Chapter XLII: What's worth fighting for

'What the hell did I just stumble into?'

Ragna had plenty of concerns as he entered Chrom's office, unannounced as always. He was again ready to blow this off as another of impromptu Security meeting with Chrom and get him out of whatever boorish meeting his princely friend was engaged in, but one look at their expression told him that the prince wouldn't be having it, not this time.

For one thing, the soon-to-be Exalt wasn't bothering to put on any airs as he appeared visibly upset at the two nobles standing before him, two nobles that Ragna actually recognized when they lent him aide during his foiling of John Oswald's attempt on Maribelle's reputation and later life. Even after that, he hadn't put the effort into remembering their names, but he could at least recognize them at a glance. Both men appeared especially nervous even before they'd realized it was him, but now looking at the Grim Reaper there was new mix of fear. And some underlying disgust now that he looked closer.

'Guess their true colors are coming out now…' he thought before taking the small leather carrying case he'd brought with him and placing it on the far end of the room. Heading over to the group, he leaned casually against Chrom's desk and intimidatingly crossed his arms. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Yes, Ragna, you are. But your timing couldn't be better," Chrom began, though he didn't take his eyes off the nobles in front of him. "Tell him what you were telling me."

"…From the top then," Count Joffrey Banesteel began.

Ragna still vaguely remembered their first meeting. He'd just moved into his new residency and Joffrey had come out to greet him personally. Ragna had been caught off guard that entire conversation because it seemed that Joffrey was actually a decent person unlike the rest of the nobility he'd encountered up to that point (not counting Maribelle). And the help he'd given towards exposing John Oswald was given to him for free, along with the efforts from Charles Dawnguard who was seated right beside him. Ragna hadn't trusted either enough to count this as a betrayal, but Chrom wouldn't get this annoyed over nothing.

"I suppose a history lesson is in order first," Banesteel began. "Tell, do either of you know why the first great war between Plegia and Ylisse started? The real reason it started?"

"Can't say I do, or even what you're trying to insinuate," Ragna answered, though he knew that these two were trying to stall their punishments for now. Still, he turned to Chrom to see if he knew what they were getting at.

"For the longest time it was because my father had continuously insisted that this was a Holy war, one that was fought because he saw the Grimleal as nothing but Demon worshipers or… worse. He tried to propagandize as much to me as well."

"And that's what we were expected to teach our children as well, to say anything less would be seen as a traitorous act," Charles explained. "Some of my extended family were executed on those very charges, and I'd had to live silently with that."

"Chrom's not his father," Ragna harshly insisted before any twinge of guilt could take hold on his friend. If these two were trying to do so to get a lighter sentence, he would put a stop to it. "So then? How did that war actually start?

"In the Western Islands, an area now usually referred to as the Sea King's Graveyard,' Charles continued. "It just a touch to the south and off the coast of Plegia, but for the longest time it was considered to be in equal ownership of both Ylisse and Plegia. That was where the war officially broke out."

"It was...?" Chrom asked in honest surprise. "Well… what happened there?"

"An attack, though it's been difficult to discern all of the details, even all of these years later. All we know is that that one night our main fort on the island had been completely destroyed. Within said fortress was a temple glorifying Naga, one of your late grandfather's biggest accomplishments was the shrine he'd built honoring our goddess within."

"The fortress destroyed, the temple plundered, the shrine besmirched… and much of the royal family killed. All that remained at the time was your father, your mother who was pregnant with Princess Lissa, Lady Emmeryn, and yourself. Both of your grandparents, your father's siblings and their children… all of them had been ruthlessly butchered like animals." For as long ago as this sounded, Joffrey looked in that moment that he was reliving that horrid day. "Eventually evidence had been gathered by your father's own chief tactician; the Grimleal were responsible for the attack. In his rage your father demanded that the Island be seized back into Ylisse's control. A large army was deployed, the Plegian countrymen slaughter without mercy… and the war was begun."

"…You didn't know about any of this?" Ragna questioned Chrom.

"I… didn't even know I had that much extended family," Chrom answered.

