Chapter 3 – Bending the Threads of Fate
Returning from her shopping spree, Severa saw Cloud sitting beside his Fenrir with Olivia. "What cha' guys doing?"
"Showing her how to take care of my bike." Cloud stood up to face her. "Where have you been?"
"Oh, I wanted to see what kind of pretty clothes this place had for sale, but there were none!" Severa pouted. "I just gave up and bought some breakfast instead."
"Why were you going to buy clothing? Weren't you trying to find that thief?"
Severa looked away as she crossed her arms. "It was very necessary. Tootaaallyyyy."
"You don't sound convincing at all."
"Cloud!" Olivia called, wiping her sweaty forehead without touching Cloud's spare dirty gloves, which she was wearing. "How do I take out this filter!?"
Cloud rushed back to her. "Open the lock by pressing that release toggle. Here, I'll demonstrate it for you."
Watching him help Olivia, Severa decided to leave them alone so as not to disturb them. Her friend, Mirage, will torture her if she finds out that she did anything funny to them. "Well, since you're having fun, I'll just go find something else to do."
"Wait, Severa, do you know any important events leading to the fight against Grima?" Cloud asked while helping Olivia.
She stopped in her tracks. "...I'm not telling."
"Then why did you reveal your story last night?"
"When I saw you with her, I thought it was the right moment to reveal the future. I was wrong."
Ignoring Severa for a moment, Cloud finished showing Olivia the steps. He reversed the whole process and let her practice. "Now, you try from the beginning."
"Okay," nodded Olivia.
Standing up, Cloud returned his gaze to Severa. "So, what? All that talk about saving the world from Grima was for nothing?"
Severa glared at him. "What?"
"If you don't share with anyone what the future holds, will you alter history yourself?"
"Didn't I say I have others who came with me? Gawds, you're so deaf."
"You haven't seen your friends yet. For all you know, you could be the only one in this timeline. How will you manage with no support?"
"Well-"
"And if they are here, how long will you hold on to it until the others arrive? Will you let this enemy of yours do what they want? Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Severa jumped in frustration. "SHEESH! I get it already! Anything else you want to add?!"
"If you get it, share."
"Tsk. I'll tell you." She pointed at his forehead. "But you better use this knowledge carefully, got it?"
Cloud nodded. "I understand."
"If I've got this timeline's calendar right, the Exalt, Emmeryn, was assassinated by Plegia a year ago. This caused turmoil in Ylisse, and the Grimleals took advantage of this situation to start summoning the Risen."
"Grimleals? Risen?"
"Have you seen them before? Dead-like creatures that ravage the earth?"
"Yes. Met a few masked ones last night."
Severa nodded. "Yeah, those are the Risen who are born from Grima. The Grimleals is a cult in Plegia that will do anything for the Fell Dragon."
"I see."
"After that," she continued, "the Shepherds marched to Plegia to take revenge on their mad king, killing him. Now, in our current time, the two kingdoms are in shambles, and the Valmese will soon take this opportunity to invade this continent."
"Valmese?"
"Gawds. How much do you not know, you clod! They are from a different continent called Valm. Anyways, when the entire world is going to be at war, the Grimleal will have a huge opportunity to awaken Grima, turning the world into hell."
"What was I doing in the past?" asked Cloud.
"Um," Severa shrugged. "I don't really know since you refused to share your past back then, but according to your future wife, your children, and a few of your friends, you worked with the Shepherds, helping them in their struggles against the war because of your wife's connections with the royalty of Ylisse. And before you died, you gave your Fusion Blade to Inigo and Mirage, telling them to live on with your and your wife's legacy. At least that is what your Mako kids told us after we came to the scene."
"..."
Olivia closed Fenrir's golden-colored plate, signaling the end of her work. "Phew. It wasn't as hard as I thought, and even if I'm not into heavy crafts, just looking at all those parts was very intriguing." She noticed Severa. "Oh? You came back?"
"Yeah."
Shaking his head, Cloud walked over to Olivia. "This hothead shared more on what is to come in the near future."
