Chapter 6 - Unexpected Reunions
"So, where to next?" Robin asked, exiting the armory Corrin had been showing them.
"Mess hall," Corrin replied.
It had been many hours since Corrin had led Lucina and himself down from the mountains where they had appeared on the other side of the Bottomless Canyon. The journey had been long enough for the dead of night to turn into the break of dawn by the time they reached Corrin's camp.
Much to both his and Lucina's surprise, the 'camp' turned out to be an entire keep that existed on its own plane of existence. From Corrin's fumbling explanation, they'd gathered the whole place existed on a sort of astral dimension separate from the rest of the world that Corrin could access. How he came about it was a story they had yet to hear, with Corrin declining to tell it until time permitted. Though Robin could not help but wonder if there was another reason, seeing the pained expression Corrin had held in the moment after he'd asked about it.
In the time since arriving, Corrin had introduced them to his friends and family and explained the situation, starting with his siblings, who as it turned out were the royal family of the Kingdom of Nohr.
In the brief conversation they'd had, which really had been somewhere between a formal debriefing and a polite interrogation, Robin had gathered they all seemed a decent sort. Xander reminded him a bit of Chrom, only far more stiff and unyielding. Camilia seemed… a bit too nice and doting, especially in how she spoke to her other siblings and Corrin in particular that made Robin feel a bit uneasy. Perhaps it was the way that her tone she sometimes used reminded him a bit too much of how Tharja would speak to himself in her more... obsessed moments. The younger of the Nohrian princes, Leo, came off as a bit cold and distant, but perhaps that was in part due to seeming to be the last to trust Lucina and Robin. But from what he gathered, he was the strategist of the group, which was something Robin could easily see in the way he held himself. Perhaps the two of them could exchange notes at some point. Finally, there was Elise, who… well, the best way he could describe her would be to say she was like if someone had taken Lissa's attitude and mixed it with all of Cynthia's hyperactivity. She'd practically bombarded them with questions from the start, derailing things a couple times.
In the end, they had talked until all four had seemed satisfied with the two's account of their arrival in this world and given Corrin permission to show them around the rest of the castle. The next several hours since had been a whirlwind of introductions as Corrin brought them around to speak to his other friends and allies, of whom there were far too many to mention in now at any length. But all in all, each seemed to be fine people and for the most part appeared to be relatively sane, which was more that could be said of many of his own friends back home.
Apparently, there were only a few more people to be introduced to, with Corrin's maid Felicia having been the one to inform them that three other members of the army were currently alone in the mess hall.
"Well, best get this one out of the way eventually," Corrin grumbled under his breath, motioning for the duo to follow him.
"Why, is there something wrong with them?" Robin asked, arching an eyebrow.
"No, nothing like that. They can just be… trying to work with. Particularly when they are together," Corrin explained, slowing his pace to half turn as look Robin's way. He rubbed the back of his neck, his expression tightening as if working through what best to say. "Just to warn you, they can be a bit eccentric. And loud. And confusing to anyone whose not used to it… and even to those that are, considering Odin…" Corrin added, muttering the last thought.
A chuckle fell from Robin's lips, the sound escaping before he could stifle it. "Well, sounds like they will make us feel right at home, then. Most of the Shepherds, the militia we're part of back home, tend to be quite…" he trailed off, trying to find the best word.
"Colorful," Lucina offered, finishing the statement for him.
"Yes, colorful is a diplomatic way of putting it," Robin laughed. "To be fair, a couple of your other friends seem to fall into that category too. Like Arthur, Niles, and Keaton, just to name a few." Robin elaborated, referring to some of the people they'd already met.
"Well, yes, kind of like them, I guess. But… well, you'll see," Corrin explained. "They're all retainers for my siblings, though they haven't been around for quite as long as you'd think. As far as I know, they just appeared here a few years ago."
Corrin came to a stop in front of a long, wooden building, motioning towards the door with one hand to offer them entrance.
"Huh, that is rather curious. I take it you trust them though, given they are part of your team," Robin noted. He and Lucina stepped inside, Corrin close behind. "Does that have anything to do with…"
The rest of what he'd been about to say was quickly lost, vanishing in an instant as his eyes fell on the three people sitting inside. He came to a sudden halt, eyes widening, mouth falling open in shock. Next to him, Lucina too froze in place, her expression shocked as Robin's own.
The trio too turned at their entrance, suddenly scrambling to their feet and staring back with expressions equal parts surprised and dumbfounded confusion. They too stood motionless, mouths hanging agape.
"What's…" Corrin started to say, confusion plain in his voice as he stepped into the room, eyes moving to and from the two groups standing across from each other.
'WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Robin, Lucina, Owain, Severa, and Inigo screamed in unison, pointing fingers at one another.
"Wait, what?! 'What am I doing here'? What are you doing here?!" Robin exclaimed, reeling back a step and pressing a hand against his forehead in utter bewilderment.