"Your father forbade anyone from mentioning them in public, too pained at their loss and too focused on the complete eradication of Plegia," Charles input. "Even Lady Emmeryn would be hesitant to talk of them all of this after the rage it brought to her father…" He shook his head. "One time I swear I'd heard he'd harshly slapped her for daring to utter a lost cousin's name."

Ragna glanced once more at Chrom. It didn't seem like their future Exalt felt any need to question the claim.

"Okay, that's a dark story, but what about now?" the Reaper questioned.

"We're building to that. During the entire war, the fighting never stopped in those blasted islands. One side would regain control, the other would send an even larger army to wrestle it back. It went like this over and over and over again." Joffrey shook his head as he remembered the family and friends he'd lost to fighting there. "Eventually the very fighting itself seemed to kill the very lands they fought on, nothing but deadlands and wastes from shore to shore. Disease, famine… it was nothing short of hell itself. And in the end, it was finally abandoned."

"Until recently," Charles input. "We'd heard word that ships were sailing in the exact direction of the islands. Now it was considered to be forbidden grounds, so we simply decided to keep careful watch from a distance. Then when one of our scouting ships had gotten closer, they discovered that there were Port Towns and farms. Shoddily made ones for certain, but actual signs of settlement over the Island."

"And you didn't think to inform us about it?" Chrom asked. Finally, they were getting to the heart of why these two thought they were in trouble. "Without informing any faction of our government? And you sent a representative in for representation of Ylisse without informing anyone?"

"We… we didn't want him involved," Jeffery finally admitted, gesturing to Ragna.

"Uh… say what?" Ragna asked. Chrom only shrugged as he didn't have any more of an idea. "I… I didn't think either of you had a problem with me. In fact, I thought you two were the only ones that didn't."

"Oh, we hardly have a personal issue to take with you, but rather we have to take issue with all of your accomplishments," Charles clarified. "Even if they did serve the greater causes of Ylisse."

"So you didn't want to get him involved so you both could take credit for this yourselves," Chrom realized. "Why did this mater so much to either of you?"

"Because we both have plans for new legislation to pass through the courts, legislation that could change our entire nation for the prosperity of all its citizens. But we couldn't pass it as we are now; all this time we've spent dedicated to our own people has left us in most standings with other noble families; we'd be politically overpowered."

"Then… you could've come directly to me," Chrom offered.

"Yes, but it's the credit we need for our houses to prosper," Charles insisted. "Our family houses have lost just about all reputation and then what? No matter what defenses the crown may offer, we're still likely to be replaced…" He shook his head. "It's either this or my grandson finishes his work researching that sacred spell."

"Grandson…" Ragna thought that over. "Wait, you mean Ricken?" A nod. "…Let 'em off the hook for this, it's not like there's anything we really need to worry about."

"Uh… about that…" Jeffery began, now they looked uncomfortable all over again. "We… had sent a representative to the Island, hoping to negotiate trade and maybe build the steppingstones to reclaim the territories as our own. Only… what returned was only their head in a box."

"What!? They killed them!?" Chrom demanded. "Who's on the island?"

"If the crest that was on the top of the chest is to be believed: Pirates. and what's worse is that there's a full present-day legend of their leader. They call him the Sea King. Raider of a thousand vessels, pillager of a hundred villages, with a fighting force fit to conquer a dozen armies. Inside the chest was a single note with a single word… Prepare."

"They're going to start raiding Ylisse's outer villages," Chrom realized. "Or… if they know we've just finished a war… they'll be trying to destroy all of Ylisse itself." He glared at the two. "And you just attracted his attention." They stiffened under the glare of the prince.

'…Guess I'll pay back that debt I owe 'em from the party.' "He'd be raiding us either way; pirate remember? At least this way, we know where they are and can put a stop to their attacks once and for all," Ragna insisted, shocking the two nobles as he came to their defense. "Now… if you don't mind, Chrom and I are going have to come with a plan to stop them for good. Until the island's pirate free, I think we can call this conversation closed."

