Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem: Awakening/Kakusei

Author's Note:I'm so excited to write once again. I think I'm going to aim for short chapters once a week or twice if I'm lucky... But anywho! This story is just getting started! Expect more, much more. If you have any questions, just PM me. And now, here's the stuff you came for. Please enjoy.

Much love,

~SAYONARA~

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Lucina sat quietly on her bedside, her arms wrapped around her legs. She hadn't changed her outfit from the day before and still wore her battered armor. She had forgotten how long she had sat there, in that very position. She simply stared at the patch of emptiness along the side of the tent, her eyes tracing over the fabric. Even though she stared at the tent, her mind lay elsewhere.

Even in the bleak future she had escaped from, she never such loneliness.

Robin was gone, she had to accept that. He gave his life for the greater good and Lucina knew what had to be done. Still, she missed him terribly. His clever jokes at night, his laughter, him...

Lucina sighed as she looked at the bed behind her. It was still cleanly made, relatively untouched. She could still picture herself, within Robin's arms, lying in that bed with him. It was one of the few things that made her genuinely happy with her life throughout the war. In the future, everyone she had really cared for always wound up dead. And once people started to fall, Lucina closed her heart from the world.

But here, it was different.

She had finally met someone that she could open up to. Someone she grew attached to. And that person was Robin. Robin had promised her, the day he proposed that he would never leave her side. That he would be with her till the day he stopped breathing. And she really believed him.

Except now, that breath, that very life... was gone.

It was a noble deed, what Robin did. Lucina knew that Robin made the right decision for the world and the generations to come. The least Lucina could do was to make sure that Robin's decision wasn't in vain.

What else could she have done?

If she had broken down on the battlefield as Robin had made his final choice, how much worse would have Morgan handled the situation? Lucina saw her daughter break down completely as Morgan saw her father disappear into the wind. It took Gaius and Sir Frederick to keep Morgan from running towards her father. And that was a painful sight for her to watch, Lucina knew that she had to keep a steadfast heart for the sake of the Shepherds... and herself.

She had to...

...

From where she was sitting, Lucina could see faint shimmers of light protrude through the tent entrance.

It's far too early for daylight...

Then, she heard the crackling of firewood and the snaps of dry bark. Someone must have started the campfire for the beginning of dawn. And if Lucina remembered correctly, today would have been her turn for firewood duty.

She stood up from the bed and picked up her cloak from the stool. She fastened it over her shoulder and straightened it out. She went to her bedside and blew out the lantern quickly. And when she finally got to the door, she sighed.

Robin and I were supposed to go get firewood today...

Lucina would give anything for just one more second with him... But there were a lot of moments she would have given something for another... Or at least that's what she told herself.

Lucina stepped through the flaps of the tent and made it out to the campgrounds. It was still incredibly dark. Lanterns were still hung on the wooden posts to give light. Several soldiers were still on their guard shifts and patrolled the grounds. When they came by, they gave a respectful bow to Lucina before resuming their posts. Lucina briskly moved along, the cold morning air snipping at her from beneath her cloak.

When she approached the campfire, Lucina already saw someone busily loading the firewood pile with extra wood. At first, Lucina assumed that Sir Frederick had started the morning process early like he would normally he do. But as she got closer, Lucina could see that the person wasn't wearing armor.

So it can't be Sir Frederick.

When Lucina finally reached the fire, she got a better look at the person. He hadn't even noticed she was there. His Killing Edge rested in its black sheath by a tree stump that usually doubled as a seat.

It was Lon'qu.

Lucina quickly unfastened her cloak and set it down on a log. She went to the pile of firewood.

"Here, let me help." She said.

Lon'qu glanced over at her and he gave a sudden jolt as if he had seen a ghost. But he looked back and regained his composure. He let out a relieved breath.

"O-oh, it's you, Lucina."

Lucina nodded. "Yes... Did you do this all by yourself?"

Lon'qu briefly turned his head towards her and then at the firewood he was stacking. He shook his head.

