"Holy Naga…how'd all these men get in here without anyone noticing!?"

"That's why they're assassins, Robin. That's their job."

"…You're back to being a smart-aleck again. I miss the nice Takumi already."

Kiragi had to hold his breath to stop himself from laughing. It felt so good to hear his parents bickering again, even if it wasn't the best time for it. It reminded him of better days. The days he would study with his mother, go out hunting with his father, and collecting bugs with Morgan. Those were the kinds of days he hoped his parents would share with the Kiragi and Morgan of this timeline forever. His grip on Fujin Yumi tightened, his heart clenching as he remembered the last time he saw his father. He wouldn't allow it to happen again.

"YOU!"

Kiragi gulped when he saw a furious Lucina guarding the door leading to the Exalt's chambers, dead bodies of assassins strewn everywhere. Both Takumi and Robin looked between the two, coming to the same conclusion that their new companion knew the person they knew as "Marth". Kiragi scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

"Heya, Marth!" he greeted. "You're not gonna kick me for taking your mask, are you?"

"No," Lucina practically snarled. "But you and I are going to have a LONG chat after this mess is taken care of. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Kiragi answered happily, relieved that she wasn't going to harm him. "So what'd we miss?"

"You missed EVERYTHING!" Lucina shouted. "Where were you!?"

"Wow! You guys are AMAZING!" Kiragi cheered. "You finished everything up before we even got here!"

"Answer the question!"

"I may have…sorta…spent too much time talking?" Kiragi replied hesitantly. Lucina gave him a nasty look, causing Kiragi to pout. "Hey, you had the easy job! Chrom'll believe anything you say. Tell him to stand on his head and burp the ABC's backwards in order to save the future and he'd do it, no problem!"

"I WOULD NOT!" Chrom yelled as ran up to Kiragi, face red from fury and embarrassment. "Who are you, anyway!?"

"I'm Marth's friend from the future!" Kiragi responded with a grin. "Sorry we're late. Takumi needed extra convincing to come along."

"I'm not surprised," Chrom said with a sigh, smiling lightly at the archer. "That's just how he is. No doubt that's how he always will be."

Takumi guiltily lowered his head. "I didn't think he was actually telling the truth."

"I thought the same thing when Marth told me about this plot. It was only natural for you to think that way."

"The Exalt could have died! I'd never forgive myself if that happened!"

"Well, she's alive and safe. We were able to hold them off and we even had some extra help."

"Extra help?"

"That'd be me, Longshot."

Takumi curiously eyed the newcomer. He was dressed like a common thief and was currently munching on some sugar candies. A couple of suckers were stashed in his belt. The strangest feeling of déjà vu descended over Takumi.

"Asugi!?" he blurted out.

The orange-haired thief raised an eyebrow. "'Scuse me?"

"I, er…your name IS Asugi…right?"

"The name's Gaius, not Asugi," the man responded. "May have had an Asugi down the line, but I forget. Keeping track of family names ain't important to me."

"Well, I feel stupid now…" Takumi muttered. "But I swear I've seen your face somewhere before!"

"I'm a thief, Longshot. You've probably seen my gorgeous mug on a wanted poster somewhere."

"True. By the way, could you not call me 'Longshot'? My name is Takumi."

"Sorry, Takumi. You're going to have to get used to it," Chrom apologized. "So far, he's done this with everyone. At least yours isn't as bad as 'Blue'."

Takumi stifled a laugh. "Blue? That's the best he could come up with for you? I can think of a few others that would be more fitting."

"I'll have to hear them sometime then," Chrom teased. "But first things first: who's Asugi?"

"I think…someone I knew…or someone I met…" Takumi muttered, placing a hand against his head. "Something to do with…Saizo?"

"Saizo?"

"You've heard the name?"

"Sort of. Those with the name of Saizo were the heads of a long line of ninjas in service to the royal family of the White Night Kingdom. Some think they may still exist somewhere in the shadows, but I think they died out centuries ago."

"Nah, we're still around," Gaius remarked casually. "Ninjas are hard to get rid of."

"Wait, what!?" exclaimed Chrom. "How would you know that!?"

"You're talking to the current Saizo, that's why," Gaius explained, smirking at the confused and shocked looks on everyone's faces. "Honestly, I've never cared for the nonsense they drill into every firstborn in the family. I'm not going to waste my prime waiting for descendants of royals from a dead kingdom to show themselves. I live my life how I want. If they don't like it, they can take my suckers and stick 'em—"

"Well, I certainly didn't expect our resident thief to be a trained ninja. What else have you been hiding?"