"What? Us? We got here first! How are you here?!" Severa shouted back. "You can't just come barging in here expecting-" She froze in place a second time, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth as her eyes fell on Corrin. "Err… I mean, I have no idea who these people are. Right? RIGHT!?" She said stiffly, growling the final word as she shot quick glares at Inigo and Odin.
"What? What are you talking about, Severa? How are the three of you even here?" Lucina exclaimed.
"I… who's Severa? I don't have any idea who you are talking about," she replied haltingly, glancing nervously from side to side. "Right?" She elbowed Owain in the side.
"Indeed! Never once have I encountered the two before us! Clearly they... uhhh... are trapped. Yes, that's it! Trapped within an illusion of a foul netherworld, where they are... uh... mystified by illusions within the frail labyrinth of the human mind. For one to mistake I, Odin Dark, as anyone else is clearly misguided in their memories."
Severa and Inigo started at Owain for a split second, blinking as if still trying to register what he'd said. As did everyone else in the room for that matter.
"Uhh, yes. Of course! I have never met these two before in my... " Inigo began to agree as well, only to sigh and cover his face with his palm as he trailed off. "Alright, why are we even doing this? They're not going to buy it."
"Well I don't see you coming up with any better ideas!" Severa countered.
"But if we-" Owain started to say.
"We're not going to set the room on fire!" Inigo and Severa screamed in unison.
"But I didn't even finish," Owain said quietly, seemingly defeated by his idea being both guessed and shot down before he'd even started to explain it.
"Ahem," Corrin interrupted, clearing his they could resume bickering.
The three stopped dead in their tracks, slowly turning to look at him.
"Oh… uhhh… hi there, Lord Corrin. Look, I know this looks bad, but we can explain this," Severa said, trying her best to force a smile onto her lips. It… didn't really work. At all, actually. If anything the fake looking, toothy grin only ensured to make her appear even more nervous.
"I…" Corrin shook his head, cupping his forehead with the palm of his hand. "I… I can't even begin to even guess what in the gods names this is supposed to look like, let alone what's actually going on." He turned, looking between both groups with evident suspicion. "Can someone- anyone, explain?"
"I… Well…" Robin frowned. "Right, trust me when I say I am really, and I mean really, not sure what's going on. But, I can explain a few things." He pointed a finger at the others. "You said they appeared out of seemingly nowhere? Well, the place they came from was our world. They're friends of ours. Though how they got here or why, I have no clue."
"Right, so that's the part I gathered. But, they didn't get here the same way as you, did they?" he asked.
"Last we saw them was several months ago. They left one night with hardly a word and we hadn't heard anything of them since," Lucina explained, eyeing her friends. "However, you said that they arrived here in a time several years previous. That would mean…"
"Time travel…" Robin finished for her, he groaned.
"Wait, what?" Corrin asked, regarding them with a sudden renewed interest. "You mean that's possible? You mean someone could return in time and alter the past?"
"Right, we didn't explain that. Yes, actually. Well, yes and no… it's complicated," Robin started to explain. He frowned deeply, pondering how best to explain without fumbling over his words.
"I myself come from a dark, doomed future, as did they," Lucina interjected, instigating the trio with her chin. Quickly she summarized the events that had brought her and the others into the past, and how they had successfully altered events to save their world. After she briefly explained that while history had been changed, doing so had merely created a timeline free of Grima, while the world she had come remained unchanged.
The brief hopeful glimmer in Corrin's eyes dimmed at this explanation, his gaze falling to the floor as Lucina finished. He nodded slowly, but said nothing for several long moments. "That… is a lot to take in. But…" He looked up, gaze falling on the trio. "Why, though? Why the secrecy and the lies? Why are you here? Who are you really?"
"I suppose I can start off. My name is Inigo, at your service," the mercenary bowed to Corrin.
"Do I… fine, I guess. I'm Severa. Yeah, real creative on the fake name, I get it. Laugh it up," Severa grumbled.
"And as for my true name, I am known as Owain Dark! A hero among heroes come from another age to save this one and-" He stopped mid sentence, as if catching what he was saying. "And, as the cruel hand of fate as deemed, I cannot speak any further. There are dire secrets that cannot be spoken even before friends!"
"Here to... Save this world? What are you talking about?" Corrin asked, bewilderment once again playing across his features.
"Look… we… can't tell you…" Severa said. She crossed her arms, gazing at the floor. "We… made a promise not to say anything. It's… important, alright? I know it sounds crazy, and you have no reason to believe us, but please. We just need you to trust us, alright?"
"Which, I can imagine might be hard to do right now, considering you are now aware of the lengths we went to in hiding our identities," Inigo added, turning to Corrin. "But remember, I have served Lord Xander loyally, as have Selena and Odin for Lady Camilla and Lord Leo. If we had any ill intent, we could have betrayed you many times over by this point."
"Silence your tongue! To betray the liege whom I have given my service to, tis nothing but the deepest fires of the dark fires in hell can ever hope to burn away! I would rather be consumed by the hungry horrors of great titans! Or worse... I would rather mimic Niles' speech pattern!" The last part that Owain said made both Severa and Inigo make a gag reflex. Which, from their own brief conversation with Leo's other retainer, Robin couldn't say he exactly blamed them.