"…Very well," Chrom agreed as he dismissed the two. Giving short bows to the prince as they rose and small nods to Ragna as they passed by, the two exited the office and left the Reaper and Prince. "As if we didn't already have enough headaches," Chrom sighed as he looked over the paper. "Getting Robin and I out of the capital for an entire campaign isn't going to be easy. We already have meetings planned, ceremonies to attend, training sessions to overlook…"

"Then you aren't going; I will," Ragna informed him seriously as he seated himself where the nobles had been earlier. During most of their meetings the two would break open a bottle of the hard stuff and pour out at least a few glasses, but both were too focused now. "I'll grab a detachment of the Shepherds and make sail soon as some ships are ready to take us."

"Without Robin's tactics?" Chrom rightfully had his skepticism.

"Who was the tactician of the Shepherds before her?"

"Most of your strategies were just to barrel towards the enemy and leave us to pick up the rest."

"Right, and it worked. More to the point, everyone else is a lot stronger now too," Ragna argued. "This is gonna be my first big task as protector of the realm, you might as well let the Grim Reaper break the job in before we really get into war time."

"You mean the conflict with Valm that Tiki spoke of? The way she talked about this Conqueror figure, it sounded like he'd have his own sights set on our land. More than that, shouldn't we have heard something by now?"

"Remember what Robin said? She told us that it was a big continent and it'd be at least a few years by the time he'd have taken most of it over. I get what you're saying though; I'll make sure that this is done and I'm back so we don't get caught flat-footed." He shrugged. "Shouldn't we be talking about this with her?"

"She's currently having tea with Lissa, Maribelle, and Emmeryn. I thought Olivia or Cordelia would have informed you? They extended an offer for them to join."

"…Must've slipped their minds." There was an ominous edge to Ragna's words, but unlike most times that happened his aura didn't seem to darken at all. "Let's at least try to figure out who's coming with me and who's staying behind. That much we can do our best to figure out even without Robin."

"Right… so Lissa's going to be an interesting case. I'd love to tell you that she's going to be staying, but I'm half expecting her to either throw a fit until she can go and give her personal brand of help or she'll sneak along with you until it's too late to send her back."

"Fair… I guess I can't complain too much, we're going to need a healer and she's really been putting the work in. Emmeryn's been telling me all about those lessons she's been giving to her and I heard Maribelle's been getting in on 'em too. If we're letting Lissa come with, there's no chance she's not tagging along for her safety."

"I thought she'd have appointments or other issues of governance to handle, but knowing her she'd either reschedule them or try to complete them all before departure," Chrom guessed, having been a close friend of Maribelle's for many years. "Sully and Stahl are both out, we still need to get our cavalry up to par after the war and those two are invaluable as instructors. Frederick can't go either; anyone from the courts would notice him missing too easily and I don't want word of this to get too soon. With Sumia also needed here to repair our Pegasus corps, you're going to lacking a proper mounted force."

"Meaning our opposition could try and use that to outmaneuver us. Lon'qu left for the north with Panne a while ago, so I can't count on either of them for their speed. What about Mirel and Ricken?"

"Both are studying hard; I think they've just about managed a major breakthrough in magic arts we just heard about. So…"

"If possible, you'd rather I didn't interrupt them," Ragna sighed as his active force was getting increasingly gutted. "I mean… at least Kellam's an option."

"…He is?" Chrom asked genuinely. "I though he left on that pilgrimage with Libra."

'Dammit, why can no one else see him after all this time?' "Vaike's an option too, and I know I can count on him to pull his weight out there."

"You ignoring me aside, what about Gaius?" Chrom asked. "He's become more a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, but I also think I'll need him here as a shadow. Especially if anyone takes notice that you're gone and sees it as an opportunity like dear John Oswald."

"Then I'll have to hope that Anna can cover for him; she's not nearly as at home on the battlefield, but I'd bet she's just as good as finding out info and if there are any other traders on the road, she'll be a must have. …I just have to hope she isn't too far along in setting up that shop she talked about."

"We'll work a deal out with her to make sure you'll have her as a proper spy, don't worry," Chrom promised. "What about Elphelt?"

"Eh… hard to say, people are going to notice if she's gone with all of her attempts to find a husband," Ragna remembered. "But she's got a good sense for archery and spell craft… I'll ask if she wants to come along, we should be able to afford either. Virion?"

