With a slight pop, the snow-haired man stretched after a long trip at sea. He was normally fine with sea voyages, but they had run into some rough weather forcing them into the cramped interior for most of the trip. Three people in one small room was not exactly a recipe for rest and relaxation.

"Morgan, stop tormenting the locals," The man barely got done stretching before realizing that his daughter had already ran on ahead. Not that it was very surprising. Keeping her cooped up was like compressing a spring. Eventually that energy went somewhere.

"But look at all this cool stuff for sale!" Morgan waved animatedly at the stall she had been looking at.

"Hmm, I could go for a spot of shopping myself," The blue-haired woman mused to his side.

"Not you too, Lucina," Robin bemoaned partially out of fear of what she might buy if allowed to satiate her desire for "fashion." Even if her tastes had mellowed out a bit, it was still Lucina.

"I suppose you're right, Robin," Lucina conceded reluctantly, but not for the reason Robin had been so afraid of, "We are here on a mission after all."

Right, they were not here to sight see. They were here to find Robin's sister. After her…head start, Robin and his family began pursuing her once again. It was a task which had taken them east to what was supposedly a land of prestige millennia ago, but these days it was a poor and somewhat isolated land. In other words, a great hiding spot.

Robin had no connections here, and as such, they were going to have to track her down on their own. If she were lying low, that could be nigh impossible which, honestly would not have been the worst-case scenario. If she were living peaceably and not causing trouble, then he might call off the search in a month or two and go home with his wife and daughter leaving his sister be.

That said, it hardly took two hours of asking around before they got tales of a cloaked woman passing through port. They did not get many outsiders here, after all, and they certainly stood out in their dress. By day's end, they had a direction.


Robin hardly spoke a word as he and Lucina prepared for bed that evening. His thoughts were heavy with the idea of running into his sister again. He still questioned his decision to let her go. It had been an emotional one unbefitting his status as a tactician, but she was as far as he knew his only blood family left. At the very least she had not harmed anyone since then as far as he could tell.

"Are you worried we won't find her?" Lucina asked as she pulled back the cover to the stiff bed, "Or afraid we will?"

"Heh," Robin smirked ruefully as he joined his wife in bed, "I honestly don't know."

"It's not like you to be so indecisive, but I understand. Sibling bonds are strong things," Lucina gently caressed Robin's cheek, "But don't worry. I'm here for you, as is Morgan."

Robin put his hand over his wife's, "I know. Thank you for standing by me."

"Always and forever, my love."


"We are perfectly capable of waking up on our own," Lucina murmured to her daughter as she secured her cape around her neck.

"But you were taking so long!" Morgan whined as she practically vibrated having not finished venting a month's worth of excess energy.

"The sun isn't even up!" Robin complained as he adjusted his cloak. Even Lucina who was a notoriously early riser had thought it was too early. Not to mention she did not appreciate their grown daughter suddenly pouncing them awake.

"I mean, sure, but we gotta hurry up and find auntie Reflet!"

Robin sighed as he ruffled her hair. It was hard to stay mad at that. Morgan was just too delightfully sincere sometimes, "Don't worry. We're on the case. Now, northeast was it?"

"Yup! Right toward the mountains."

"If she retreated into the mountains it may be that much harder to find her," Lucina cautioned.

"All the more reason to go go go!" Morgan cheered as she guided her parents out of the door. Morgan certainly kept life interesting.


Several more days of relatively uneventful travel was required to get them to their next destination. Along the way Morgan was able to vent much of her energy be that by running circles around her parents as they went or sparring with her father and mother when they stopped. By the time they finally arrived at the village, she was almost back to normal. Normal for her being a relative term.

At least she did not instantly alert the whole town to their presence upon their arrival. Maybe only half of it. Either way, they decided to split up and ask around with Lucina taking Morgan and Robin going solo.

The town was small and not unlike many similar villages back in Ylisse. Actually, this region seemed to be on the rebound after a young lord rose up and unified several local leaders under his banner as well as their subjects. Under his rule, western coastal region had seen relative stability and growth. Whether it would last or not remained to be seen, but the new country seemed to off to a good start.

That said, this was still on the outskirts of the new nation's territory so it was not out of the realm of possibility that it would have appealed to Reflet, but Robin doubted she would have stopped moving so soon. Still, they did not get many visitors here, so getting leads should not have been too hard if she had been there.