"And if it makes you feel any better, we can't tell them either!" Severa added, motioning to Robin and Lucina. She scowled, stamping her foot. "I… fine, we can tell you this much. It's not a lot, but in return you need to promise to explain yourselves next!" She jabbed a finger their way.
Robin exchanged a brief glance with Lucina, then nodded took them. "Go ahead."
"It all started… gods, it was only a few months for everyone back home, huh? Well, anyway, for us it was over three years ago. One night, we… heard this voice. It wanted us to go to the Mila Tree. Said a world was in danger, and that it needed our help," Severa explained, speaking slowly as if picking her words carefully.
"We accepted of course, as none of us were about the sit idly when there were people in need. Besides, things had gotten rather stale back home," Inigo continued. "Our only regret is that we were instructed to come alone and not tell anyone of our quest. Perhaps that was a mistake."
"Yet, mistake our choice was or not, can you blame our decision? Surely you two must understand that we of heroic lineage cannot remain shackled by the bonds of mundanity! Nor could you deny how not one of us can turn our eyes away from the horrors of the world that could be, or the plight of a being that seeks salvation. To deny them of such things, neither you nor I would ever be worthy of the Brand that we carry," Owain spoke, his eyes casting towards Lucina, full of honesty that showed just how serious he was, if he was even bringing up the Brand.
Another pause followed, both Inigo and Severa thoroughly thrown off track by Owain's monologue.
"Right… well... At the Mila tree we met with… the person who contacted us. Asked us to come to this world and gave us… our mission here," Severa continued, picking up where Inigo left off. "We were advised to change our names, which is why you knew me as Selena and them as Laslow and Odin. That's… all we can give you."
Silence fell once more, Robin pondering what was said. This did explain… well it explained one or two questions, but not a whole lot. It was difficult to make any sense of the chronology of events, given the disparity in the time passed in both worlds, but what was clear was that whatever had brought them here had to do with the attack on their own world months later.
The question is, was it the cause, or merely an effect? Had the attack been in retaliation for them coming here, or had they been tasked to prevent it?
"Well?" Severa asked, tapping a foot. "Are you going to explain how you two ended up here or what?"
"We will, but first I believe Corrin deserves a chance to respond to what he learned. It's his call to make. In regards to all of us," Robin answered.
For his part, Corrin remained silent for several long moments. Slowly he stirred, shaking his head. "I don't know what to think right now, honestly. I don't know how much I can trust any of you. This all sounds crazy. But… you're right, you three could have betrayed us before, and-" he regarded Robin and Lucina with his chin "-and you could have killed me only hours ago but you didn't." He sighed deeply. "I don't want to trust you. But I think I have to."
"Then… will you not tell our lords?" Inigo asked.
Corrin shook his head. "No. You three are going to explain this to them. Everything you told me. They deserve to make that call on their own."
The three blanched at this suggestion, but all nodded solemnly. Satisfied by this, Corrin turned back to Robin. "Alright, go ahead."
In brief Robin explained everything that had happened over the past several weeks, up from their first encounter with the strange undead, which Corrin and the trio all quickly identified as Faceless, to the battle at the Ruins of Time. Lucina collaborated on the events several times, interfering with important details he missed, but for the most part, she let Robin do most of the talking. It took several minutes before they were finished, silence falling like a shroud once more over the room.
Owain, Severa, and Inigo exchanged worried, almost guilty, glances.
"We… we were afraid this might happen. When arrived as the Mila Tree, Invisible Soldiers attacked us there too," Inigo explained, his voice somber.
"With our combined might we fell upon the fiends. Together it was that with ease we drove them before us, scattering them to whatever fell depths they had arisen!" Owain proclaimed. Then he winced, his expression growing perhaps a bit more serious. "But, not before they manage to set fire to the tree's base, scarring many of its roots," he said, his voice somber and without any of his usual prostificating.
"We hoped they had only come to stop us, and that once we went into this world, they would leave everyone else alone," Severa elaborated . "Fat lot that did. Turns out we just made everything worse."
"Perhaps that still may not be so," Lucina said, trying to sound hopeful. "For all we know this would have happened regardless of what did you. Do not blame yourselves."
"I guess…" Severa grumbled, seeming unconvinced.
Silence reigned for another long moment.
"But is everyone else alright? Do you know if any of them were hurt?" Inigo asked, concern plastered across his features.
"Before the portal collapsed, the others nearby retreated back, but… I don't know if they made it clear in time. But as we saw no sign of them here… well, I choose to hope they made it out alright," Robin answered. "As for everyone else... Morgan and Marc's group should have been far out of range of the explosion. They at least are certain to have come out alright."