"Blue, you'd be surprised. There's a LOT of things hidden in these lands that even the Hero-King didn't know about."

"Example?"

"If you give me what I want, MAYBE I'll let a few tips slide by."

"Quite a night, huh?" Robin commented as Chrom fumbled around his pockets for more sweets. "First time travelers, an assassination attempt, now a candy-loving ninja and practiced thief? Things just keep getting weirder and weirder."

"Speaking of weird…" Takumi said. "Where'd Marth and that other guy go?"

Robin paused as she turned around to look for them. "The little sneaks must've bolted while we were distracted."

"Darn it!" Chrom cursed as he zoomed past the two. "Not again!"

Takumi watched Chrom's retreating form, feeling quite perplexed about the whole situation. When he first joined the Shepherds, he was not expecting to meet people that defied all logic and sensibility. Time traveling? How was such a thing possible? What sort of future was so terrible that it needed to be prevented in such a way? More questions without answers spawned the more he thought about it.

"Takumi!"

He let out a yelp when something large slammed into him from behind, hugging him tightly as they both crashed to the ground. He whirled his head around and spotted a head of pink hair. He felt his jaw drop.

"OLIVIA!?" he shouted in confusion. "What—Why—How—When!?

"I'm sorry, but I had to follow you!" she confessed. "The more I thought about you, the more I began to worry. I know you're fighting those creatures and I know you're strong, but anything could happen! I didn't want you to die before I could teach you those words!"

"Olivia, I'm not a child that needs to be watched."

"I can't help it!" she blurted out, her face flushed red.

"Um…Takumi?" Robin questioned, her eyes narrowed a miniscule amount. "Who is this?"

"Oh. This is Olivia. She was the one who found me in Ferox," Takumi explained, pointing his thumb at the dancer. "She's not the strongest fighter, but her talent for dancing is outstanding."

"I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said about me, Takumi," Olivia replied shyly as she stood up and patted herself down. She then bowed before Robin. "I'm so sorry for the intrusion, but I had to come, milady. Takumi is…someone precious to me. If something happened to him…"

Robin shook her head. "Don't worry. I understand. I'd do the same if I were in your shoes."

"Sh-Shut up!" Takumi snapped, a light blush coating his cheeks. "I don't need either of you smothering me!"

Olivia giggled. "That's just his way of saying 'I appreciate your concern about me'. He would never admit it aloud."

"Judging by what I've seen, I believe it," Robin laughed. "You wouldn't mind sharing anything else you know about him, would you?"

"Of course not," Olivia answered, ignoring Takumi's heated glare surprisingly well. "But that'll have to wait for another time. I'm not ready to see him settle down so soon."

Takumi paled. "O-Olivia!"

"Oh geez! Did I say that out loud? I'm so sorry!"

"What are you getting embarrassed for? If anyone should feel humiliated, it should be me!"

Robin placed her hands over her mouth, trying not to laugh. It seemed Olivia took over as a self-designated big sister figure for Takumi. Her laughs died in her throat at the thought of Takumi's family. Did he even have one? If he did, they must've been worried sick about him. If not, it looked like both Lon'qu and Olivia unintentionally filled in that empty space in his life. He was more open to the both of them than he was with her. It made Robin realize that she had a lot more to learn about the mysterious archer.

"I wonder…" Robin casually thought. "Who exactly are you, Takumi?"

"Kiragi, I swear, you're making this mission a lot harder for me!"

"Sorry, Luci," Kiragi apologized. "I just…when I saw them, I didn't want our conversation to end. It was selfish of me, I know. I couldn't help myself."

Lucina sighed. "I understand how you feel, Kiragi. Truly, I do. But we must learn to control those urges. They are not the parents we once knew. You need to keep that in mind."

"I know, but…I wanna tell them everything so bad…" Kiragi sniffed. "I don't want to hold everything inside anymore…"

"Kiragi…"

"Lucina? Can I have a hug?"

Lucina smiled ruefully. "Alright. Come here."

Kiragi practically flew into her arms. She removed her mask from his face, allowing the big, wet tears to fall freely from his eyes. He held onto her like a lifeline, fearing she would disappear too if he let her go. She carefully wrapped her arms around him, trying to comfort him as best as she could.

"So your real name is Lucina?"

