiding myself. "Becca, seriously? You can't act this shy when Emm throws you a welcome back party!" Lissa whines at me. "And, Naga forbid, Maribelle organizes the whole thing and sets you even more in the spotlight!"

Robin stands off to the side awkwardly, watching the scene unfold with confusion. "Robin? What's the matter?" I ask her after a moment.

"Uh, not to be rude or anything, but… how do you know my name?" she asks, pure confusion in her red eyes.

I blink at her in shock. "You… don't recognize me?" She shakes her head in denial. "But that makes no sense."

Chrom tightens his arms around me slightly, leaning down to whisper, "She's suffered amnesia. We found her in a field, and we thought she looked a bit familiar. Is she really… that Robin?"

I nod. "Definitely, I would recognize her and her mother anywhere."

Frederick heaves a great sigh and seems to slightly relax his posture, though he stays tense. "Well, if you are able to vouch for her, then I see no harm in trusting Robin."

The albino girl regards him with a raised eyebrow. "And what were Chrom and Lissa trying to get you to do earlier?" she mutters, face mocking seriousness, but her eyes and tone betraying her amusement.

I roll my eyes at their antics. "Alright lovebirds, save it for later."

Robin blushes beet red, and Frederick gives me a dirty look. "Never say that again, unless you would like some training?" Frederick offers me, a deadly smirk on his lips.

I shrug. "Doesn't bother me one bit." I look longingly to the road. "May we please be on our way? I've been waiting to get back here for years."

Ylisstol

We walk slowly to the throne room to see Emm, Chrom holding my hand as Lissa secures her arm around mine as we walk almost awkwardly through the halls of the giant palace.

"So, tell me why that Virion guy is here?" I ask Chrom, squeezing his hand slightly.

He grimaces in distaste. "He hasn't given a reason other than that he heard of us and wished to find the glory of serving under such a force."

Lissa snickers, though tries to hide it with her hand. "More like he was probably bored out of his mind wherever he's from."

I shake my head and look up, realizing we've already arrived at our destination. Chrom rubs his thumb over the back of my hand, offering me a smile of encouragement as the doors are opened by a Pegasus knight. "She's been desperate for a break from this mess."

I barely register his words as his older sister catches my attention, her golden headpiece blending in with her blonde hair almost perfectly, though glinting in the light filtering in through the giant windows set high into the walls. "Ah, Chrom, Lissa, Frederick, and… Becca?" she greets, eyes widening as they come to rest on me. She then opens her arms to me, even though we're still over halfway across the room from her. "Becca, I do believe a hug is in order."

I laugh as I break away from her younger siblings, racing up to her to hold her close in a hug I never got six years ago. "Hi Emm," I mutter in her ear as our arms close around each other, grinning like a fool.

She lets out a soft laugh herself as we pull away from each other. "Let's have a look at you: all dressed up for running around?"

I look down and bite my lip. "I've been to warmer places while I've recovered, and this is all that I could tolerate in the end."

She smiles and leans in to whisper to me, "I don't think a certain someone in here minds it though." I blush slightly and back away from her, rejoining Chrom and the others. He takes my hand and laces our fingers together. "Now then, Chrom, I am under the assumption that our people are safe?"

He nods. "They ought to be free of bandits for a time, although we'll be needing more soldiers posted to the borders. They crossed over here from Plegia to attack Southtown."

A pegasus knight in light blue armor with even lighter blue hair steps forward. "Forgive me, milord, my knights should have intercepted them before they made it so far into our borders."

Frederick shakes his head as he addresses her. "T'was not your fault, you were busy here with your duties guarding her Grace."

"Yeah!" Lissa cheers, turning towards Robin. "Besides, we picked up one of our old friends."

"Ah, so I finally get to meet the infamous Robin?" Emm murmurs, genuine excitement in her voice.

"Yep. She's amazing with tactics, magic, and swordplay," Chrom compliments aloud as we turn to look at her. "I feel that she would be a great addition to the Shepherds as our tactician."

Robin blushes and shakes her head. "Chrom, I'm not all that! Besides, what would your people think?"

"Aw, c'mon Robin! It'll be fine, they can shove their opinions where the sun don't shine for all I care!" I turn to her, pleading. "And you've already got a town full of people you helped save from bandits yesterday, that has to count for something!"

"Yeah!" Lissa joins in on the begging. "We need more ladies in the Shepherds anyway!"

She blinks and waves her hands around. "Alright, alright, I get the point! I'll join!"

I grin and laugh as Lissa pounces on Robin, cheering like always in joy. Chrom shifts and I feel his warm breath at my ear as he whispers, "Thank you for doing the begging for me."

I stop laughing and gaze up at him, narrowing my eyes slightly like I used to whenever he annoyed me. "You silly prince, you never could convince anyone to do anything," I drawl, mocking him to let him know I'm not being fully serious.

Before he can give me a witty reply, a cough from Phila catches my attention. She looks particularly angry at me, making me step away from Chrom, much to his disappointment. "I would ask that you refrain from behaving in such a manner, Becca."

Emm steps forward as I frown at the Pegasus knight. "Phila, she is as family. I would not ask for her to behave in any other manner."

"It is still improper, Your Grace, and I wish to maintain a decent reputation for all of your family," she argues back. The mention of family hits me hard, and my heart stops for a moment.

I turn my back on her and clench my fist, sudden sadness overwhelming me. "I will not linger for talk of politics. I will see all of you later," I dismiss myself, uncaring for the heavy silence I leave behind as everyone watches me walk slowly out of the throne room.

My body shakes as I navigate the halls to find the tower room Chrom mentioned he had maintained for me until my return, tears burning in my eyes and blurring my vision. The decorations melt into blobs of color in my vision as I near the tapestry hiding the staircase, my feet heavy as I ascend the steps. The long hike up seems to take forever as I struggle to contain myself from screaming at the pain in my heart. Tears leak from my eyes when I find the door, polished and closed as though it has remained undisturbed by people and time. My hand shakes violently as I reach for the knob, and I manage to get the door open and closed before running to the bed and jumping on it, clutching a pillow close as I cry my heart out. The pain only intensifies as I lie there, helpless and in a pain no healer can ever fix.

Continued in the next chapter as usual, though confusion is abound with everyone.

I do not own Fire Emblem Awakening.