Audible sigh of relief fell from Inigo's lips, releasing much of the visible tension in his limbs and shoulders. For an instant Robin wondered at it, until he recalled that, of course, hearing that Morgan's group in particular was safe would mean a great deal to Inigo. For indeed, considering the relationship the man had with his and Lucina's daughter it was only natural that-
Robin stopped dead in his tracks, a sudden realization hitting him. His eyes narrowed, his gaze fixing hard on Inigo. He saw Lucina glance questioningly his way, only for her too seem to pick up on what he was thinking, her expression stiffening as she too bore holes into the mercenary with her gaze.
"Inigo…" Robin said, speaking slowly to make sure every syllable rang out loud and clear. "I just remembered something. Something very important." He took a step forward, hand slipping visibly towards the hilt of his sword.
The color drained from Inigo's face all at once. He reeled back a step, his mouth working silently as no words came out. "I…" was all he managed at last.
"If I recall, you and my daughter were quite close before you left. That was four months ago for us. Not a small bit of time," Robin warned, taking another step forward. "And here we are, three years later on your end. Have you done anything since then?"
"I… no, I swear, I haven't…" He took another step back.
Robin's hand went the rest of the way to his sword. He raised his other hand slightly, sparks of electricity dancing menacingly around his finger tips.
"Wait! Wait! So, I have been a bit of a flirt, I'll admit it," Inigo glanced wildly to Severa and Owain, his panic only growing as he saw the two distance themselves from him, scooting to either side. "But you can't honestly expect me to just give all that up. It's part of-"
Robin's hand closed around the hilt. He pulled the blade an inch free, a sliver of steel glinting in the light,
"B-But I haven't done anything more, I swear! Just some flirting, took a couple women out for tea once or twice, but nothing went further than that, I swear." He turned, looking to Corrin in desperation. "Please, Lord Corrin, tell him. Please."
Robin stopped, Lucina placing a hand on his arm to hold him there. He turned to look at Corrin. "Is that true?"
Corrin glanced between them, looking once again very confused as to what was going on. "As far as I know? Yes. Though you would need to ask Xander, as he would know more about Laslow's… er, Inigo's, activities."
Robin nodded, accepting this answer. For an instant, Inigo seemed to relax, his shoulders slumping as he sighed deeply.
"Even still…" Robin said, speaking up as he turned back to Inigo. The mercenary froze, fear once returning as he saw the fury had not faded. "Even if you didn't betray my daughter, you still left. Left to here. Did you even consider what she would think? How she would feel?"
"I… she… what?" Inigo asked. This time he didn't retreat back a step, only staring between them both. "I didn't…"
"Morgan was crushed, Inigo. When you left without telling her why, she felt like you abandoned her," Lucina explained.
"Lucina, I-I…" the words died in Inigo's throat. He looked away, and for an instant Robin saw pain flickering in the depths of his eyes. Guilt twisted his expression as he slipped, pressing a hand against a table to steady himself. "I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"Didn't what? Know? Care!? Either you were ignorant and a great deal more foolish that I thought, or you deserve far worse than harsh words for breaking my daughter's heart! Explain yourself," Robin hissed.
"I…" Slowly Inigo reached out, pulling out a chair. He slipped down into it, covering his face in one hand. For a moment he sat motionless, then shook his head in his hand. When he looked up again, he blinked hard several times, his eyes seeming to shimmer as if wet. But the life in them seemed to have vanished, his gaze distant and empty. "I can't. A part of me wants to justify it but…" he shook his head.. "I guess I expected this, really. Since that night. I didn't want to hurt her, I swear. I didn't want to. But I couldn't just stay behind. Couldn't let my personal feelings let me act selfish. I just hoped… hoped she'd understand. That I wouldn't hurt her…"
A bitter laugh fell from his lips. "But I did that anyways, huh? Guess I am as bad as everyone says. A heartless philanderer indeed." He shook his head again. "I just… I'm sorry. Do whatever you want, I probably deserve it. Just tell her I'm sorry, that's all I ask.
For a long moment Robin didn't move, his shoulders rising and falling with his heavy breaths. A very real part of him still burned with anger, wanting nothing more than to skin the man alive. For everything, for all his regret and guilt, Inigo had still hurt Robin's little girl.
He felt Lucina's hand squeeze his arm gently. He looked up at her, meeting her gaze. The rage washed away, the soothing, gentle calm of her blue eyes speaking everything that needed to be said. Understanding flowed between them, without even a single word needing to be spoken.
He knew exactly what she was thinking. She was thinking of their own choices, their own mistakes. Of how Lucina had once confronted him with the intent to kill him to prevent her future from coming to pass. Of how he had sacrificed himself, saving the world even knowing the pain his death would cause her and everyone else he cared about. Yet for all the pain they had caused each other, for every regretted choice, they had forgiven each other. How then was it their place to judge Inigo for his actions? He had merely done what he thought was right, just as both of them had in times past.
Lucina was right. Inigo deserved at least a chance to try to make amends, just as they both had had. Besides, it wasn't their call to make.
It was Morgan's.
Robin slipped his sword back fully into its sheath, removing his hand from its hilt. "No. We're not going to tell her that. You're going to tell her yourself, as soon as you see her again."