Should being the operative word there. For some reason, the people there seemed almost…fearful of him. Sure, it was not unheard of for people to be wary of outsiders in remote places like this, but this went a step further.

"Excuse me, sir, I'm–" Robin interrupted himself with a sigh as the man quickened his pace trying to ignore him, "Looking for someone." Robin ran a hand through his hair hoping the girls were having better luck than himself.


"Hey! Wait! I just want to ask you about…and she's gone," Morgan sighed as the woman had hurriedly ran inside of her house.

"Perhaps we should try a more subtle approach," Lucina offered as she caught up to Morgan who had followed after the woman to interrogate her. Just then, someone else came into view and Lucina moved in before her daughter could traumatize them.

"Excuse me, sir," Lucina put on her diplomatic smile, "May I have a moment of your time?"

"Hmm?" The man regarded the young royal skeptically, but it was not until Morgan walked up that he started to become nervous, "More cloaked people. Will it never end?"

"Someone else came wearing a cloak?" Morgan's eyes beamed not caring about the implications in the man's tone.

"Yes, quite a few. A group of shady and downright strange people show up every now and then. They usually don't cause many problems though. Would come, buy what they needed and leave."

"Then why all the misgivings about our presence?" Lucina inquired, "It seems like you should be well adjusted to strangers."

"We used to be, but then some lady showed up in robes like the ones that girl has on. The cloaked weirdos showed up and seemed interested in her. I don't know the details, but a fight broke out that nearly destroyed several buildings. They eventually took her away though. Ever since we've been wary of newcomers."

Lucina and Morgan shared a glance, "How long ago was this?"

"About a week or so. Haven't seen either since."

Morgan got rather excited at that, and not in a good way, "Where are they?"

"I don't know. I doubt if anybody here does. We tried not to ask, and I suggest you get out of here before they show up again."

Before the mother and daughter had time to say anymore, they were distracted by a bolt of lightning shooting up into the air. It did not take long for them to piece together what that meant. In a moment they were off.


Robin gritted his teeth more out of annoyance than anything else. He had given these guys plenty of warnings, but they seemed intent on a fight. Worse still, that was not a low level spell that had just been deflected. These robed individuals meant business. They also looked very cultish, and Robin had had enough of cults for one lifetime.

The curious thing was how…archaic their own spells seemed to be. They were mostly familiar, but different at the same time. Same basic flow, but less refined. This gave them a boost in power in some cases, but the spells seemed dangerously close to going out of control at times. Add that to a few types of spells Robin was not highly unfamiliar with, and this was not a fight he was feeling particularly great about. Not with civilians nearby.

With that in mind, Robin started pushing the fight out of town as best he could. Still, he had no idea why these people had suddenly assaulted him. He saw them entering into town, and they almost immediately started attacking him for no apparent reason. Either way, he could ask questions later.

With sword in hand, Robin focused and changed it up. Lifting his left hand up, Robin called forth flames to divide his attackers. With their vision blocked, Robin had a moment to collect himself, but not as long as he would have liked.

A large vortex of wind shot through his flames and engulfed him. It was all Robin could do to stand his ground. However, he could still see silhouettes moving behind his flames. Robin narrowed his eyes. Trying to surround him, eh?

Robin took a Thoron spell and split it in two before sending it out from both hands in opposite directions. His attack seemed to connect as two of the shadows collapsed in convulsing pain. They would probably be fine since he split the spell, but it would not have been pleasant.

It seemed that caused them to falter a bit as the vortex died down as did his walls of flame. However, staring his opponents down revealed that there were a few more combatants than he should probably be taking on alone. Fortunately, he had backup, but he wondered when they would be there.

A concern which only grew as he noticed them doing…something. It was something he did not recognize, but he had intentionally stayed away from learning too much about dark magic. Whatever it was, he did not like it at all.

Suddenly Robin found himself struggling to focus. His legs were not cooperating beneath him as his whole stature wobbled on its foundation. In his new haze, he could see the magic lines beneath him. Stuff the magically uninclined probably could not even see, but even in that state he knew it was there. A binding spell of some sorts.

Robin smirked as he fell to his knees. Well played. However, they better watch out. He rarely fell for the same battle tactics twice.