"Hothead!?"
"Oh?" Olivia glanced at Severa. "I want to hear this too."
"Hmph!" Severa turned her back. "Go ask him."
Today was the final day that Severa had to confront her thief. Cloud and Olivia hid behind a pile of crates. Near the ship, a bunch of armed men stood bored, and an ill-looking man in black-purple clothing stared into the distant ocean with his gloomy staff.
"That looks like a Grimleal," observed Olivia.
"Really?" Cloud pulled out his short blade as Severa made her first approach.
The ill man grinned wickedly as his companions surrounded her. "Severa! Have you finally made up your mind?"
She pulled out both her long sword and short Parallel Fusion Blade. "As if. Die Scum!" Leaping into the air, she slashed her blade downward. However, the Grimleal summoned dark magic in his hands, repelling her strike.
He looked at her scornfully. "I still have your precious ring; my men surround you, and yet this your response?! Maybe we should teach you a lesson." The other snickered with their weapons in their hands.
"Cloud," Olivia whispered, "she's in trouble!"
Cloud nodded. "Severa said this guy has a powerful spell that helps him warp far away in an instant."
"I know. Just a bit worried." She looked at Cloud. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"As long as you do your part. Go for it." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, you've seen what I've done before."
She remembered what Cloud was capable of and nodded. "You're right."
The Grimleal's men roughly grabbed Severa's arm. "Hey, don't resist."
"Let go!" she yanked her arm away.
Olivia walked out of her hiding place with no weapons, as if she were an unsuspecting girl passing by. Spotting her, the Grimleal used his staff to teleport behind her. "Who are you?"
"Eeek!" Olivia pretended to turn around and kicked his leg hard, creating a distraction. Cloud immediately flung firmly, striking his head with his short blade. This made the dead man fall off the deck, tainting the blue ocean red. Cloud dived in with him while Olivia grabbed her weapon and rushed in to help Severa. She sliced one in the back, alarming the other ruffians. "Are you okay?"
Severa joined her. "Better than ever." Charging at the two easy targets, the girls countered their axes and slashed through their hearts.
The remaining three were equipped with lances, having an advantage in range. The two girls had to put themselves in a defensive position, and the three men were unsure what move to make, causing a stalemate. "Damn. You're smarter than you look," grunted one of the spearmen.
"Dumbass. You're supposed to provoke them, not compliment them!" the other barked. He pointed at the pointed at the pink dancer. "Hey, you fat whore! Are you too afraid to fight us?!"
Olivia winced slightly but did not move from her position.
"Stubborn ain't cha-" A spinning object flew past their heads, splitting them open and stabbing the last man in his face.
Cloud emerged from the water, soaking wet, and grabbed his sword from the bleeding corpses. "I got your ring back."
Severa catches it. "Thanks." She reached for her pouch to pay him back. "Here."
He shook his head. "Keep it."
"Huh? You sure?"
"Your story of the future was more than enough."
She pumped her firsts. "Yes! More shopping is coming!"
Cloud looked at Olivia. "How are you doing?"
"Is your delivery service usually this intense?" she asked as she glanced at the pile of mess.
"Not usually," he answered. "Most of them are simply transporting items from one place to another."
Olivia nodded. "I see. Now that we're finished with this one, what kind are we doing next?"
"Next and the upcoming ones are easy. Gaius's is the only one that requires work, and his thing won't start until a few days later today. I think it was something about becoming his bodyguard in Ylisstol."
Severa's heart almost stopped as she heard Cloud mention Gaius and Ylisse's capital. "When that happens, you have to take me with you."
"Why?"
She nervously laughed. "I have a bad feeling that my calendar might be messed up."
Cloud and Olivia traveled the continent as days passed, helping customers deliver their items to their destinations. They have completed every request except for candy man's. So, as planned, he left Olivia in a temporary room in one of Ylisstol's inns and drove to pick up Severa. Arriving back at the inn, Cloud hid his bike before they made their way to the castle's wall.