Lucina froze, recognizing the voice as that of her father. She spotted Chrom walking up to them, a saddened look on his face. She grimaced, wondering if she had just condemned her own existence in this timeline.

"Chrom, I…"

"You don't have to say another word if you don't want to, Lucina," Chrom said. "Obviously our future is much darker than you've been letting on."

"…Yes, it is," she replied, trying not to breakdown at the sound of her father saying her name. "But I believe things will be okay now. The Exalt is safe, as is the Fire Emblem. The great war that would be fought over that item will not come to pass."

"I hope I can repay you for everything you've done."

"If you want to repay me, just live a long and happy life. I want the royal family to stay safe."

"I'll do my best."

"You better!" Kiragi shouted, pouting at the prince. "You better protect everyone! We'll know if you didn't!"

Chrom chuckled. "I won't let you down…um…?"

"Kiragi."

"Kiragi," Chrom repeated. "You're dressed like—"

"Takumi?" Kiragi finished. "He's my role model. And since I'm nice, I'll give you a hint about who he really is."

"You know him?"

"I'm from the future too, remember?" Kiragi laughed. "Just between you and me, all archers from Hoshido dressed like this."

"Hoshido?" repeated Chrom. "But Hoshido has been gone for ages! How could someone be from—"

"Who knows?" Kiragi said. "You'll have to figure that out yourself!"

"Kiragi…" Lucina warned.

"Don't worry, Luci. I won't reveal anything else."

Chrom looked lost. "Could you give me a better hint than that?"

"Nope! That's all you're getting! If I spoil anything else, it wouldn't be such an awesome mystery, would it?"

"No, I guess it wouldn't," Chrom laughed. "Though I think you both have left me with more questions than answers."

"That will be for another time," Lucina replied. "For now, Kiragi and I have more important matters to attend to."

Kiragi blinked. "We do?"

Lucina glared at him. "Yes. We do."

"Alrighty then."

"Good."

"These two really are something," Chrom thought. "But still, what are they hiding?"

It hurt. Like a jagged knife coated with salt, it tore into her and burned with an agony no one could ever hope to comprehend. Every time she saw it, fresh tears would run down her face and the guilt would eat away at her soul once again.

He was right there and she let him down again.

Corrin choked down her sobs many times before, but they broke through every time she visited this place. Countless graves lined the vast plain, reminding her of the lives she had unnecessarily taken. If anything, she deserved to feel like this. It was just a smidgen of the untold sorrow many families were still dealing with. The Hoshidan royal family was one of those families. Corrin didn't know how Hinoka could find it in herself to forgive her for her actions against Hoshido. Not to mention she was the reason their family was broken.

Corrin took a deep breath, remembering that day when they took over Castle Shirasagi. Ryoma was poised to take his own life with the sacred blade Raijinto, entrusting the safety of his country to her. She was the traitor. She was the reason Hoshido was in shambles. She was the reason Ryoma was doing such a thing so she wouldn't have to live with the blood of her elder brother on her hands. She couldn't let it happen. Not after what had happened at the Great Wall. Not when she promised him she'd spare Ryoma.

So she struck him down before he could do it himself.

It convinced Garon and that was all she asked for. Iago would never disobey his king. Ryoma was barely breathing after the attack, but he was alive. Elise had stayed behind to make sure he survived and Corrin would be eternally grateful to her little sister for that. Ryoma lived to see the monster Garon truly was. It was thanks to Raijinto's power she was even able to defeat the once good king of Nohr. But most importantly, he lived to see the end of the war. Now Ryoma had become the king of Hoshido, just as he was always meant to be. However, it didn't fix the serrated hole Corrin had created. Once Ryoma had reunited with his sisters, it didn't take long for him to notice that they were a head short. She would play over that conversation in her mind hundreds of times just to torment herself. Gods only knew she deserved it.

"Corrin, tell me what happened to Takumi."

At the very mention of her younger brother, Corrin couldn't hold in her anguish. She broke down into a sobbing mess, apologizing profusely for failing them and for failing Takumi.

"I let him down…" she told Ryoma. "Just when I finally got through, I couldn't hold on."

"So what that scum said was true? Takumi is truly…?"

"He was right all along! Everything was my fault!" she cried. "Hoshido's destruction, losing Mother, and I couldn't save him when he needed me the most! I didn't deserve to hear him call me 'Sister'."

Strong arms wrapped around her, comforting her with what strength he had left. "Corrin, Takumi wouldn't have wanted you to blame yourself."

"How can you be so sure?"