Inigo started as this. "What? You aren't…" He stared at both Lucina and Robin in turn, shock playing for all to see across his face, as if this was the last thing he'd expected to hear.
"Understand, Inigo, this isn't pity or forgiveness. Neither of us are in a position to give you those. Those are things only Morgan can decide. I want to make sure you understand that."
"I understand," he nodded slowly, his expression solemn once again.
Silence lingered for another moment. Corrin shifted awkwardly where he stood, glancing towards the door.
Yeah, that had probably been really awkward to listen in on.
"So… are we free to go?" Severa asked, breaking the quiet. She glanced at the door. Clearly, she had been thinking the same thing as Corrin. "I mean, this has been… great and all, this reunion and seeing Inigo getting comeuppance for his philandering, but we really should be-"
Robin opened his mouth, starting to answer, then shut it again. There was one other thing he needed to talk about. Something that had been bugging him this entire time. "No, actually. There's one more elephant in the room we need to address," Robin said. He turned to Owain, looking him up and down before wincing and pinching the bridge of his nose. "Owain… I need to ask. What in Naga's name are you wearing?"
"Ha ha, so you finally see for yourself and are enamored in wonder. For I am the enigmatic warrior, protected by the dark spirits. As I have set upon a new frontier, I have been granted the powers of darkness, and with it, the identity that befits my new form. Gaze upon the being that is I, Odin Dark!" Owain proclaimed, puffing out his chest and sweeping his cape in what could only have been an attempt at appearing especially heroic.
For a moment, Robin struggled to put a response to words, so unsure how to even follow up against Owain's particular brand of logic. "Owain. Seriously, look at yourself. You aren't even wearing a shirt. And are those tights? Think. What in gods name would Lissa say if she say you dressed like that?!"
"Such words that only a cur would spew! The aesthetic line of these clothes were a gift, granted to me by the spirits themselves. It reveals the twilight road into the deep abyss of darkness!" Owain defended with such vigor, before turning his gaze towards his fellow companions. "Come on, tell them it's true!"
Severa glanced away, not answering. Even Inigo responded, looking up at Owain from where he still sat and slowly shook his head. For just a moment, he even seemed to smile slightly.
"Seriously!? You two as well? I don't believe this! Do even my fellow companions abandon I? We achieved these forms together, a powerful kinship that bound us, and yet you would besmirch the great honor by averting your gaze?! And come on, Severa! You said that it looked cool, and that the cape suit me!"
"We… We didn't want to say anything. You know how you get some- all of the time. You were so invested in the look, we didn't want to spoil it for you, alright?" Severa admitted.
"Afraid so," Inigo agreed.
"So no one appreciates it? All this time?" Owain exclaimed, disheartened.
"Actually…" Lucina said, breaking the silence. "Besides perhaps being too revealing for my tastes, I find your new garments quite fashionable. There is a certain elegance about them."
"Really?" Owain's face brightened, his smile returning. "Ha, see! At least there is one person who appreciates the unyielding might carried within the fell garments of Odin Dark!"
"You are aware that this is Lucina who is approving of your fashion sense, right?" Severa interrupted. Owain's smile faded at once.
This got a laugh out of Inigo. Robin too found himself chuckling. Lucina, however, just looked confused.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Don't worry about it," Robin told her, quickly wiping the smile from his face before his wife could see it. "You just have different opinions of style than most other people. Your style is less... flashy," he lied.
"Come on now, don't be too mean," Inigo cut in, eyes fixed on Selena. "We've all seen how you of all appreciate certain… features… of Odin's... sorry, Owain's clothes. Or perhaps 'lack thereof' would be more accurate."
"I… you…" Severa seethed, her face turning bright read. She threw her arms across her chest, turning away with an angry huff.
"I do not understand. Why would Severa in particular be pleased with his choice of garments?" Lucina asked, visibly perplexed by Inigo's comment. She tilted her head, glancing to Robin questioning.
"I… well, um… think about it. Why would someone, er... appreciate, revealing clothing?" Robin asked, awkwardly avoiding any direct answer. Gods, why are we even still talking about this?
Slowly, realization dawned on Lucina's face. Her cheeks turned bright red, finally putting the pieces together. "Oh… I see…" she trailed off, Robin becoming suddenly very aware that she was now staring at he himself very, very intently.
"You're imagining me wearing the same outfit, aren't you?" he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose once again.
"I… perhaps…" Lucina admitted, her face becoming an even more vivid shade of crimson as she looked away.
Robin cleared his throat nervously, feeling his own cheeks darken in embarrassment. Dammit, was this really the time? I-
The thought was interrupted by the creak and slamming of a door being thrown open. Robin turned his head at the sound.
In walked a young girl, whom if Robin were have to place a guess wasn't older than fifteen or sixteen years of age. She had dark red hair that hung down past her shoulders and large gray-green eyes. She was clad in gold and black dark mage's garments of similar design to Owain's, though perhaps only slightly less revealing.