Olivia uncomfortably stared at the giant white walls before her, illuminated by the full moon. "I never thought I'd be infiltrating royal grounds, yet here we are."
"This is to save the Exalt's life and the future," Severa reassured. "Remember to keep a low profile until we join up with the Shepherds."
"I know… I'm just more nervous than ever."
Cloud spotted Gaius in the distance. "Follow me." The two followed him who walked up to his orange-haired customer. "Candy addict," Cloud greeted.
Gaius waved and noticed two unexpected girls behind him. "Oh, hello, Blazy. Who did you bring with you?"
"Olivia and Severa. They're going to be my assistants for this job. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind. As long as they don't turn our back on me." He studied them. "On second thought, the pinky seems too weak to do that, and the twin tail is smart enough not to make a dumb decision."
"(H-)Hey!" they both exclaimed.
"I let you know that more than smart enough!" Severa asserted.
"I-I'm not weak…" Olivia mumbled.
"Forget it. He's just messing with you." Cloud looked at him. "So, when do we start?"
"In half an hour. Hurry, I'll take you to the others."
Following Gaius through multiple breached walls, they entered a hidden corner of the palace's courtyard. There were a few thieves and fighters who were sharpening their blades, and dark mages who were practicing their demonic arts. Among them was a skinny, dark-like man who was approaching them.
Severa nudged Olivia and gave her the Parallel Fusion Sword. "Quick, hunch down and mumble to yourself. Avoid eye contact."
"W-why?"
"You look out of place with that shy look of yours. Just act like a creep when he's here."
Olivia frowned and quickly followed her instructions.
The man stood in front of them, observing Cloud with his red slit eyes. "This is the man?"
Gaius nodded. "Yes."
Cloud stood straight as the sinister man nodded in approval. "Not bad." He looked at the other two. The red one stood straight like Cloud, while the pink one made weird noises and was hunched down with a blade. He brushed it off as the pink one seemed to act just like the other Grimleals in the group. "I don't recall you mentioning two more joining us."
"Ah. They're just assistants of the one who I hired."
He nodded. "I am Validar, your leader. I hope you will not disappoint."
With that, Validar left the group, and everyone relaxed, especially Olivia. "That felt nauseating," she gagged as she returned the Parallel Fusion Sword to Severa.
As Cloud watched Validar leave, he reminded him of Hojo, a sinister scientist with obvious shady motives, which was not a good sign.
"Shady always sends me the shivers," Gaius murmured as he felt uneasy about Validar.
Cloud folded his arms. "This whole thing smells foul. No shit you wanted me to come along."
Walking over to him, Gaius pointed at the others. "Well, Blazy, it seems they will start soon."
"Right. Stay alert for whatever Validar and his men do," Cloud warned everyone.
Gaius agreed. "Yeah, got that message loud and clear."
As everyone got their weapons ready, Cloud combined his blade. "Let's move."
Gaius adjusted his black, fingerless gloves as he looked at the starry night sky. "I never thought I would return here, less alone with this lot."
The four of them moved to meet up with the rest of Validar's group as they knew a troublesome mission was about to begin.
They reached the palace of Ylisstol, and Gaius quickly did his part to get them through the locked doors. However, what occurred next was unexpected. Validar had ordered everyone to separate into smaller groups to ensure they stayed loyal to the mission.
"I guess he has doubts about us," Gaius sneered. He looked at Cloud and his friends, who were in their respective groups. "I need to regroup with them as soon as possible."
As soon as Validar sent the signal, everyone entered the palace, killing every guardsman brutally. Cloud ignored the fighting and snuck past without drawing any attention. Passing through hallways, he spotted the feminine blue warrior, Marth, striking down an assassin who attempted to open a locked door.
"Don't let them get to the Exalt!" she yelled.
"Right." Cloud ran through the large regal rooms filled with green banners and chandeliers. He found many guardsmen engaging the assassins. Before Cloud could avoid conflict, he stumbled upon the black-haired man who once stood beside Basilio a week ago. According to Olivia, he is Lon'qu, the former champion of Regna Ferox.