"Robin?" Lucina wondered aloud as she skidded to a halt taking in the damage nearby. Despite her frantic looking, Robin and his attackers were gone leaving almost no trace. Lucina was overcome with a mixture of fear, grief, and rage as she turned back toward the village, "Did anyone see where they went?"

However, no one answered her, "Please," Lucina spoke with an unprecedented pleading to her voice, "Someone must know something!" Despite this, they refused to look the panicked woman in the eyes. They just wanted this to end.

"Mother!" Morgan called as Lucina's hand clenched Falchion until her knuckles went white. She turned to her daughter trying to keep up a brave face, "Whatever they did, it's was really strong magic. I think I might be able to trace them."

Lucina let out a breath of relief, "Good. Let's not waste another moment."

"Don't worry, dad!" Morgan cheered, "We're coming for you!"


"Ugh," Robin clutched his head while he pulled himself into a sitting position. Well, that was thoroughly unpleasant. Almost immediately Robin noticed something odd. He was on a…bed? Stiff, but not exactly dungeon grade.

"About time you woke up."

Robin's eyes shot open and he was immediately on his feet. Though, he quickly discovered his own lack of weapons.

"Turnabout is fair play, right?" His sister smirked at him.

"Ugh," Robin groaned, "Cultists, really? After everything you've been through?"

"Hey, don't give me that look," Reflet's expression turned sour, "It's not like I chose to end up with them. I was just minding my own business in town when they jumped me. Something about my magic potential being off the charts or some crap like that. Either way, they seem to treat me highly."

"Highly?" Robin deadpanned, "They abducted you…are you insane?! They could be waiting to sacrifice you or something for all you know. Or me for that matter."

"Well, they apparently think I'm some reincarnation of their thunder goddess or something. Oh well, they treat me well at least."

"So what about me then?" Robin folded his arms, "Why am I here?"

"I…may have mentioned I had a brother that may have been coming after me."

Robin ran his hand down his face, "Well, can I go then? Lucina and Morgan are probably worried sick."

"Yeah…no."

"And why not?"

"Well, you see, they don't exactly let me leave. Doubt they'll let you go."

"You…can't leave?" Reflet nodded, "So you're a prisoner?"

"Well, I mean, I get full reign of the complex, but, uh, yeah, kinda."

Robin groaned and rolled his head back, "Let's see how bad this mess you've gotten me into is."


Morgan had quickly deduced that they had used some sort of warping magic to abduct Robin. Fortunately, she was able to track it. It was not something that was typically easy to do, but the spell was rough and stuck out like a sore thumb. That, and Morgan was anything but average.

That said, the terrain was rough, and for all her energy, she lacked pacing. This led to her mother calling a brief respite as Morgan started to lag behind. Lucina could not help but see her daughter's forlorn expression as she stared at the rocks between her legs as she sat.

"I'm sorry," Morgan muttered as she fiddled with a flat, dull stone.

"What for?" Lucina furrowed her brow.

"We shouldn't have stopped!" Morgan looked up at her mother, eyes watering slightly, "Dad's been captured, and here we are wasting time because of me."

Oh. Lucina suddenly desperately wished Robin was here for another reason. He was much better at this sort of thing. Regardless, she would not sit back while her daughter was in pain. So, she took a seat beside her.

"We're going to save him," Lucina said without a moment's hesitation, "We won't have anyone else taken from us. I won't allow it." Her daughter would have both parents, and anyone who tried to inflict her life onto Morgan would receive no mercy from her.

"I wish I was as strong as you," Morgan looked back down to the earth.

"Me?" Lucina was a bit surprised. She knew Morgan idolized her father, but, truth be told, she had felt that she was a bit second rate to her daughter at times.

"Yeah! You're so cool, strong, and graceful."

"Well, I think you are cool and strong as well," Lucina smiled.

"What? Not graceful?" Morgan pouted.

"Hmm, perhaps. When you choose to be." Morgan actually had quite a firm understanding of etiquette. It was whether she chose to abide by those rules or not that was the issue. Maribelle had been thoroughly surprised though when she had sat Morgan down to teach her manners "befitting a member of the Exalted family" only to find Morgan already knew it all.

"Hehe, busted," Morgan chuckled feeling better which reassured Lucina. Despite how long it had been, motherhood still felt so foreign to her. She was learning though. Gradually, but she was learning. Perhaps when all this was over and they returned home she and Robin might work on starting from scratch, but she needed Robin for that.