"He'll stay; I have him working on a very important political project at present. It's a lengthy project, but if it all goes along well, we won't have to worry about Ylisse's own internal politics when the war starts and Valm becomes our next priority."

"Gregor should probably stay with you then, just so that you'll have someone on standby in case things get ugly while I'm gone," the Reaper figured. "Donnel's back with his family for the moment, so there's not much of a point to bring him back from that. Nowi is probably up for a good adventure, so she'll come with us. As far as Tharja goes… I guess we'll leave the choice up to her."

"I guess that's everyone… almost everyone," Chrom began before looking at Ragna. "In fact, I'm a little disappointed that we need have this conversation." Ragna didn't move a muscle. "I know how much you care about them Ragna, I know how much you care about your entire family. But you have to know you can't make these kinds of choices for them, at least without discussing it with anyone, them especially."

"Well, I-"

Ragna couldn't finish as the door to Chrom's office was literally kicked in. While he would have been considered one of the few brazen enough to attempt it (honestly, he was still tempted to try on occasion), he was still surprised to see the uninvited guest when she should've been a kingdom away.

"Chrom! And Ragna too!" Flavia said with an excited smile. Seeing Robin's own exasperated expression behind the regent Kahn told both men that her teatime had ended whether she'd wanted it to or not. "All of these weeks and not a single visit? For shame."

"It's barely been any time at all since you left back for Regna Ferox; you're just blowing off work," Ragna grumbled, though he still moved over to the side so that the two ladies were able to sit on the couch in Chrom's office with Robin on the opposite side while Flavia lay claim to the middle.

"Blowing off work? I'm insulted." Her laugh made it clear Flavia was anything but. "I'm here to extend good tidings to Ferox's most trusted and stalwart allies, bringing whatever aide they could possibly need in these peaceful times." She noticed Ragna and Chrom exchanging glances with each other. "So… it seems I'm needed after all."

"It would be a major boon to us as of right now," Chrom decided to admit. "The major details can wait for the time being, but I'm going to be sending Ragna off on a military campaign to the Western Islands. I'd have Robin and I go with him, but… there's a chance that could cause things to escalate at present if word got out about this in the capital."

"When was this decided?" As both Grandmaster and future Queen, Robin was quick to remind her fiancé that she wouldn't stand being left out of important decisions. She needed to do half the paperwork blast it! She deserved something.

"About 5 minutes ago; we were just establishing general strategies until we could finalize the details with you while you were at tea with the others," Chrom defended. "Actually, I just realized something Ragna. Unless we delay my coronation, you'll likely be missing the ceremony."

"Oh no, however will I survive the crippling disappointment?" he responded with a sarcastic roll of his eyes that Flavia laughed at. Even Robin couldn't hold back a snicker. Even if Ragna was taking his new position seriously, there'd still be that same gruff rebel beneath that hated all of this procedure and decorum. "This comes first; it'll be my responsibility to do my part in keeping Ylisse's people safe. Besides, I'd rather miss this than your wedding, so I'll have everyone back in time for that."

"I was planning to miss the stiffness of your crowning already, so it's of no concern to me," Flavia agreed. "Back, to what I will be here for. Even as Kahn it would take some time to assemble any major force, but I can at least bring in a faction of my own Elite guard and even some vessels to take us across the waters. I'll write to Rami and have them meet us where you need us. Until then though… you'll have me."

"Wait a damn minute, what about running your own country?" Ragna demanded irately. "The same country you needed our helping getting you in charge of. Ringing any bells?"

"Hah! You can lecture me on responsibility all you want, I already have Basilio leading a crusade against paperwork in my place," she scoffed. "And before you afford him even a shred of pity, know that he was doing this exact thing whenever he was in charge."

"…Is that why you were so desperate for our help in seizing the throne?" With the amount of paperwork and meetings he and Robin had needed to do since taking charge, Chrom could believe it. "This elite force of yours, does it offer riders?"

"Plenty of amazing Paladins and Great Knights to request," Flavia boasted. "They're already used to fighting in heavy snowstorms and frozen terrain, so fighting in actual plainlands would be a welcome break for them. You'll have your key fighting force and then some."