"Mother, Father, I've been-" the girl started to say. She stopped, eyes falling on Robin and Lucina.
"Oh, greetings! I had heard that travelers from lands far away had arrived. I am Ophelia Dusk, at your service." The girl swept out her arm, grabbing her cape with the other to bow in dramatic fashion. "I hurried over as soon as I received word. Is it true that you came from another world? Perhaps-"
The girl froze, her eyes fixing on Lucina's face. Then without warning her eyes lit up, her features brightening as she leapt forward, grabbing onto her sleeve with enough force to drag Lucina a step towards her and pull her face down to eye level.
"Wait, you're… In your eye. You have the same mark as I! And your aura too. It absolutely glows with a 'chosen one' type... it's amazing! When did it first appear appear for you? How did it feel when you realized you were chosen?!"
"I… what? My brand?" Lucina asked, utter bewilderment plastered on her face as the girl continued to bombard her with questions.
"Yes! The mark of the chosen ones. I think Father called it a brand once. My mark appeared on my arm, see!" Ophelia lifted up her right arm, showing the inside face just below her wrist. Lucina's eyes shot wide, confusion turning to surprise in an instant as she beheld what was there.
Robin peered over Lucina's shoulder, following her gaze to where she was staring. His mouth fell half open as his eyes too fell upon the spot. Upon the girl's forearm was the Brand of the Exalt. There could be no mistaking it: it was identical to the very mark Lucina had, as did nearly every member of the Ylissean royal family.
How? That would mean she- Robin stopped, looking back and forward between Owain and the girl as the realization dawned on him. It all made sense, that's why she looked so familiar. While her hair and garments couldn't have been more different, everything else about her was the spitting image of Lissa. Even the way she held herself was the same, down to the youthful energy she carried. If not for her bright red hair, they could have been twins.
But that could only mean…
Robin now turned from Ophelia and Owain to Severa, who was already backing away slowly, her face beginning to turn red as if she was already aware of what he was thinking. She and Owain had been a couple for several years now.
"You two didn't… how did you… it's only been a few years for you, how is she this old?!" Robin exclaimed. "I thought no one from this world had experienced time travel before?"
"Well, that's because-" Corrin started to answer, stepping forward then.
"Time travel? Is such a thing possible?" Ophelia asked, blurting out the words loudly enough to drown out the rest of what Corrin was going to say. She whirled around to face her parents. "And, why do they seem to know you, Mother and Father? Have you met them before?"
"Well, yes. In regards to knowing them," Owain answered. He motioned with a hand to the two in question. "Ophelia, I'd like you to meet Robin and Lucina. They are friends of ours from our homeland. As for what I am sure is your next question is, the reason Lucina has the same mark as you is because she is of the same bloodline as us, being my cousin."
For an instant, surprise flashed across Ophelia's face, turning to amazement as the implications hit her. "So, if they're from another world… That means you are from there too!? That is so amazing and like… Wow! And you never told me?!" She asked.
"We… were waiting for the right time. We didn't exactly want anyone to find out," Severa admitted, putting a hand on her daughter's arm. "We will explain later, alright?"
"But I still have so many-"
"Ahem"
Everyone turned to look at Robin, the tactician continuing to clear his throat until all attention was on him. "Sorry to interrupt, but my questions never got answered, which I feel are a bit more pressing. So, if I may repeat them… When!? Why!? How!?" He exclaimed, flailing his arms wildly over his head.
Owain and Severa exchanged nervous looks.
"So you know how two of us were-" Severa began,
"I know she is your daughter! Skip to the part of how she is this old!"
"Geez, calm down, will you? We were getting to that!" Severa snapped back, scowling. "Now, where was I? Right, so about a year ago we got married. When we realized... you know…" she trailed off, cheeks darkening,
"The war was still happening, so we couldn't just leave to have a child," Owain continued, picking up where she left off. "So we traveled to one of many worlds where time moved quicker known as the Deeprealms. We stayed there long enough for Ophelia to be born. After that, we left her with caretakers there, visiting whenever we could," he explained.
"We did visit whenever we could, but time moved so quickly there, a month passed for every day out here," Severa added.
Robin could only stare at them dumbfounded, mouth hanging open as he struggled to process what they had said. He glanced at Lucina, seeing her expression was no less horrified than his own.
"YOU WHAT?!" they shouted in unison, aghast by this revelation.
"Wait, what is that supposed to mean?" Severa asked sharply, visibly taken aback by their response.
"You two mean to say you basically abandoned your daughter for most of her childhood? What were you thinking!?" Robin asked, barely managing to put his bewildering thoughts into words.
"Didn't you two consider what hardships that might bring upon her? The difficulties she would face with both parents absent?" Lucina asked, staring at each of them in turn in shock. "I would have believed you two would know better than that, having experienced as well as I the pain of lost loved ones."
"But we-" Owain started to argue, only to be cut short as for in what might have been the first time in his life, someone managed to talk over him through sheer force of presence.