"I know…knew my brother well. He was a kind soul, but he had a bad habit of hiding it. Always striving to prove himself, but never realizing he had excelled beyond our wildest imagination. The fact that he acknowledged you as family shows he understood what you were striving to achieve; everything you had sacrificed when you made your decision that day. He gave up his life so you wouldn't have to give up yours."

"I never wanted him to give his life for mine. After everything I did to him…I'm not worth it…"

"That was his greatest weakness. He was a selfish fool that never saw his gifts; only his flaws. He must have thought that he didn't matter to us…that we cared about you more than him…that our family would still be whole and life would go on just fine without him."

"What?" Corrin looked up at Ryoma, seeing him trembling slightly as he fought back tears of his own.

"He was always a strong individual. The very thought of losing him never even crossed my mind. I was so naïve. I took him for granted…and knowing that hurts worse than any sword you could wound me with."

That ripped Corrin's heart out. Was that how Takumi truly felt? Did he die feeling like he was unwanted? Knowing that drove the knife deeper into her core, tearing her apart from the inside out. That day when the funeral was held for all those lost in the war, Takumi was among the ones whose body was never recovered. She touched the gravestone, endless names carved into the smooth stone. She traced the characters for Takumi's name, tears burning her eyes once again.

"Corrin? Are you doing alright?"

Corrin rubbed her stinging eyes. "Not really, Azura."

"Why do you torment yourself like this?" Azura said quietly, her head bowed in respect for the lost ones. "I miss him too, but you can't keep mulling over this forever."

"Azura, if there was a way I could've avoided fighting both families, by gods I would've taken it. Anything to prevent…this from happening."

"Maybe there was, but what's done is done. We cannot change the past, no matter how much we may wish it to be different."

"I know…" Corrin sighed. "So what did I miss?"

"Other than an announcement about Hinoka getting married and the official family introduction to Ryoma's heir, you didn't miss much. I was actually looking for my husband when I saw you here. I thought it best to comfort you first."

Corrin smiled a little. "That's very kind of you, Azura. Thank you. As for Laslow, he's not here. I bet he's off trying to woo Hoshidan ladies in town right now."

"I thought that too," Azura replied, unfazed by the behavior of her significant other. She had gotten used to his philandering by now. Because he never got serious with anyone, she never could stay mad at him. He was faithful to her and her alone and that was all she asked for. "But I couldn't find him there either."

"Did you check with Odin and Selena? He might be hanging out with them."

"Not yet. I did happen to see Selena talking with Takumi's retainer, so I'll check with Odin."

Azura instantly covered her mouth when she said the name. Corrin's melancholy mood returned and the grief in her eyes dulled her normally bright ruby irises. Having to break the news to Hinata that he was the only survivor of the soldiers stationed at the Great Wall was painful. The sheer denial that his trusted friends and comrades were gone was strong, but the recognition was there. Deep down, he knew it was true. Corrin couldn't help but feel responsible for causing Hinata such emotional pain, not to mention the revelation he had failed at the one duty he was supposed to perform as a retainer: protect his lord. Selena had been visiting him a lot recently. In her own brash manner, she told him she understood his position. It was the first time Corrin had heard the firebrand speak so sympathetically. It was as if she too experienced losing everything she held dear.

"Did you mention Hinoka getting married?" Corrin suddenly blurted out, trying to get her mind off the samurai. "To whom?"

"Subaki, I believe it was."

"Sakura's perfectionist of a retainer? Oddly enough, I can easily see those two getting along really well. It seems everyone is getting married now that the war's over."

"I suppose it shows that something good can come out of war."

"Yeah, I guess. So what's Ryoma's son like?"

"He reminds me of…" Azura trailed off. "Shiro just needs some encouragement. I believe he will become a fine ruler one day."

"He must get that from Mozu," Corrin sighed despondently. "Kids, huh? I wonder what Takumi's would have been like?"

"Corrin…"

"Kaze told me he was good with kids. He would've been a great father. Could you see him running around, teaching a son how to use a bow?"

"Corrin, it'd be best if you stop now…before you hurt yourself all over again."

"I know…I'm sorry…"

"In the meantime…" Azura said, her eyes tearing up. "Is it alright if I help share your burden?"

"Thank you, Azura. For always being there for me…"

"Takumi, please forgive me…" Corrin thought.

Oh the Corrin feels! They wound me so!

Things are starting to deviate from the original Awakening plotline, as you can see. What'll happen next? Stay tuned to find out!