The swordsman approached Cloud with his razor-sharp blade; both eyes met. He prepared his stance against Cloud. Drawing out his completed Fusion Sword, he countered his quick blow. Cloud could tell from their clash that Lon'qu was an experienced fighter. He had muscular arms and was rather powerful in his own right. Yet Lon'qu's strength was no match for him, who, with one punch, knocked him back a few meters.
A young girl in a yellow dress ran to his side and held out her glowing staff, returning Lon'qu's strength instantly. Not giving him a chance, Cloud jumped high in the air, touching the roof, and propelled himself downward with a mighty swing, creating a large crack in the floor. The two stumbled to the floor as Cloud shattered his disarmed Killing Edge into pieces. In defeat, Lon'qu did not attempt to stand up, simply accepting his fate. Cloud landed a final punch, knocking him out for good.
Unlike the fearless swordsman, the girl in yellow dropped to the floor, filled with fear. She had just witnessed a man jump to impossible heights and use abnormal strength with a giant, heavy-looking blade. "Pl-"
"Get lost," Cloud interrupted her. "I have no desire to strike."
When Gaius learned this was not a break-and-retrieve mission, he wanted to make an escape with the others. "Why? The Exalt is a sweet lady. Sure, I would rob her blind, but I would never harm her," he mumbled as he moved up the palace stairs with his not-so-friendly allies.
"Drop your weapons and surrender!" Two men, one white-haired and one blue-haired, suddenly charged towards them. In seconds, three of Validar's men were taken down with blades and magic.
Gaius jumped back in surprise. "Oh crap!"
Before the blue-haired man could attack him, Gaius placed his hands up in surrender as he noticed who he was. "Careful with that sword, Blue; I want no trouble."
The blue-haired man was none other than Chrom, the Prince of Ylisse. "Yet you run with a band of assassins?" he said.
Gaius confirmed in regret. "I admit, I initially came here to steal from some vault. But I'm no murderer! So, I'll stay out of this."
While Chrom looked skeptical, the white-haired man nodded with confidence. "Perhaps he can come with."
Chrom did not break his eyes from the thief. "I suppose you're right." He observed Gaius for a while once more. "Are you willing to join us?"
"Beg your pardon?"
"We need all the help we can get to save the Exalt's life. A Robin suggested, you appear capable, and we could use any information you have about our foes," Chrom explained.
Gaius studied him. "Sure, but only if you sweeten the deal."
Chrom looked in disgust. "You want gold? …Fine, I will find a way to compensate you." As he reached for his pouch of gold, his other bag fell from his belt.
The candy thief caught a whiff of something interesting. "Hello~ What's in that bag?"
The prince looked a little perplexed. "What is in it? Um, just sugar candies my sister gave me. I don't think this is what you're looking for. Give me a sec-"
"IT'S A DEAL!"
"What?"
Gaius drooled like a maniac who was obsessed with candies. "Sugar… Gimme them!"
Chrom raised his eyebrow. "Huh? You want them as payment?"
"Yes," Gaius nodded.
"That is quite unusual for a thief. Are you sure?"
Gaius's patience began to wear thin. "Hey, I said sweeten the deal, didn't I?"
Chrom could not believe it. He picked up the small sack and threw it to him.
"Thanks," Gaius said as he caught it. "Don't get me wrong, I'll take the gold too. Later. …Oh, before I go, you might want to try and ask my friend, Blazy, to join as well. He and his friends only came here to ensure my safety."
As Chrom was about to ask who they were, Robin quickly called out to him. "Chrom, over here!" He turned to see a blond-haired man with glowing blue-green eyes fighting Marth. "Cloud!? What in the blazes?!"
Hearing different footsteps, Chrom glanced behind him to see another woman with bunny ears, but she quickly motioned her hands. "Don't mind me, I will defend this area." No time to chat, Chrom nodded and rushed off with Robin to back up Marth against her deadly opponent.
Gaius could tell this animal-like woman was not human and was on Chrom's side. "So, it's you and me against all of them, eh?"