"And how long was she in there? In her time? She has to be…" Robin turned to Ophelia. His voice softened as he spoke to her. "Hi, my name is Robin. Pleasure to meet you. Ophelia, was it? Do you mind me asking how old are you?"
"Fifteen," Ophelia replied.
"Fifteen years!" Robin screamed, turning back to the girl's parents. "What were you thinking?"
"Hold on one moment, you can't put the whole blame on them. Many others in our army did the same," Corrin said, quickly stepping between the two camps.
"What? Who!?" Robin asked, even more bewildered.
"Well, I did for one. Besides me, there was Xander and Charlotte, Camilia and Niles, Kaze and Beruka, Silas and Felicia, Mozu and Keaton, Jacob and Flora…"
"You've got to be kidding me!" Robin shouted, throwing up his hands in disbelief. He tensed, seeing the flash of anger in Corrin's eyes. With an effort he exhaled, trying to speak calmer. "Look, I apologize. I know it's not my place to pass judgment on people I just met, so forgive me." He turned to Owain and Severa. "But I haven't 'just met' them, so please. Just give us this."
Corrin held his glare for another moment longer. Then he looked away. "Fine. I am going to wait outside." He turned to leave, shutting the door hard behind him.
"Probably a good idea. Ophelia, let's leave your parents be," Inigo said, standing up.
"But-"
"I think that would be best," Lucina said in agreement.
Apparently being a fellow 'chosen one' held a lot of sway with Ophelia, for she nodded her head. She too departed, lagging a few steps behind Inigo.
The door opened and shut closed a second time.
Silence fell once more over the chamber.
Severa was the first to speak up. "I don't see why you two even care so much. Why does it bother you what we do?" she asked. She leaned back, eyes narrowed and arms crossed indignantly.
"Why do we care? Because we're parents too! Because hearing this makes us think of our own children, and what might happen to them if they weren't around," Robin snapped back.
"Morgan and Marc already lost us in their timeline," Lucina agreed, stepping forward. She gripped Robin's arm. "We couldn't imagine willingly letting the little ones back home go through the same absence."
"We're just… shocked…" Robin finished, reaching up to encircle Lucina's fingers within his own.
"I… Look, we know it was a mistake, alright. Happy?" Severa spat, her voice almost an angry hiss.
"The past few years… they have not been easy," Owain added, his voice completely serious and carrying none of his usual bombastic bravado. "We regret what happened but…"
"We really don't need you two passing judgement when there is so much you don't know!" Severa agreed.
Robin exchanged another look with Lucina, then turned back to the two. "Then why not tell us?" Lucina asked. "I can understand if there are secrets Corrin cannot know, but why not tell us?"
"Don't you think we want to? Don't you think it would be easier if we could just tell everyone?! But we…" Severa frozen, eyes widening as if only then realizing what she had been about to blurt out. "We told you. We made a promise."
"Please. Believe us when we say we can't tell you. I know we are making excuses, but it's important," Owain pleaded, his voice somber. He took his own wife's hand, squeezing it.
What reason could there be? There has to be more than a promise. Maybe… Robin frowned, trying to remember something. I need to… blast, there it goes again. His head throbbed. He had to remember to take it slow with his memories, not to force them too quickly. He'd have to wait before figuring this out.
Robin rested his head in his hands, shaking it. "Okay, okay, fine… Look, I'm sorry… I think… we're just…"
"Overwhelmed," Lucina finished. She too took her turn to shake her head. "Let's just drop it for now. We don't approve, but…"
"There are more pressing things to worry about. Like the threat to our home. And to this world too," Robin said.
"We need to plan. As soon as we are able," Lucina concluded.
Silence once more. Slowly, both of them nodded. Both of them looked so very tired, Robin remembering how early it was. It was likely few in the camp had gotten much sleep.
And he and Lucina were tired too. They hadn't slept at all.
"Right… that can wait for now. I think. We all need rest, even if it is only for a short time," Robin said.
They nodded again.
Exchanging a few more brief words, Robin and Lucina made their excuses and left the mess hall as well, leaving their friends within. Outside, they found Corrin leaning against the wall, his eyes on the ground. He lifted his head at the sound of their approach, slipping something he'd been holding back into a pocket before Robin could get a clear glimpse of what it had been.
"Look, I'd like to apologies for before and-"
"Forget it. Wouldn't be the first mistake that I've been the cause of," Corrin grumbled bitterly. He scowled, shaking his head. "Sorry, forget I said anything. Where to now?"
"Well, uh… right now we need somewhere to rest for a bit. Neither of us have had sleep in gods know how long. Only need an hour or two, really."
Corrin nodded. "Alright. This way. I am sure we have a spare tent and bedrolls somewhere," He motioned for them to follow, leading them further into the astral keep. '
Robin glanced back over his shoulder towards the mess hall. Then he turned away and followed quickly after.
. . . . .
Robin winced as he slipped his arm free from the sleeve of his coat, the motion tugging on his aching limbs. Even with the benefit of healing magic, his whole body was still sore, particularly in and around the mostly cured wounds Corrin had dealt.