"Are you ready to continue?" Lucina rose to her feet with Morgan following shortly thereafter.

"Yeah! Onward!"


"Okay, let me get this straight," Robin groaned pinching the bridge of his nose, "You think my sister is some reincarnation of your thunder goddess?"

"Quite right," The, er, hierophant nodded eagerly. He was genial enough at least.

"Alright, so why can't I leave?"

"Ah, as the brother to her grace, we do not wish to risk unsavory types trying to use you to get to her."

"Riiight. So, if you think she is your goddess, why won't you listen to her when she wants to leave?"

"Well, we shall once she provides us the proof of her powers. Until then, w have taken it upon ourselves to keep her safe."

Oh, now you want proof!, "And, what would this proof be?"

"Ah, yes!" The stringy man smiled, "The signature spell of our goddess as told in the legends. The mighty Mjolnir."

"Is that all?" Robin turned to Reflet, "Well? Show the man a Mjolnir."

"Er, excuse us for a minute," Reflet grabbed her brother by the arm and drug him off to a side room.

"What's going on?" Robin jerked his arm free.

"Well, you see, I'm not exactly…proficient in lightning magic."

"What? But you're a better mage than I am!"

"Yeah, well, I never really got the hang of lightning magic. Too finicky for my tastes."

"It's not that bad with proper focus," Robin sighed, "Alright, what's the highest lightning spell you can do comfortably. We really don't need a Mjolnir going out of control."

"Uh, Elthunder," Reflet replied sheepishly.

"El…" Robin's eyes went wide before he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Okay, this might be harder than I thought."


"They appear well fortified," Lucina noted the two guards standing outside of what appeared to be a fortification built into the mountain. It made sense. There seemed to be an ancient road, or at least parts of one, leading up to the structure. She doubted the current inhabitants were the original ones though.

"Yeah, this may not be easy," Morgan murmured putting her father's training to use as she analyzed the fortress looking for the best avenue of attack. If they could capture Robin, then they were not to be trifled with.

"Don't worry," Lucina reassured her daughter, "I have faith in you. Guide my blade."

Morgan spared her mother a small smile, "I'll do my best."

"That will be more than enough," Lucina drew Falchion, "Now, shall we?"

"Yes!"


"Okay, let me get this straight," Robin started slowly, "You just need to see a Mjolnir spell?"

"That is right," The man nodded cordially again, "Surely the brother of our goddess could do such a feat."

"Okay," Robin sighed as he opened his tome. He had tried explaining that they were not who they thought, but it was no use. At this point he decided to just try and appease them somewhat, "Stand back everyone."

With a deep breath, Robin channeled the energy around him. Such a spell would be dangerous for most to attempt. He had kept it a guarded secret from even Morgan. Her flightier personality might make it a little too hard to control for her current skill level. Indeed, it was Robin's self-control and focus that allowed him such mastery over lightning magics that even better mages struggled with.

With the magic reaching the right intensity, Robin unleashed the spell, "Mjolnir!" The moment to word left his mouth, a pillar of lightning descended down on the center of the room. The mere amount of energy on display was impressive. However, as soon as it appeared, the lightning ran its course and dissipated.

Robin then looked up at the hierophant, "There? Happy?"

"Oh, well, that was quite a display, but, um, what was it?"

"What are you talking about? That was Mjolnir."

"Hmm, records are quite clear that Mjolnir was more…spherical."

Robin's mouth was agape slightly. So they wanted the archaic Mjolnir. By most accounts it was stronger, but incredibly hard to control. He had read some notes about it, but even he had not bothered with it much instead opting for the more modern and safer version.

All the same, Robin groaned, "Maybe you should step further back."


Lucina and Morgan walked alongside the old sewer system. The new inhabitants did not seem to even know this part of the fortress existed or at least had no use for it. Either way, Morgan knew her stuff including ancient fortifications so she knew there had to be some other way in. In fact, their love for back doors was something that would be corrected in some later versions, but fortunately for them, this was fairly old. It also meant that getting in would be easier than she first thought.

However, as the two snuck their way through the bowels of the fort, Morgan paused.

"Morgan?" Lucina asked in motherly concern.

"Someone just discharged a high-level spell. I think it was a Mjolnir. I think it may have been dad. For him to use such a spell…"

"Don't worry," Lucina cut off her daughter's imminent panic, "We'll rescue him. Lead the way."

