Hey fire emblem fans and welcome back to another chapter of lost hope. Again I wanted to post this a lot sooner but writer's block is the bane of my existence! Regardless its done and here now. In other news the switch is finally out and I am sooo hype! though I don't have one yet because stock also because I'm waiting for more games, Zelda does look tempting though. Also a side note before you start reading might I suggest you have the the song/track "What if I can't? What if I'm not worthy of her ideals?" from the awakening ost playing in the background as you read parts of this chapter, Trust me you won't regret it. Now without further delay here's Fire emblem awakening: Lost hope chapter 4. I hope you enjoy.

"Haahh" Morgan sighed as she walked down the dark and near quiet hallway.

The sound of her footsteps were amplified by the hallway's great size and stone interior. Tall regal pillars lined the edges on each side creating a narrow pathway between them.

How long has it been since I last saw him? Morgan thought, I wonder what fa-I mean Lord Grima wants to do with him, Morgan pondered as she continued walking, I just hope whatever it is he won't have to- wait what am I saying? I am Lord Grima's top underling and as such must go along with whatever he decides to do.

The young tactician then suddenly halted creating a loud silence that spread throughout the hallway.

But still, Morgan thought to herself and then shook her head, no it's probably nothing I must do what Lord Grima desires even if it means bringing harm to those I once cared about.

Morgan then recollected herself and continued walking towards the end of the hallway.

(At the ylissean capital)

Owain stood hunched over the castle balcony as he looked out towards the dark bleak horizon. His gaze spanned across the once grand city capital of Ylisse now a smoldering pile of ash, dust, and rubble. A small breeze swept through the city carrying particles of dust and ash.

Where could you be? Owain wondered as a light breeze rustled through his hair, Well wherever you are I just hope you're safe. If anything happened to you, I don't think...

(With Lucina)

-Flashback-

A young Lucina stood in front of the castle, a look of excitement in her eyes as she eagerly awaited her father's return. She gazed upward towards the transforming sky her hopeful expression beginning to fade.

Why am I feeling sadness?, Lucina asked herself.

"No I'm sure he must be fine because my daddy's the strongest man I know and with mommy and uncle Robin he can't lose", Lucina reassured herself, "right, I must remain hopeful as a princess needs to be strong."

"You're right" a wavering hopeful voice spoke up.

"Huh?" The young princess turned her head to the sound of the voice to see a hooded figure standing a several feet away from her left.

"Uncle Robin!" Lucina exclaimed as she excitedly ran up to the figure.

"Argghh" Robin clutched his head in pain trying to resist Grima's influence.

"Uncle Robin are you okay?" Lucina asked stopping in her tracks.

"I-I'm fine" Robin answered weakly regaining his composure.

"That's good" Lucina relieved as she continued running and went to hug her in-law.

Robin flinched in shock at the embrace but accepted it with a fake smile. He then quickly pushed her away worrying for her safety.

"So where's daddy? And the rest of the shepherds?" Lucina asked innocently as she looked up at him.

"The shepherds are on their way but Chrom is..." Robin trailed off holding back tears

He's what? what happened to daddy?" Lucina asked innocently.

"He's- Arrgghhh!" Robin cried out in pain as he felt Grima's influence getting stronger

"L-L-Lucina h-here I need you t-take this" Robin said weakly kneeling down and pulling out Falchion from within his robe, "hurry I don't have much time."

"T-that's father's sword why do you have it? And why are you giving it to me?" Lucina asked in shock her eyes beginning to water, "doesn't father need this sword?"

"Your father is dead he won't be needing it anymore"

"W-what b-but how? You were *sniff* with him weren't *sob* you uncle? How could you *hic* let this happen?!" Lucina continued asking tears now cascading down her face.

"He w-was caught off guard by…" Robin trailed off remembering what he had done, "someone close to him, we couldn't see it coming"

"B-b-but *sniff* why?" Lucina cried.

"I know, argh, how you feel but you have to stay strong" Robin consoled her, "you are the only one capable of wielding Falchion now and you must use it to help protect ylisse from the coming evil"

Robin could feel Grima's influence growing stronger as he grit his teeth trying to resist.

"I have to go now, my consciousness is fading" Robin said as he got his feet and began walking down the steps.