"We'll see about that." While it wasn't a glare, the questioning gaze Chrom was giving Ragna made it clear that their conversation from earlier wasn't over yet… and now Robin and Flavia were here to pressure him.

"Are you two fighting?" Robin asked from across Flavia. "What's this about?" Ragna didn't respond immediately, so she turned to Chrom for answers.

"It's about his wives… and the fact he's not bringing them with him." Both ladies agreed that it didn't sound good, but there were worse crimes to be guilty of. "Without consulting them first." Oh… that was another matter entirely.

"I'm disappointed in you." For once Flavia didn't seem to be teasing him. "Close to those two as you might be-"

"Three; Aversa's part of it now too," Robin felt the need to correct, but she seemed just as irate at Ragna's decision as Flavia and Chrom.

"Those three then," she continued as her glare bore deep into Ragna's mismatched eyes. "They still have their honor as warriors and I didn't expect you to make this decision without even discussing it with them. And to think, you should normally be the one insisting on their autonomy and-"

"Can I just say my part?" Ragna interrupted.

"…An ironic request, given what you're denying," Flavia had to note.

The Reaper didn't bother acknowledging that slight as he rose for his seat and headed over to the small carry sack he'd brought in. Opening it revealed three fine goblets and a full bottle of wine. Uncorking the bottle, he poured out three healthy portions into each goblet before handing them out to everyone in attendance. Not having one for himself, he settled to pour his portion into one of the glasses he and Chrom would use for their regular office drinking.

"What's this about then?" Flavia asked before smelling the drink, finding it at least had a pleasant aroma. "Do you think my ire could actually be bought off with a single goblet of wine? You'd need a barrel at least."

"Honestly if that been what I was trying, I hope this stuff would've at least come close; this bottle wasn't cheap and that was even with the discount Anna got for me on it," Ragna started. "I didn't come here today for a security meeting, Chrom. With all that I just walked into though, I knew had hold off on this for a moment."

"…And this being?" Robin asked. Her adoptive brother had been speaking seriously ever since she'd gotten into that office, so it was blindsiding for the tactician when he sudden started smiling. And not simply an amused smile like he usually did either, this was one that was both full and earnest. "R-Ragna?"

"This is a celebration… I'm gonna be a dad."

All three of them were stunned into silence, but Chrom was the quickest to recover as he couldn't help but smile from Ragna's infectious behavior. Eventually his smile grew into a laugh.

"So when you said they wouldn't be coming along, this is what you meant."

"Yeah, you were just the assholes that never gave me a chance to explain myself," Ragna insulted, but his continued smile made it clear it was a well-meaning one. "Still, I doubt that any of them are going to be happy when I explain this whole mess to them."

"You'll first need to start explaining it to me then," Robin cut in. "You're expecting a child on the way and you're just… leaving?"

"I'll be back and this campaign isn't going to take that long," Ragna promised. "I'll wrap this up before you guys know it. Before things start to get close anyways." He sounded at peace with the idea at least. "Besides, all of this is going towards making this kingdom as safe a place to raise my family as I can. I need to do this."

"Well… when you put it like that," Robin sighed, though she honestly still felt guilty for what she was asking him.

"Hey, you'd do the same for me," the Reaper confided in her. She was at least able to manage a smile at that.

"Don't keep us in suspense though; which of them is the lucky expecting mother?" Flavia demanded from Ragna.

"Oh, uh… all three?" Ragna was still smiling, but just a little more awkwardly as the Kahn couldn't stop laughing.

"I see, so you have been busy!" Her laughter was only growing now. "Having three pregnant wives to worry over at the same time, you might be tempted to stay on the battlefield! It'll be the one war zone you might return from unscathed!"

"Thanks for the votes of confidence," Ragna grumbled.

"Alright, I'm convinced," she added as her laughter finally began to subside. "My job out there will be making sure this idiot gets back home to his loving family! He's not about to die and shirk fatherhood!"

"Who's shirking!? I'll be an awesome dad!"