"Right, right, sorry," Morgan apologized before continuing to guide her mother through the passages.


"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Reflet whispered as Robin flipped through his tome.

In response, Robin closed the book on his finger and held it out to his sister, "Would you rather cast it?"

His sister looked at the tome very briefly before pushing it back toward Robin, "I'll pass. You know only a handful could ever actually cast that, and even fewer without, you know, dying!"

"I've been researching it off and on. I think I can handle it. I may not be as skilled of a mage as you, but I am fairly capable with lightning magic."

Reflet sighed in response, "Can I at least go hide first?"

"No," Robin replied as he took his position, "This is partially your fault, so you get to watch."

"Oh joy."

Robin once again opened the time and began to cast. This time the room dimmed as on orb of magical energy emerged in the middle of the room. Robin held his focus tightly. This was a lot harder without a crutch he imagined. Something the most prolific users generally had. Or the actual tome for that matter. Oh well, he was committed now.

Closing his eyes to concentrate, the tome started to levitate slightly as the orb reached full size. It was not as powerful as if he had had the ancient tome, but it was still stronger than most spells mages would dare cast. However, it still dissipated quickly once he stopped it.

"Satisfied?" Robin panted. That was quite the draining process. Definitely not something combat feasible except as a last resort. Not without a booster.

"Wow!" The hierophant clapped enthusiastically, "That was amazing. Truly what I'd expect of her lady's brother. Yes, you–"

"Father!" The conversation was interrupted by a shout and a spell breaking the fall of two bluenettes.

"Morgan? Lucina?" Robin watched as the two took a defensive stance between him and the hierophant and Reflet.

"Are you alright?" Lucina asked as she glared at Reflet. She may have been willing to extend an olive branch, but she drew a line at harming her family. She was not entirely convinced she had nothing to do with this.

"Woah, woah, woah," Robin put his hand up and pushed down Lucina's sword arm, "I was just leaving." Robin gave a pointed look at the hierophant, "Isn't that right?"

"O-oh, quite right," He stuttered looking down Morgan's blade, "You're free to go."

"And my sister?"

"Y-yes, yes, she's free to do as she pleases."

"Good. Morgan, you can put the sword down. May be best if we leave the way you got in this place."

"Alright," Morgan shot the hierophant a dirty look before turning to the others with a big smile, "Follow me!"

The four started out of the room, but Reflet called back as they left, "And stop kidnapping people cause they're good mages!"


"Well, that was certainly a thing," Robin covered his eyes as they walked out into the dying sunlight.

"Wow, that's one strange cult," Morgan cheered.

"That's one word for it," Reflet stretched her back, "But I suppose we should address the elephant in the room."

"Elephant?" Lucina perked her brow but went ignored for the time being.

"Right," Robin faced his sister, "You are still a fugitive." Morgan looked dour while Lucina looked on stone faced. Reflet simply met her brother's gaze, "That said, Ylisse has no diplomatic relations with this country. I wouldn't even know where to go to get you extradited."

"You are a softie, aren't you?" Reflet smirked.

"I'm operating within diplomatic curtesy," Robin did not even crack a smile, "That said, if you were to come back willingly then I might could speak with the Exalt. We are friends, and I'm kind of his son-in-law. We don't like to talk about it so maybe I could bring it up so he wants to end the conversation sooner. If he decides to be stubborn."

"Robin! Do you torment father like that?"

"Not usually, but it may help me get a sentence commuted if it comes to that. Maybe a mixture of house arrest and community service being my assistant."

"Assistant?" Reflet cried incredulously.

"Please, auntie?" Morgan looked at her with those heartfelt and sincere puppy dog eyes blasting away at Reflet's reservations. What kind of monster had they raised? How could she say no now? It would be like kicking a puppy.

"Ugh, fine. I guess it wouldn't be so bad. Just keep your little gremlin away from me!"

Robin finally cracked a smile as he turned away. It was quite a walk back to port, but he did not think it would feel that way.

A/N: Well, that took a while. I may rerelease another old story. Any requests?

I considered giving my thoughts on TH, but opted not to. If you want to discuss it, you can PM though.

Also, it seems that about a year ago I commented in an AN about getting more Awakening Seasonals in FEH in 2020. Well, maybe 2021 will go better. Probably won't be any worse alt wise. No alts might be an improvement.