"What?! No you can't go you have to stay and help everyone fight!" Lucina yelled at him her mind whirling with emotion and her eyes wet with tears, "What about aunt Lissa, Morgan, and Owain? What will they do without you?"

Robin stopped halfway down and looked up over his shoulder at the crying princess, "Its for the best as they'll be safer without me"

"will we ever see you again? Lucina asked as she started to calm down.

"no probably not and also please don't tell anyone I was here" Robin requested.

"Alright"

"That's good now farewell Lucina protect Ylisse" Robin said with a faint smile before disappearing in a small flash of light.

"Goodbye uncle" Lucina said faintly as she tightened her grip on Falchion's hilt.

Lucina then moved her arms positioning the flat of Falchion's blade in front of her face as it began to glow. She stared into her reflection with a look of determination on her face.

-End Flashback-

Father please lend me strength, Lucina thought to herself as she stared into the reflection of her brand that gleamed off of Falchion's blade.

"Haahhh" Lucina sighed causing her to exit her thoughts as she she stood up off the disheveled bed and sheathing Falchion.

"Well I should probably get ready as there is a long journey ahead of us" Lucina said walking out of the room and into the somewhat ruined hallway of the upper castle.

I wonder if the other two have readied themselves for the coming journey? Lucina wondered as she continued walking when something caught her eye

Is that Owain? She wondered as she looked over to the left to see Owain hunched over the balcony railing.

She carefully walked over to him and attempted to put her hand on his shoulder but hesitated causing her to pull her hand back.

"Owain?" She spoke to him.

"Wha-?" Owain said as he was pulled out of his thoughts.

He turned around to the source of the voice, "ah good morning Lucina; I didn't see you there."

"Good morning Owain but what are you doing out here so early?" Lucina inquired.

"You seem troubled, is something the matter?" She continued.

"Say Lucina what would you do if you couldn't find Cynthia again?" Owain asked in an uncharacteristically serious and depressed tone.

"This is about Morgan isn't it?" Lucina inquired in a solemn tone.

"Yeah" Owain answered faintly.

"Owain don't worry we'll find her someday" Lucina tried to comfort him.

"But what if we don't or all we find is a body stabbed through by a risen's sword?" Owain argued, "I promised mother that I'd look after her, to make sure nothing happened to her"

"Owain" Lucina said softly.

Owain clenched his fist, "but I've broken that promise and thusly have failed as an older brother"

"No you haven't" Lucina stated reassuringly.

"Yes I have I lost my sister who's out somewhere dead by now." Owain retorted.

"But you don't know for sure until we find her corpse and as far as I'm aware we haven't, this means she could still be out there alive and well" Lucina argued, "now cheer up"

Owain was initially stunned at this but he quickly regained his composure with enthusiastic expression, "yeah you're right Lucina who's to say she isn't alive out there somewhere and it's my duty as her brother to not rest until I've found her!"

"It's good to see that you're feeling better"

"Yeah thanks Lucina; my sword hand now embedded with new energy by my divine ally of light seeks out to nourish itself with the ferocity of combat!" Owain shouted with vigor.

"The time is nye for the path beckons us to rush down it's dangerous road of agony and unknown!" Owain continued sprinting into and down the hallway.

Lucina simply smiled and casually walked behind him.

(With Cynthia)

"Or maybe I could say 'It's time to pay!' " Cynthia muttered to herself as she sat on the top of the steps in front of the castle, "yeah yeah I like that one but how to make it better?"

Cynthia thought for a moment and then said, "Oh maybe I should get rid of the 'it's' to make it more snappy and to the point, so it would be 'Time to pay!' Yeah I like that it works perfectly!"

"What do you think?" Cynthia asked turning to her pegasus that sat beside her who simply let out a neigh of approval.

"Thanks" Cynthia said cheerfully.

"Alright watch out risen for I, Cyn-woah-oh" Cynthia started to shout as she jumped to her feet before losing her balance.

Cynthia teetered back and forth as she frantically waved her arms in an attempt to regain her balance. It was all in vain, however, as her body started careening forward toward the downward steps.

(With Lucina and Owain)

A flame flickered in the darkness slightly illuminating the stone room around it. It was mostly quiet with the only talk between villagers and guards done in whispers as to not disturb the ones sleeping. It was all the same calmness except that the iron door that served as a barrier from the outside was unusually open with three people chatting at where it once stood.