"I'm sure you will be," Chrom agreed with a smile before raising his goblet. "Let's not let this wine go to waste any longer! To Ragna's impending fatherhood and prosperous future to the next generation!"

With their cheers said, all three drank. The promise and goal set.

Elsewhere in the Castle -Viron's own quarters-

"You should have come to me earlier; have I not been a most receptive ear to your issues of court?" Virion playfully asked the two nobles seated before him. "I could've brought your issue to Chrom's attention myself if you both were so worried of his lectures."

"No… that would have just made things even worse for trying to hide it. We needed to go to him ourselves," Joffrey admitted. "It was… lucky for both of us that Grim Reaper decided to vouch for our side at the end there."

"He did?" Virion questioned. "…Then it was likely you had little to worry about at all; Ragna's hardly the type to hide any aggression or rage. And I doubt Chrom would see this as too large a problem either; his position merely mandates that he treats this potential threat seriously. He probably wouldn't care one way or another about his father's blasted islands."

"Even still, I doubt that either of our families are in his good graces and this is just going to make things harder to getting there," Charles lamented. "If… there's any way you could possibly fix our situations…"

"My dear friends; who do suppose you're speaking to? Of course I can," the Archest of Archers boasted. "I'm a dear friend and ally to Ylisse, Chrom, and the Shepherds as a whole!"

"When they don't see my lord as a proper nuisance that is," his aide commented with a sweet smile that betrayed her words.

"Cherche… please," the nobleman begged. He swore, sometimes the rider had a worse bite than her wyvern. "What I am saying is that I'll be able to get Chrom to give you a second chance. And, provided we all play these cards right, things may even go the way you originally intended."

"You mean to lay claim to the Western Island?" Joffrey clarified. "But… the Grim Reaper…"

"Will merely be sent to stifle the pirate threat; and as you said finally finding this terrible criminal and putting an end to his fowl deeds is already something you can take partial credit for. You've done your part there." Virion smiled slyly. "Now… it's what comes after that we're after. Properly establishing the islands as a new Ylissian province, setting up new towns and fortifications, making the lands prosperous and free once the Reaper has already left… That will be worthy of recognition and plenty of accolades for your families."

'He hasn't changed much; he still has the same sense as showmanship that he's always had,' Cherche internally sighed. At the very least, these two seemed to be eating it up. "That still leaves one potential problem; what if Prince Chrom choses someone else to lead the restoration effort?"

"That's what I'll help with ensuring, my dear vassal," Virion affirmed. "But with effort being put towards your own cause on my behalf… you know what I'm going ask from both of you in turn."

"Your court attempts to garner support for the impeding Valm conflict, correct?" Virion had made an earlier play by informing these two of the upcoming war (he took the chance once he'd heard how they'd already aided Ragna). Getting support without letting the other side know what exactly it was for was difficult, but Virion's charisma and shrewdness was making just that barely possible. "We'd already pledged our support to you for that much; we'll lose Ylisse if we do nothing."

"Agreed, then this will be your cue to double your efforts," Virion insisted. "Instead of just being allies, I'll insist that we now treat this as a proper partnership between all of us; work the courts with me and at the end of these damnable wars we may all find ourselves with what we truly desire…our very houses saved."

"As you say then… we'll begin immediately," Charles promised and Joffrey nodded in solid agreement. With their business done, the two older men left the room to Virion and Cherche.

"You're playing a dangerous game," Cherche warned. "They won't take it well if you're unable to deliver. And if word of Valm gets out early…"

"Which means I'll have to create a backup plan. The Archers of Archers rarely misses his shot once; never twice," Virion assured her. "But I'll have much work to do here… meanwhile, I think your efforts would be best served at Ragna's side in this conflict."

"You're sending me to battle?" the wyvern rider questioned.

"Aside from those brief hostilities at Lady Maribelle's soiree, you've yet truly served at Ragna's side in battle and we'll need you experienced with his way of… settling things if you're going to be working with him in Valm's conflict." Virion then gave his longtime acquaintance a sly smile. "And though I'd know you'd never be the type, if safety was ever a concern, then worry no more. You'll be safer out there on the battlefield with him than I'll be staying in the capital with the politicians."