She snarled. "Just stay out of my way."
"Another cold one…" He followed the rabbit. As four assassins appeared before them, he remembered something and quickly glanced back at Chrom. "Crap, I forgot to tell him who Blazy was!" Gaius returned his attention to his former associates, blocking their attacks and cutting one of them down. "We need to finish up soon, or things will become messy!"
The human rabbit did not ask and took down the upcoming enemy hastily.
Running through the battlefield, Cloud jumped on the Marth's level and attempted to talk to her. "Hey, I-"
She slashed down, hitting his blade. Cloud can tell her special blade had properties that allowed her to break many weapons. However, Cloud's blade was also considered unique. His Fusion Sword is substantially tougher than most standard steel-like weapons. Cloud raised his blade to block the next incoming attack. Blocking it, he sprinted forward, ramming the side of his blade against Marth's body, causing her to crash against the doors.
She recovered from his attack and struck again, attempting to shove him to the ground. However, as she pushed him with her sword, she noticed strange and leaped away. He was too strong to stagger. "Just as I remembered…" Bracing her sword, she shook her head. "You will not take the Exalt's life!" She leaped higher than any regular infantryman could.
Cloud twirled around and slashed upward, countering her blow. She got knocked aside like a measly fly, yet managed to land without injury and positioned herself. "Dammit, his power eclipses mine."
Marth was definitely weaker compared to him, yet Cloud knew better. Never underestimate your opponent. He cautiously observed her movements.
Chrom hurried to her side. "Marth! Are you alright?" he asked.
She nodded. "This one is tough, fath- Chrom. But we can do this together."
As Chrom nodded, they sprinted forth, striking in coordination and precision.
Cloud swiftly parried each blade, pushing its wielder back, and then did the same to their returning slashes.
"Such strength. Who are you?" Chrom asked in curiosity.
Cloud shook his head. "No. First, let me tell you that I'm here to-"
Suddenly, he heard a loud voice yell loudly. "THORON!" Both blue swordfighters jumped aside as a beam of yellow lighting surged toward Cloud. This magic spell was much weaker than what Cloud had dealt with in his world. So, in less than a second, he jumped in the air with the Fusion Sword, activating Braver. Spinning mid-air, he slammed his sword downward, splitting through the thunderous blast.
The blue-haired duo saw their chance to attack Cloud when his colossal blade dug through the floor and rushed in to strike. Cloud suddenly separated his Fusion Sword, countering their blades with his rear, saw-toothed blades.
While Marth was not surprised, Chrom's eyes opened wide. "What is that?!" he exclaimed.
Cloud struck his rear blades to the ground, and with mighty force, he threw his two small side blades at the duo's long blades, knocking them loose from their hands. He rushed after them, picking up his hollow blade in one hand and activating the central blade to battle mode in his opposite hand. In just a few moments, Chrom and Marth realized their bleak situation as they were pinned down to the floor. Before them was a person… No, a monster that was impossible to defeat. "Marth, Robin… I'm sorry."
With his Wind tome, Robin jumped towards Cloud and summoned a powerful breeze, forcing Cloud to bounce back and magnetically combine all his blades into one. Robin jumped once more, this time with his Levin Sword out. He threw the thorny blade to the ground, striking the floor and creating an enormous shockwave that was supposed to paralyze any opponent. However, Cloud moved through it like nothing. Robin quickly ran to retrieve his blade.
"You are definitely a seasoned fighter but not experienced enough!" With a single sweep of his Fusion Sword, Cloud cut through the steel of his magic sword, and just before slicing Robin, he flipped his blade mid-way, slamming his weapon's flat surface against Robin's chest. The robed man fell to the ground, pulling out his tome as a last resort, yet Cloud kicked the green book out of his hands.
Marth and Chrom struggled to their feet. "I- I won't let you take my sister's life. I swear it." Chrom reached out for his laying weapon. "Even if I lose my own."
Slamming his Fusion Sword to the ground, Cloud grabbed their identical swords and threw them across the room, striking the other side of the wall. "I don't have time for this."