"Frederick and Panne were working on this as I came out. They asked if I could take over for them."

"So where did Sir Frederick and Lady Panne head off to?"

"The woods I think." Lon'qu said, pointing his thumb towards the mass of trees that loomed over the camp. "They went to take a walk."

Lucina and Lon'qu piled the remaining wood onto the pile. They finished rather quickly. Lucina dusted her hands and went back to the log to pick up her cloak. She saw that Lon'qu had sat down on the stump and stoked the fire with the sheath of his sword. The embers flickered into the dawn sky.

"Aren't you going to head back Lon'qu?" Lucina asked, re-donning her cloak. "It's still a couple good hours before sunrise..."

Lon'qu shook his head and continued to tend the fire without another word.

Lucina sighed and turned around. She walked slowly back to her tent. Lon'qu was a particular member of the "adults" circle. For one, he had a crippling case of gynophobia and wilted around the presence of women... well, almost all the women. He behaved like he normally would around his wife Cordelia and all the other children.

Lon'qu was a close friend of Robin... Lucina thought. I hope he's holding up alright...

As Lucina was just about to enter her tent, she heard the clinking of armor and the padded sound of footsteps. She turned and saw her father emerge from his tent, still wearing his armor as well. He was walking down the dirt path towards the campfire.

Lucina quickly stepped out and approached her father. When he came close, Lucina bowed.

"Good morning father."

"Relax Lucina." Her father Chrom said as he raised his hand to greet her. "I thought I told you not to be so uptight."

"I-I'm sorry father." Lucina said, slightly lowering her head.

"You don't need to apologize." Chrom said, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her towards him. He ruffled through her hair softly. In that moment, Lucina felt all of her troubles and worries wash away.

"Walk with me Lucina." Chrom said, motioning her to follow him.

"Yes, father."

The two walked down the dirt path, the quietness of camp still surrounding them.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm alright father."

Chrom looked at her, a concerned look spread across his face. "Really Lucina. You don't have to lie around me and pretend to be strong. You can tell me the truth... Are you alright?"

Lucina sighed. "I... I miss Robin terribly..."

Chrom put his arm around her shoulder. "So do I Lucy... So do I."

Lucina turned her face into her father's shoulder and let out a whimper. A tear rolled down her face and onto Chrom's shoulder sleeve.

"It's okay to cry Lucina. It's okay."

A single tear turned into a torrent as Lucina emptied her emotional burdens onto her father's shoulder. She simply let everything go in that very moment.

Chrom felt his shoulder dampen from the sheer amount of tears his daughter cried. Chrom patted her shoulder gently, embracing her tighter. Soon, all the whimpers and soft cries stopped.

"Lucina?"

Chrom pulled her slightly from his shoulder and saw that his daughter had passed out. A single tear rested on her cheek. Chrom sighed as he wiped the tear away with his gloved finger. He then lifted Lucina into his arms and carried her back to her tent. He gently laid her on the cleanly made bed and put his own cloak on top of her. Chrom brushed a strand of hair out of Lucina's face and looked at her sadly.

"I can't imagine what you are going through Lucy..." Chrom whispered.

He then turned and left the tent.

Outside, he saw Frederick walk towards him, Panne at his side.

"Ah, Frederick. Good morning."

Frederick bowed. Panne followed suit.

"Good morning milord." Frederick said.

"Quite early to be strolling isn't it?"

"Starting the day early is merely another aspect of knighthood milord."

Chrom saw Panne roll her eyes.

"Is there anything of service you require of me?" Frederick asked.

Chrom thought for a moment. In the light of recent events, something should be held in order to discuss the next moves of the Shepherds.

"Wake everyone up." Chrom ordered.

"Yes, milord."

"It's about time the Shepherds finally met again in council."

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(A/N): I am very fortunate to be able to publish this chapter so early. Well, hopefully you enjoyed it. Leave a review or such. It really helps me and I sincerely appreciate it. Well, thanks again. As I said earlier, expect more!

Until next time,

~SAYONARA~