"Well… I suppose my Minerviekins could use the exercise; the poor thing's been so cooped up this entire time with barely a leisurely walk." She sighed. "Though she has seemed to take a liking with the Grim Reaper."

'It seems he attracts ALL kinds, but in this particular instance it's far better him than me.' "Then it's decided. Fear not! For both of us are sure to play our upcoming roles spectacularly!"

"Oh, I'm sure," Cherche said before giving a bright smile. Anyone else would see this as charming, but Virion knew only too well that she was about to bring her proverbial axe down. "Just don't become so dedicated to your negotiations that you'll leave an heir to Roseanne before we even retake it. If you do, I might just have to ensure that the one heir is all you'll ever have."

"N-Not to worry!" an absolutely chilled Virion did his best to ensure her. "I'm completely capable of focusing on the task at hand… and nothing more…"

"It would be a first."

"Cherche… please."

Later -Ragna's Residency-

"That about sums it up," Ragna concluded. He and his family had sat down to enjoy one of his well-prepared dinners as he told them about his own upcoming campaign and his extended absence from their lives. As they were now in the middle of their tea, even if the timing hadn't worked out as well as it had, the Reaper still would've wanted to have this discussion after dinner; it made things easier to discuss difficult topics with those who were well fed. "I know you all would've liked more notice for something like this, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it."

"I don't enjoy the timing much myself, but we knew there would be other commitments like this,' Olivia sighed as she leaned back in her chair and rubbed her still developing stomach. The size of her baby bump made it apparent that she was the farthest along in her pregnancy out of all of them, but not by much. "And it'd be foolish to fault you since you're doing this for us and the children."

"Everything I ever do is for my family," Ragna agreed. Part of that family involved his extensions in the Shepherds, but he would be out fighting right alongside them. "But if it makes you feel any better, this is going to be the last time I intend to leave any of you out of something like this."

"I'm with Olivia then," Cordelia agreed, absentmindedly stirring their cup of tea during this important conversation. "You're just doing your job and you're being upfront with us. I don't like that it has to happen now of all times, but there's not much any of us can do about it. Just be safe and make it home soon."

"…You know that I'll still worry about you, correct? I know all of us will in our own way, but… it's a touch different for me." Aversa wasn't nearly as far along as the other two so she'd still insisted on performing most of her duties. "Even if I do my best not to show it."

"You won't need to worry; these are pirates and they won't be able cause the kind of magic attack that the Grimleal were using. I might be going to a battlefield, but I know to be a lot more cautious this time around," Ragna promised gently.

"If you truly were this cautious, then wouldn't it be better to have a Dragon on your side?" Given her growing friendship with Aversa, Tiki had been among the first to know about her upcoming pregnancy and her frequent visits to Ragna's estate were only becoming more regular. Ragna certainly didn't mind as he enjoyed having her around anyways. "I've dealt with my fair share of pirates and other ruffians before, and I can confidently say that no matter how hardened they can claim to be the sight of an enemy's dragon flying over does wondering for crippling their moral."

"I'm sure it does and I'll be sure to let Nowi know about that little trick of yours, but you told me that you weren't back at full power yet. Something about a ritual you'd have to complete on the Valmese continent," Ragna tried to remember. "Probably shouldn't be sending you out battle if you're not at a hundred precent."

"I assure you, even ten percent would be more than enough for most pirates." For all the years she'd lived, Tiki seemed to still have a sense of childish pride in her. Something that reminded Ragna of another longlived ally from his past.

"Maybe, but we wouldn't be dealing with most pirates on this trip if the rumors are right. These guys could pose a threat even to you and I'm doing my best to be careful," he insisted. "Plus, I… It'd actually be a huge help if you stayed back here and looked after these three. I'm really hoping I can count on you."

"I suppose I can settle for contributing there, and you needn't worry; I actually have much experience being a mid-wife believe it or not. Olivia, Cordelia, and Aversa could not be in better hands."

"I really owe ya one then," Ragna agreed as he took a small sip of his tea. The same tea that Maribelle had (attempted to) present in her soiree. "Of course, I still plan to be back and see my own kids be born; this campaign won't be taking me away from the fighting for that long."