"I'm not done with you yet," Chrom snarled.
Cloud was about to explain the truth to the prince when someone suddenly interrupted him.
"Enough, Chrom."
Chrom looked up in shock to see the Exalt leave her room.
"I won't allow you to sacrifice yourself for me, so stand down," she ordered. The Exalt turned her attention to Cloud with a gentle smile. She had accepted her supposed fate and surrendered herself to the 'enemy.' "I ask that you take my life but spare my brother and his friends." The Exalt closed her eyes, awaiting her death.
Chrom yelled out in denial. "Cloud! Emm! Don't!"
But his words seemed to reach too late as Cloud had already flung his small blade with all his strength. After what seemed like an eternity, the blade zoomed through the air, and everyone assumed the results. Chrom closed his eyes, unable to watch his sister die. Yet, to his confusion, he heard a man cry in pain along with the splatter of blood.
Chrom opened his eyes to see blood running across Emmeryn's stunned face. Cloud's short blade had not pierced her. No, it was sticking out right beside her face, ever so close yet not close enough. Looking behind her, Chrom saw a hooded man, who had his neck pierced, drop his poisoned knife—an assassin.
The assassin cursed at Cloud's emotionless face. "You… traitor, you will pay… for this." Blood gushed out of his mouth as he collapsed behind Emmeryn. "Grima shall… curse you all."
Standing still, Cloud merged his short blade back to his Fusion Sword. "Hmph. I never considered you as an ally." When Cloud was sure that man was dead, he turned around and spotted Gaius, who seemed to change sides with the Exalt.
"Captain Chrom, we dealt with the others," said the red-haired woman as she rushed over with her horse and other teammates. "When we heard the cry, we all feared the worst!" She and everyone behind her suddenly noticed someone new among the royal family: Cloud. Not only that, but the Exalt's face was covered in blood.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright?!" the man in bulky blue knight armor asked in a panic.
Chrom was about to explain, yet his older sister did it for him. "Sir Fredrick, you have nothing to worry about. This man saved my life just now."
The relieved knight gave the Exalt a nod before noting Cloud's presence.
"Sister!" A girl emerged from a corridor carrying Lon'qu, who was sleeping unconsciously.
"Princess Lissa, Lon'qu, are you alright?" Frederick asked as he rushed to their side and helped her carry the injured man.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Yet he still hasn't woken up. Please help him!" she cried.
Fredrick nodded.
Regaining her composure, Lissa looked around. "Is the fight over?"
"Yes. We have routed every enemy we could find," Severa said as she stood with Olivia and Gaius.
Lissa sighed in relief. "I'm glad… Wait, who are you?!"
"I-I'm Olivia."
"And I'm Severa," she stood proud. Marth glared at her.
Gaius nodded. "Gaius is the name. I agreed to help you guys out." He turned to Cloud. "Hey, Blazy, how are you?"
Cloud disassembled his blades, sheathing every blade behind him. "Not great," Cloud replied with a hint of frustration. "They wouldn't let me speak."
Lissa finally noticed Cloud beside her, jumping back with a heart attack. "WAAA-! That's the guy who beat up Lon'qu!"
The super soldier ignored her entirely as he closed his eyes.
Gaius looked at his new friend. "Blazy?"
"I've played my part." Cloud glanced at Gaius. "My payment?"
"Aah." The thief rummaged through his pockets and retrieved a bag of coins. "Here. Thanks for helping me."
Emmeryn looked at Cloud. "Thank you for preserving the lives of my family and friends, Blazy."
"I'm not Blazy. The names Cloud Strife and I transport things around."
"Transport?"
"He runs his own transportation business, Strife Delivery Service," Gaius explained. "It's one of a kind and cheap."
"Cloud, if I may ask, why did you attack us?" Chrom asked.
Cloud pointed Gaius with his thumb. "He's one of my customers who required my assistance. And no, I didn't want to attack. I wanted to save the Exalt's life. However, you guys just keep attacking me to no end."
