SoaringHawk here again! After that Fire Emblem Fates list I made in the bottom of the last chapter, I'm wondering if I could fight anybody and get unique skills (however, I'm always short on money, and I'm not buying any DLC except for the free ones). And maybe I got hacked skills. I really don't know (like Aptitude). But, I really don't mind, as I'm not a competitive player.

I should also list out the pairings for myself and for all of you who are reading this.

Chrom x Sumia, Sully x Vaike, Ke'ri x Lon'qu, Donnel x Nowi, Gaius x Tharja, Stahl x Cordelia, Frederick x Olivia, Gregor x Miriel, Libra x Maribelle, Kellam x Cherche, Henry x Panne

Who's left? Anna, Say'ri, Robin

(I think I might have made a few errors; hopefully by next chapter, the list'll be confirmed. Give me a suggestion: Who should Robin be paired with? A child character, or one of the non-supportable characters?)

On with the story!

I'm sure there's something off with Lon'qu today, just like yesterday, and the day before. We've traveled to Valm after an intense fight over the ocean. I've never seen so much fire in my life. The waters were on fire.

It was an insane decision, but it worked! Robin had told everyone to dump the oil and fuel and ignite it, and it eliminated the enemy ships around us.

We found a dark mage, Henry, who loves crows. And he can speak to the crows! And he makes a lot of crow puns. It was funny at first, but now many people like Frederick have to restrain themselves from face-palming.

Virion returned, bringing a wyvern rider by the name of Cherche. Dragons are so fascinating! I couldn't help but reach out and pet the wyvern, Minerva. Minerva seemed so surprised. I guess that people are scared of Minerva, and they end up shying away from her.

"I'm seasick." Lon'qu grumbled, clinging onto the side of the ship and looking into the waters.

"Haha, you looks so vulnerable!" I laugh. "Look out to the horizon. It might stop your queasiness."

"Are you excited to see your parents again?"

"Of course I am! Thanks for asking Chrom for us to see our hometown. I'm glad. After so many years, when they thought I was dead. Well, I was, but I don't know... how would they react? I came back to life. They could take this in so many ways."

"Ke'ri, relax. You're their daughter. They'll be more than glad to see you alive. The impossible has happened, and I think they'll be joyed to see that you're here again. The look on their faces after you died... They would have done anything to see you smile again. And so did I."

"Aww..." I shift closer to the seasick swordsman. "I'll make everyone smile."

"I would be smiling, but damn this boat ride. I'm still sick."

"Are you going to throw up?"

"... Ugh... maybe."

"Alright. I'm going somewhere else. I'd prefer not to witness anybody hurling guts into the sea."

After days of sailing, we finally saw land.

"Home is so close..." I whisper. "Mother, Father, I'm coming back!"

Kjelle and Lucina, the two children from the future, walk up to the front of the boat. During the same battle when we found Henry, we also found Lucina, Sumia's and Chrom's daughter. Kjelle was found after in another battle. She had Vaike's blonde hair, and just as much strength as her father. Supposedly, there were more children around in Valm, and maybe back in Ylisse or Plegia.

"I wonder where he is." Lucina was murmuring. "He's a great swordmaster. Kind as well. I hope he's okay. Last time I saw him, he looked so upset. All of our parents died, and his parents were the last to fall."

Which child?

"You mean O-"

"Shh. We can't say names!"

"O-oh... Okay." Kjelle whispered back.

"Land's ahead! We'll arrive in around an hour! Caw caw!" Henry shouted. Wait, how did he even get there? I swear, he was walking near the front of the boat a few minutes ago. Did a giant crow just lift him there? Hmmm... about Henry and his love of crows, and the crow's nest of the ship... did someone plan this?

Deciding to pack my belongings, as Chrom advised after Henry called from the crow's nest, I went down to the bunks and shoved the few belongings I had into my backpack. Since Lon'qu was still probably throwing up, I decided to pack his belongings as well.

Under his pillow was a small leather journal.

That's very un-Lon'qu of Lon'qu to write down things. He's usually so reserved that he wouldn't bother writing things down like that.

I find myself trying to peek at the pages.

Open it.

Don't open it.

...

Screw it, haha, I'm reading this!

And so, I open the book to find messy words scrawled into neat lines, objects bookmarking almost every single page. A few items fall out: a faded drawing, a beaded necklace, a pressed flower bracelet. My eyes catch glimpses of each sentence, messy, but legible.

And each word makes my eyes widen.

He could not have possibly thought that about me!

"Oh, my."

Looking around to make sure Lon'qu wasn't going to march in at any moment, I quickly put some of the small items back between the pages, scanning a few sentences that were clearer than the rest.

"Does she really think of me as just a childhood friend, or is she lying?"

Okay, well, maybe he's seeing through my lies.

"Would she ever understand my fear of women? What if I that it was because of her?"

