Chapter Ten: The Long March
Our next course of action was eventually decided by simple necessity. Upon telling Destin all that we had learned from Say'ri, he had agreed that rallying the dynasts and other resistance fighters to us would be the best way of conducting the campaign at this point in time.
A few more victories such as we had already won against the Valmese would do wonders to incite action amongst the populace. If they believed that there was a good chance Walhart would lose, more would be willing to join us. The rest would follow for fear of missing out on the glory and the rewards once the Conqueror fell. Thus, it was a matter of pushing a single boulder downhill so that it might start an avalanche.
However, victories required enemies to be won against, and the limited information we had from Say'ri indicated that most of the Valmese were gathered into a small number of larger armies. Success against such forces could potentially cost the Ylissean League more than it was worth. Outnumbered as badly as we were, it was critical that we pick and choose our battles carefully.
Say'ri had suggested an alternate course to win the dynasts to our cause. The majority of the population of this continent worshipped the Divine Dragon Naga, as did the peoples of Ylisse and Regna Ferox. The Divine Dragon's Voice, an ancient being and a child of Naga herself, resided here in a shrine on top of the truly enormous Mila Tree. Rumor was that she had been asleep for centuries, resting until such a time as the world needed her again. To awaken the Voice and gain her support might give the people the call to action they needed.
Of course, Say'ri had planned to do just such a thing before our arrival. But Walhart, displaying a presence of mind we hadn't seen thus far, had deployed a sizable force of imperial troops to the base of the Mila Tree. Reaching the Voice without dislodging these troops was impossible. Without the numbers she needed to break through, Say'ri had been forced to abandon that plan until now.
Unfortunately, the Mila Tree was also located very close to the center of the continent. That meant a long march inland for our army, and the farther in we went the more exposed we would become. We were betting that Walhart's armies weren't quite prepared to take the field against us, and that we would have enough time to free the Voice of Naga before they had a chance to contest us.
We had left a garrison of a few hundred soldiers in Valm Harbor. They wouldn't be able to repel a Valmese force of any size, but if such a force appeared they had orders to flee to the ships and cast off. Because the Valmese didn't have a second fleet to attack ours with, there wasn't anything they could do about it at sea. If things went so badly that we needed to affect a retreat from the continent, it would be a simple matter to seize a beach and signal the ships to pick us up. Supplies were a more troublesome matter, but if the Valmese war in this world ended as quickly as the one in mine had then all would be well.
It was a solid two day march to the Mila Tree. A small group might've been able to make it faster, but with an army numbering in the thousands our pace was modest by necessity. Logistics for such an army launching an extended campaign in enemy territory must have been a nightmare. It wasn't something I'd ever thought about before, but I had plenty of time to contemplate on the march. There were no armies in my world save those of the dead. 'Logistics' in my time was a question of whether or not you had enough food to survive until tomorrow.
Thinking about such things set my mind down a dark and well-treaded path, and I spent much of the first day on the march lost in my own sorrows. Remembering the world I had once known grew more difficult with each passing day; when compared with this past I'd come to, it only illuminated how truly bleak and hopeless my world was. How could it be otherwise, when here my parents and beloved comrades were all still alive and well? The people of this world had their troubles, but theirs was not a daily fight for survival against an enemy that couldn't be beaten.
"Lucina?"
I looked up to find Destin walking beside me, regarding me with a slightly concerned expression. Engrossed as I'd been in my own memories, I hadn't realized he was there or that he was talking to me. Embarrassment reddened my face, only becoming more pronounced when my first thought after looking at him was that he was really quite handsome.
"Oh, umm… I'm sorry," I managed weakly. "I was just lost in thought."
"Clearly," he replied amusedly. "What were you thinking about?"
"…The world I left behind. I know I shouldn't keep dwelling on it - I can never return, and it'll only depress me. But I just can't help it sometimes. I wonder if there are still any survivors at all, now that my comrades and I have left."
"A difficult subject," he said. "I wish I could tell you they'd be fine, but honestly I doubt I could ever understand how hard and cruel such a world would be without experiencing it. A future that we lost… a world we couldn't save. That it exists at all is a humbling reminder of the cost of failure."