Sighting, he tugged his arm the rest of the way free, his coat sliding down his back to lay on his cot. Twisting around, he picked it up, running his hands over the fabric in search of the places where it had been torn. Locating the first place, he muttered a spell under his breath. He felt a faint tug at the back of his head, a little of his strength ebbing away as he fueled the magic. As he watched the hole in the fabric drew closed, cut and frayed threads reattaching before his very eyes.
One down… he mused, examining his handiwork. It was a simple spell capable of repairing minor damage to clothes he had learned ages ago. Was really the only reason his coat was still intact at this point.
Shifting the garment around, he searched out the remaining holes, repairing each as he had the first. Satisfied, he folded his coat up and stowed it away with the rest of his gear.
The tent Corrin had provided was about the same size as the one he and Lucina had used in the past. Furnished with a simple cot, a chair, and wooden trunk for what few personal effects they had with them.
Sighing yet again, Robin turned to where Lucina was sitting next to him, cleaning Falchion's blade. Her watched her work for several minutes, until she too completed the maintenance on her own gear. Carefully, she returned the ancient blade to its sheath, leaning it against the foot of the bed.
"Done?"
Lucina nodded.
"Right. I guess we should get some rest. Lot of stuff we did today."
"Yes…" Lucina whispered, her voice oddly faint.
Robin eyed her up and down, struck by how tired she looked. No… tired was not the right word. While she was clearly exhausted, they both were, that was not the main thing he saw. It was more… resignment. As if some great weight was pressing down on her.
"You okay?" Robin asked, concerned by her silence.
"Sorry, there's just been a lot to process and I think it's all still sinking in. Ending up here in another world… encountering old friends…" Lucina trailed off, shaking her head. "I know we both resolved to do this, to go through that portal and put a stop to this threat to our world. But being here now…"
Robin stared at her, remaining silent as Lucina's gaze fell to where his hand lay on her lap, fingers interwoven with each other. Slowly she closed her eyes, her expression tightened and lips pursed into what was almost a grimace.
"You're thinking about Morgan and Marc, aren't you?" Robin said at last. He did not need to specify which versions of the twins he was speaking of, for he knew exactly which ones were on Lucina's thoughts now.
Lucina nodded. "I know they will be fine, Mother and Father are sure to look after them while we're gone but…" Her voice wavered, a tremble seeming to flow through her. "I'm scared. Scared of what might happen. Us here, and entire world away. What if…"
"Don't think of that, Lucina. Don't think of any 'if's," Robin said gently, taking her hand in his and holding it tight. Lucina opened her eyes, turning to look at him as he continued. "We will return. If we have to promise ourselves we will. For their sakes. For everyone else's."
Lucina nodded again, slower this time. With her free hand she reached out, touching his shoulder. "I know. It's… I know we must not give up hope but… what about everyone else? They must believe us dead, and we cannot yet return home to even tell them we are alive. What about the older twins? What must they both be going through, believing they lost their parents for a second time?" Robin noticed then that Lucina was crying, only to then realize he too was crying.
Tears glistened as they ran down both their cheeks, running like streams to pool at the floor of their tent. Robin pulled Lucina close, rocking her gently, running a hand through her hair. "I-I… I don't know… I don't know…" was all he could manage, his voice barely a whisper.
And so, the two clung to each other as if each were a life preserver in a storm tossed sea. Before them loomed an uncertain future… one within an uncertain world that was not their own.
And all they could do was face it together. To face it and hope.
Author's Note: Whew, this was a long one. Was honestly a bit worried I wasn't going to get it done on schedule. I'd actually planned on showing a lot more of the conversations: such as the meetings with the Nohr Royals and a few other characters, but with the chapter being already at just over 8000 words I figured it would be better to not make this get even longer.
I will admit I am bit worried about what the reaction will be to my little (okay, maybe not little) soap box moment where Robin and Lucina got to be the avatars of my annoyance at the whole Babyrealms thing in Fates. Honestly, when writing this story I was on the fence regarding how much of the stupider things in Fates I was going to retcon or not, but in the end I decided that I wouldn't outright change things: instead try and improve the overall story by adding to it. That meant the Babyrealm stayed, and if it did stay I would have to have the Awakening characters react to it. So here we are. Hopefully it didn't feel out of place.
No guest reviews to respond to for last chapter, so instead I would like to give a few shoutouts. First thanks goes out to ajani's apprentice who was so kind to beta read for me as always. The second thanks I must give is to Omegaxis1, who helped me out a great deal with Owain's lines in this chapter, something I was struggling to get to sound right.
Due to how busy my schedule is looking for the next few weeks I am likely going to end up aiming for posting the next chapter in three weeks time instead of the usual two. I hope you guys understand, and perhaps I will manage to find the free time to get it out sooner. Just… don't hold your breath on that one.
Anyhow, as always, please let me know what you thought of this one. Your feedback and comments always really brighten up my day. Thanks for reading, and see you all on the next one. Take care, and have a wonderful day.