What? Oh... I more than understood that I was the cause for Lon'qu's fear. I want to help you overcome that fear that I caused.

"Why is my fear of women still not gone, even though she came back to life?"

Well, because, those memories you must have of me were dear to you, and it's been so long before I came that you were alone. Of course you still feel that way; In a way, you might not believe I'm living, because I practically achieved the impossible. I probably remind you of the old me when I died before. My death will still affect you, even though I came back.

"I might screw up our friendship because I fear women... Would she understand or not?"

I haven't seen much happen to our friendship. Well, Lon'qu, our friendship is strong, but I've kept screwing it up from lying to you.

"What are you doing?"

Crud. No, no, no! Oh, no! He's gonna be so mad at me!

I close the notebook and turn around to see Lon'qu.

"... Sorry, Lon'qu." I murmur. "I just wanted to pack up your stuff because you were feeling sick, and when I came across your journal... I couldn't help but read it. I'm so sorry."

Oh no, me and my crappy decisions!

"Ke'ri!" He was blushing wildly. "Don't do that again!"

"I didn't read much." I admit. "You might be a little different because your fear of women, but it's okay. Lon'qu, if it's anything, it's me who's messing everything up. Not you."

He seems to relax, so I quickly hand the journal back to him. Wow, he's not mad at me? Why?

"You don't have to hide anything with me."

"Well, you don't have too, either."

True. That is so, very, true.

I've been hiding so many feelings from him, I might as well be a hypocrite.

"I can't wait!" I could barely contain my excitement. "We're finally gonna see my parents! They'll be so happy!"

Lon'qu chuckled at my happiness. "You're acting like a five-year old."

"Shut up! Stop being a killjoy." I sigh, kicking his leg. "Don't be grumpy. Are you still seasick?"

"No, thank the gods." Lon'qu shook his head. "We'd better get going. Chrom wanted everyone to march inland, where we'll find a place to camp. Tomorrow, we'll see your parents."

I really can't wait!

"How did you get to Ferox, anyway?" I asked. "Why did you leave Chron'sin?"

It occurred to me that through the time we reunited, I never asked him of what happened years after my death. I didn't want to bother him with his memories of grief.

"I ran away from Chron'sin. I wanted to become stronger, and I heard distant news that Ferox had these tournaments. And I thought that if I could train and fight in one of those competitions, I would get stronger. So I traveled to Ferox by boat and I met Khan Basilio. I became his champion after defeating the former champion. I don't remember him, but being champion was all that mattered to me before."

I put my hands in my pockets and looked down at the sandy ground. Unlike the sand at Plegia, this sand was damp and significantly less bothersome. "Why did you want to become stronger? Was it because of me...?"

He remained silent for at least half a minute. Eventually, he nodded. "Yes, yes I did. I wanted to be stronger so that people close to me wouldn't die because of me."

"I'm sorry, Lon'qu." I sigh. "You obviously went through all this trouble and hardship because of me."

"It's alright." he shook his head. "You didn't have to apologize. I still have a long way to become stronger."

"Why? You're strong already!"

"You beat me in one of our sparring matches. I think that says enough."

"Just because I beat you once doesn't mean you're weak. Maybe because you were going easy on me because I'm a girl."

The swordsman shook his head again. "I tried my best, but still."

"Stop doubting yourself!" I chided. "Lon'qu, I think it's time you felt positive about yourself."

Our conversation slowly died down, and we were trailing at the back of the group, none of us speaking a word. Eventually, after hours of walking, we arrived at a mountainous area.

It looked so familiar.

A cherry tree stood all alone in a field of flowers and grass. Something was engraved in the trunk of the tree, barely legible at a far distance. Two people were kneeling by the tree. They were murmuring prayers of some sort, sitting under the tree.

"We must already be in Chron'sin." I heard Lon'qu say.

I couldn't help but glance at the two people at the tree. Robin, Chrom, and the others had marched closer to the trees, several feet away, and started unfolding tents and unloading materials.

Lon'qu was silent, gazing at the cherry tree. "Remember this place?"

"I think... This whole place is familar, Lon'qu. Is this... home?"

"I'm pretty sure it is. I mean, cherry trees are kind of common, and there are plenty of meadows like this. I'm not sure if this is the exact place or not."

"Alright. I'll go ask those two."

Taking a few cautious steps closer, I smell the aroma of flowers. I turn back to Lon'qu, but he's looking away. So, I confront the two people kneeling at the tree.

"Hey, excuse me?" I ask as soon as the two finish prayers. "Can you tell me where..."

Before I could finish my sentence, I had trailed off, my mouth wide open in shock.

The two people stared back at me, not knowing how to react.

There was no need to finish my question.

I was home... home at last.

AN: Thanks for reading! I'll be sure to start the next chapter soon... I'll start writing it as soon as possible. I have inspiration to keep writing, so I can't wait to post more chapters! Bye for now!