I said nothing for a minute. He was all too correct, and I was well aware that comforting words alone couldn't wipe away my sorrow no matter how well-intentioned. Only once Grima's return was prevented and this world safe could the scars I bore begin to heal. Yet all the same, words from the right person could mean a great deal. The man walking beside me had already awoken my hope with his earnest vow of support.
"Do you know what became of these lands we now march through in your time?" Destin asked.
"The same as everywhere else," I said sadly. "I understand there were yet a number of survivors on this side of the sea when I departed. They were mostly remnants of the Valmese imperial armies as well as those of the dynasts we now seek to enlist. Occasionally they tried to come together and form a unified front against the Risen as we do, but it never lasts long. The undead are simply too many to be defeated in battle."
"Another reminder of why we mustn't fail. The fate of all humanity is dependent upon the things we do here and now."
"Yes," I said. "And my father is the key. Should he fall, I'm certain the events of my future will come to pass here as well. If that happens, our struggle can only postpone the inevitable, not alter it. When I fight to protect him, it doesn't matter how great or terrible the foe is. I know that I have no choice. I simply cannot lose."
"You are burdened by the knowledge that you must overcome fate itself," Destin observed. "I can scarcely imagine a heavier weight. But always keep in mind, Lucina, that you don't have to do it alone. You have friends ready to aid you against whatever comes. Your father leads an army of men and women who would die for him." A self-deprecating smile formed on his lips. "Oh, and you have me, for whatever that's worth."
"It's worth a great deal, Destin," I said. "Knowing that you're with me gives me strength. I worry sometimes that I won't be strong enough to do what I must when the time comes. I can't rely on others to do everything for me… but I know if I falter that I can lean on you for support."
"Good. You'll be strong enough when the time comes, I'm certain. I've seen in you a willpower that knows no equal and a determination that I can only marvel at. And if you falter, I'll be right there."
Our conversation turned to brighter subjects after that, but when Destin finally left my side to discuss something with Chrom I felt impossibly light. It was as though a terrible pressure had been building on me the more I'd thought of the world I'd left and my talk with him had relieved it. My mind didn't return to the future again that day. Instead I thought of happier things.
Relieved of the dark pall on my mind, I appreciated the landscape we were passing through. The verdant fields and forests weren't quite as picturesque as those I'd seen back in Ylisse, but they still had their own beauty.
I was tired when we finally made camp that night, but not exhausted. I ate dinner with my parents and Destin, and after the meal I broached the subject of possibly learning some things about tactics from him. To my surprise, he was quite enthusiastic about the idea. I rather doubted I would ever be able to match him in that regard, but when I voiced those doubts he simply shook his head.
"That's not the point. Even rudimentary knowledge can be important. A soldier who has a grasp of basic tactics will better understand their own role in a battle, and be able to help execute the overall strategy. I wish more people were willing to learn, but they all have their own interests I suppose."
I'd never looked at it that way before, but it made a lot of sense to me. The question then became just when he was going to find the time to teach me anything, considering we were in the middle of a war. Destin maintained that he would make time as long as I did. I was determined that I would. In the midst of the conversation I caught my mother and father watching us with strange expressions on their faces; but when I asked them if something was wrong, they just laughed and shared a fond look.
Perhaps, I thought, they were simply unused to their daughter being only a few years younger than they were. Well, I wasn't exactly used to having both of my parents around either. I'd lived almost my entire life without Chrom, and after Sumia had died I had had to accept life without her too. That I could be with them now was… a blessing beyond description.
Being an elite unit didn't exempt the Shepherds from our share of night watch duty around the army's camp. Fortunately we'd drawn a reasonably early lot, so I found myself patrolling our western flank along with the others shortly after the darkness of night had descended in full. Each of us carried a lit torch as we watched for signs of an attack.
It wasn't likely that the Valmese would launch a night raid even if they had somehow snuck a sizable force close to our location, but Destin had brought up the possible threat of a Risen attack. Validar and his Grimleal had already demonstrated their ability to control the undead, and had reason to send them after us. We didn't know whether or not they could summon enough of them on this side of the sea to pose a threat, but we were prepared just in case.