Marth, Robin, and Chrom looked down. "Oh."
Lissa, who eased a little, walked up to him and stared into his blue eyes that seemed to be infused with some green glow. "Your eyes, they're so pretty... How did you get them?"
Cloud held his eyes with one hand, frowning slightly. "It's not... a happy story."
This stopped the yellow princess from asking more and intrigued her more than it should have.
After about a minute of awkward silence, Emmeryn moved closer to Cloud's ears, surprising everyone. "Strife, could you stay here for some time?" she whispered softly.
"Why?"
"I might need your help later. Please?"
Cloud grunted. "Sure. Make it quick."
Emmeryn nodded and walked over to Chrom and the others to discuss their next course of action.
Marth, who had recovered from the fight, walked up to Cloud and pointed at the opposite side of the room. "My Falchion is really stuck high up. I need to get it back."
"Good luck."
"It means a lot to me."
Cloud folded his arms. "Not my problem."
Marth sighed in frustration. "Your personality… How about this. You deliver things, right? Deliver mine and Chrom's sword back."
"Will you pay up?"
"…Yes."
Cloud walked towards their blades, jumped around its height, and plucked them out by hopping off the wall. "Here." Cloud tossed the Falchions back to her. "That be fifty."
As Marth reaches for her gold, Cloud spots something in her eye. It had the very same symbol as Chrom's and Emmeryn's. Taking her coins, he shrugs. "Thank you, princess."
She abruptly began to panic. "What are you talking about? I'm not royalty."
"You're lying. Your mark proves it... Perhaps you are hiding because you come from a doomed future to prevent this world's destruction?"
This stunned Marth. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me. Severa already told me the situation."
"Tsk. That idiot!"
"So, is Marth really your name?"
She shook her head. "Not telling."
Cloud placed his hand against his forehead. "This again? Fine. Have it your way, but just know I'm on your side." The Exalt suddenly called him. Walking over to the Exalt, Fredrick stared deep into his soul. "What is it?" Cloud asked Emmeryn.
"We suspect Plegia is involved in this assassination attempted against her Highness," Fredrick explained. "So, we decided to escort the Exalt to a far, safe, and hidden location, which might take us a few days to travel. And…," he shook his head, "I disagreed with this course of action, but her Highness thought it might be wise to take you with us."
"Please join us. Even if temporarily, you would be a great help for me and the Shepherds," Emmeryn pleaded.
Cloud nodded. "I see. You'll need to cover the fees if you want me to come along. Think of it as requesting my assistance through my services."
"Thank you," Emmeryn faintly bowed. "I will pay however I can, as long as it's within my power."
"Two fifty gold."
"That is much cheaper than I had expected," said Chrom as he took out his bag.
"What a scam," murmured Gaius.
Receiving his gold, Cloud shoved it into his pocket.
"We are leaving tomorrow at noon," Chrom told him. "So, in the meantime, rest up in our barracks free of charge."
"Will do." Cloud pulls out his phone and calls Anna.
She picked up his call. "Hello, need something?"
"Anna, I'm done with all my requests, and I just received a new one from the Exalt herself. It might take a while to complete, so can we put the new incoming requests on hold for now?"
"Ugh. I'm already receiving ten times the number of papers all because your services became publicly known throughout Regna Ferox. Is there any way you can take them now?"
Cloud shook his head. "Sorry, I can't. You're just going to have to deal with it."
"...Fine. I'll let everyone know that there will be a short delay. Just hurry up. I don't want your business to gain a bad reputation."
*CRASH*
"Roger." Closing up his phone, Cloud turned his attention towards the commotion.
Validar walked through the smoke with purple magic within his hands. "Emmeryn was supposed to be an easy target, but no matter. After years of searching, I've finally found you, Robin, my long-lost child."
Robin stepped back in shock. "What?!"
"Submit to me, and perhaps I might honor you with the truth!"
Marth's Parallel Falchion began to gleam. "This light..." She pointed towards Validar. "I know what this means… You shall die today!"