"So can I trust that you'll keep these people safe while we're gone?" Lucina asked the ylissean guard front of her.

"You've nothing to worry about milady we'll protect Ylisse and it's citizens with our lives." The guard reassured her.

"Good then I leave Ylisse in your capable hands"

"I'll not fail you lady Lucina and best of luck on your journey."

"Thank you, it truly means a lot that there are people I can count on to help me" Lucina said graciously, "being the Exalt is exasperating at times, sometimes I feel I'm not worthy."

"No you're doing a fine job and I believe your father would be proud" The guard consoled her.

"Yeah don't be so hard on yourself Lucina and you're the one telling me not to lose hope" Owain added.

"Thank you, both of you, for your kind words" Lucina accepted gratefully.

"Think nothing of it" The guard humbly replied, "now you two should be off."

"Right" Lucina and Owain both nodded as they walked out of the room and into the dark hallway as the big iron door closed behind them.

(With Cynthia)

Time seemed to slow down for Cynthia as she tightly shut her eyes for what was about to come. However a few seconds later nothing seemed to happen.

Huh? Cynthia wondered in shock with her eyes still closed.

Calming down a bit Cynthia noticed her body had landed on something soft and leathery. She then slowly opened her eyes to see the blackened ash ridden city from a slightly lower view than she was at originally with a pegasus wing slightly obscuring said view.

"Oh thanks Crystal!" Cynthia thanked her pegasus realizing it was it that had saved her.

Crystal just neighed happily before walking back up and placing Cynthia back on top of the steps.

"Whew that was close." Cynthia sighed in relief as she sat back down, "I don't know what I'd do without you Crystal."

Crystal simply neighed happily in response.

"Yeah I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from the pegasus once owned by a great hero such as moth…" Cynthia trailed off as sadness overtook her face.

Cynthia tilted her head downward in a depressed manner as her eyes began to tear up and her shoulders began to shake.

"M-m-mother *sob*" Cynthia barely got out as an image of sumia flashed through her mind, "you promised me *sob* you'd be back but..."

"Why did you *hic* break your *sniff* promise?" Cynthia asked her late mother as she continued to cry.

Crystal took on a sympathetic expression(or as close as you can get with a horse anyway) and moved her head towards Cynthia nudging her face in an attempt to comfort the young blue haired girl.

"*sob* *sniff* h-huh?" Cynthia sobbed as she turned to look up at her pegasus.

Crystal started to nudge at her more playfully as Cynthia noticed her.

"H-h-hey stop that" Cynthia smiled faintly putting her arms between them in an attempt to push Crystal away but Crystal persisted until her head was under and in front of Cynthia's.

Cynthia's arms wrapped around her mount's neck as she spoke faintly, "thank you."

"Right! A hero is strong and she doesn't get sad over anything!" Cynthia declared as she got to her feet and Crystal pulling her head away whilst doing the same.

"That's right!" A male voice spoke up.

"Huh?" Cynthia questioned before turning her head to the source of the voice.

"Owain! Lucy!" Cynthia called out as she started quickly walking down the stairs with Crystal following suit.

"You feeling any better Cynthia?" Lucina asked in concern for her little sister.

"Yep all thanks to Crystal" Cynthia answered cheerfully as she stopped herself in front of her older sister.

"That's good" Lucina sighed in relief.

"Now that thy soul rests in purity let the divinity of combined light stretch out far so that we may cross onto… um err" Owain trailed off, "where are we going again?"

Lucina and Cynthia sweat dropped at this.

"Hmmm that's a good point though where are we gonna start looking for everyone else?" Cynthia agreed.

"I suppose Regna Ferox wouldn't be a bad place to start looking and we'll probably run into others on the way." Lucina answered.

"Sounds good to me!" Cynthia nodded cheerfully.

"Alright let the combine light stretch out across this forsaken land so that we may cross onto the grand city of combat!" Owain shouted before marching towards the city gates.

"Yeah let's go!" Cynthia shouted as marched behind Owain.

"Well it's good to see that they're both in high spirits" Lucina relieved before walking after them.

Well that certainty was a roller coaster of feels wasn't it? I honestly had a good time writing this chapter even though if it felt a bit rushed towards the end but oh well what can ya do. Anyway that's all from me so until chapter 5 take care.