I felt a sense of peace as I slowly walked through the dry grass, peering out into the night. That in itself was a surprise; I couldn't remember the last time I'd truly felt at peace. From the day I'd come to understand the realities of my own world until now, only rarely did I find a moment where there wasn't something pressing on my mind. I'd lost count of the number of nights I'd tossed and turned, unable to find sleep on account of the worries putting my gut in knots.
Yet all of that seemed to just drain out of me that night. The only sounds were the scuff of boots on dirt and those of nature. I focused entirely on my appointed duty, forgetting all the problems I'd dragged with me; even if only for a little while.
Our watch ended without incident, and when I crawled into my blankets I fell asleep before I could stop to think about anything. If I dreamt that night, I didn't remember it in the morning.
The Ylissean League resumed its march bright and early, many still tiredly rubbing sleep out of their eyes. Everywhere in the column soldiers were munching on rations as they marched. Wide awake and much more alert than I'd been the day before, I wandered throughout the column, pausing to talk to those of my comrades in the Shepherds that I encountered. Many grumbled good-naturedly about the march, but all of them seemed to be in good spirits considering our situation.
I wondered how they'd feel if they knew just how badly outnumbered we were. Perhaps no different; many of the Shepherds possessed an absolutely unwavering faith in the abilities of Chrom and Destin. As long as those two believed there was a chance to win, the Shepherds would believe it too no matter the evidence to the contrary.
It was still early in the day when I spotted a tall, grassy hill to the side of the road we were using. On a sudden impulse, I ran up to the top of it and surveyed the landscape in front of us. It might've been my imagination, but I thought I could see something far in the distance that might just be the Mila Tree. It was only a bare outline, but to see anything at this distance… it must be truly gigantic.
I remained atop the hill for a minute, enjoying the light breeze and watching the army's movements. To my left, a lone Pegasus Knight was approaching. I frowned slightly. Our own fliers never went on patrol alone, but it didn't look like a Valmese soldier either. Abruptly, I realized it was coming in for a landing right on the hill on which I was standing.
Moving to one side, I was almost knocked off by the movement of the Pegasus' wings as it touched down. I regained my footing only to be nearly hit again by the rider vaulting off the saddle. I looked up, more than a little irritated and intending to give the Pegasus Knight a piece of my mind…
…but my tongue froze entirely. The familiar blue hair tied into tails on either side of the girl's head and the silvery armor she wore caught me off guard. Perhaps I should've expected it, considering we'd gone through the rift together. But I certainly hadn't anticipated meeting my sister again in these circumstances. Her usual infectious smile was mischievous and relieved at the same time.
"Heya Lucy!" Cynthia said cheerfully.
"H-how did you know I was here?" I asked.
"I didn't!" She said. "But I figured at least one of us had to be with dad by this time. I'm really glad it was you though!"
There was no denying that I was happy to see my little sister, but her being here did present some difficulties. Thus far I'd kept the presence of the other children who'd gone through the rift with me quiet. Kjelle and I had decided that it was for the best; Sully and Stahl didn't know yet that she was their daughter. There were enough problems with my father and his comrades knowing that we were their offspring from the future, let alone accounting for those among our number who hadn't even been conceived yet.
Cynthia would never be able to hold a secret like that. Even if she tried, she'd let something slip sooner or later and then our father would think we'd been trying to deceive him. It seemed that we were going to have to get everything out in the open now. It was sooner than I'd planned for, but not by too much.
"Yoohoo! You in there, Lucy?"
"Ah… sorry, Cynthia. I'm really glad to see you too, I just didn't expect it." It might've been a bit of an understatement.
"So he's actually here, right? Dad's here?"
I nodded in reply.
"Awesome!" Cynthia exclaimed. "I can't wait to meet him! Is he really heroic?"
A smile curved my lips at the question. My sister was so determined to be a real hero that she needed her father to be one as well. She already thought of our mother and me as such. By what standards did one judge someone to be a 'hero' anyways? Well, whatever they were, thinking of the man I'd come to know since arriving in the past brought me an easy response.
"Yes. Yes he is, Cynthia. Come on, let's go find him. You can see for yourself."
My parents were in for a surprise, that much was certain.