Having a hunch that Validar was responsible for Grima's awakening in the future-past, Cloud activated his central blade and swung it through the air, launching a blue Blade Beam toward the sinister man. Validar immediately felt his insides burning. "What have you… done…" His body split into two.
"W-who was he?" Robin asked. "How did he know me?" Everyone stayed silent, not having a clue of who he was.
"He was the leader of this assassination attempt. I know nothing more," Cloud answered.
Resting his head against his arms, Cloud lay on his bed. He wondered what his friends back home were doing. Hopefully, time has stopped or at least slowed down on the other side. He shook his head. "Why do you want to sleep in the same room as me?"
Olivia, who was sitting on his bed, hummed a small tune. "Because you're the only one I know here."
"Don't you have connections with the Exalts?"
She shook her head. "They helped me a few times, but I don't know them personally."
"I see."
Olivia looked at him. "You've been acting strange recently. Why are you trying to push me away?"
Cloud glanced at her. "I'm not trying to. It's just that… I'm not sure how to feel about all this marriage stuff. It's too sudden, you know."
She nodded. "That's true. I'm not sure what to think of it myself. But I'm thinking, if we are to see our children, wouldn't it be strange if they saw us still separate?"
"I suppose."
Playing with her front, braided hair, she looked away. "Then why not use this time to get to know each other better."
Cloud sat up. "Are you not tired? It's pretty late."
"I guess you're right. It's been a busy day today... But promise me that you won't run away."
Cloud smirked. "Run where? I don't have any place to call home in this world… Plus, when we traveled these past few days, I enjoyed your company, Olivia."
She blushed. "I see... I, too, loved traveling places with you."
"…"
"…"
Cloud picked up his vibrating phone. "Anna calling me this late?"
"Anna?"
"Oh, just a business partner of mine," he explained. Accepting the call, he put it against his ear. "Hello?"
"…Come outside the walls of Ylisstol."
Cloud didn't recognize this voice. "Who are you?" The call abruptly ended.
Olivia glanced at his perplexed face. "What is it?"
"...I only gave one of my spare phones," he mumbled.
"I'm not following."
Cloud showed her his phone. "As long as each person has this item, they can communicate with each other over long distances. I'm the only one in this world who has these phones, and I only shared one with Anna, no one else."
"Then you're saying someone else communicated with you?"
"Correct. This could mean that someone stole Anna's phone from her, or…"
"It could be our future child?"
Cloud grunted as he stood up. "I guess it's finally time I find out."
"I'm coming too."
In a hurry, Cloud and Olivia sprinted through the streets and found their hidden vehicle. Mounting Fenrir, they went out of Ylisstol's borders and drove around the walls in search of their kid. As they saw a pair of eyes glow in the darkness, Cloud stopped his bike.
She squinted her eyes as Fenrir's headlight shined in her face. "You're blinding me."
They both hopped off the bike. Olivia looked at her. "Mirage?"
"You already know?" Mirage approached them slowly.
Cloud looked at her head to toe. Mirage had blond, long, curvy hair that almost covered one of her eyes in the front and reached to her rear in the back. She had pink-green glowing eyes. Her clothing was primarily black.
Similar to Olivia, her belly was exposed, but she didn't wear the same dancer clothes. Her style was almost reminiscent of Tifa's, as she wore a sleeveless black crop top with black pants and boots. She also had one silver hoop earring, black gloves, a red ribbon wrapped around her left arm, and a parallel copy of Cloud's central Fusion Sword sheathed behind her back.
"You really are our daughter," Cloud said. How will I face Tifa after this…
Olivia walked up to Mirage. "I can't believe it, yet here you are."
"Mother… can I come closer?"
Olivia nodded. "Sure."
Mirage wrapped her arms around her. No words were uttered as she cried in her mother's embrace. After a while, she released her and turned to Cloud, wiping her tears out of embarrassment. "Father."
Cloud felt weird hearing her address him as such, but he had to accept the undeniable proof before him. "Yes?"
"I must look pathetic right now... But after living through that long nightmare, I'm glad to see you again."