"And Chrom's coronation?" Aversa asked.

"Eh, told 'em to suffer without me on that one."

"You dastard," the minx replied with a smirk that matched her husband's.

"I'll be back for the wedding though, so not like I can avoid every ceremony, even if that's one I really want to be at." As soon as Ragna had finished that statement there was a sharp knock at his front door. Aversa (still used to performing her role as his personal assistant) moved to get out of her chair, but Ragna beat her to it. "Sit back and relax, I'll get it."

"Soon I'll have no choice but to sit back," she pouted.

"Eh, then it's probably time you got used to the idea," he playfully insisted, trying to hide his smile as she obviously rolled her eyes. Heading out of the dining room in the main foyer, Ragna opened the door to reveal… "Flavia."

"Sorry for the delay, I'd forgotten that I'd never visited you place before, so this trip is long overdue." Ragna was about to find one of his crass retorts, but instead took interest in the carry luggage at her feet. Not a lot there, especially for a sovereign of a nation. "I like to travel light."

"I noticed, but wouldn't it be easier to just keep your things in the castle until we leave?"

"Why? This is where I'll be staying."

'Oh great…' "Funny… this is the first time I'm hear about it."

"That's because the three of us had already decided it after you left."

'HYPOCRITS THE LOT OF 'EM! They were yelling at me for not including people in decisions!' Ragna had a poor poker face to hide his outrage (he wasn't even trying) so Flavia just laughed.

"Chrom and Robin just agreed it would work easier to keep the campaign under lock and key if I wasn't seen often around the castle, that way it wouldn't seem like something was afoot." Even if Ragna agreed that it made sense, he'd have preferred a hefty warning. "And… something with Chrom thinking this could help him avoid a mountain of paperwork In the process."

"Mountain? How the hell could you cause that much-?" Ragna stopped himself; better he didn't know. "Alright, fine. But you'll be sharing a house with three very pregnant ladies."

"Hah! That just makes things sound fun!" Flavia said before grabbing her bags and bringing them inside as Ragna shut his front door behind her.

"Go ahead and say hi to everyone at the dining table, I'll bring these to your guest room and join you in a sec."

"Good to see that you're a proper host; I can appreciate your crass behavior but it's still refreshing to see," Flavia thanked in her own way as she made it to the dining room. Ragna had barely gotten to the second floor before heard her exclaim. "Why look at these lovely expecting mothers! Olivia, Basilio and Lon'qu have to be sent a letter for this, they'll both be ecstatic! …But make sure you tell him to finish the paperwork I left him and then visit. Heaven only knows the work I'll have to do when I return from this campaign."

'Well she's already getting herself settled,' Ragna thought with a sigh. 'Now I gotta keep Flavia in line, keep myself and everyone else alive against those pirates, give all of those strategy books another read over, AND make sure I put the work in to study up on impeding fatherhood.' He shook his head. 'Still not as stressful as actually meeting Cordy's parents at least.'

It shouldn't have been that bad, they were lovely people… but Cordelia herself had been far too insistent that the meeting had gone perfectly. Still, if it was what she'd wanted…

"Happy wife, happy life," Ragna repeated to himself. After setting Flavia's things in her room, he headed down to the dining room to the chaos that Flavia was no doubt creating just for him…

Chaos that he couldn't help but enjoy at times like these.

Author's Note

Check out my YouTube channel and !

This story's back, and now with the promise of more regular updates!

So yeah… some of you who've read Bloodedge of Fairy Tail (plug plug) might've already seen me insert a new min-arc into a story. This is actually taking some of the earlier source material with a later Paralogue that was in the game, but I actually have an important reason for doing this.

Some of the characters will need a little more development before we get to the Valm timeskip. This is going to be one of their last big chances in a conflict setting before we get there and you've already made it clear that I've written enough of peace time.

So yeah, more things along in a sense but still give it time to develop.

That's all for now! Ciao!

(Dear lord, I just realized I asked last time for you to lobby for your ships… now I have to respond to all of these)

Kalakaui: Maybe one of them will be named Saya, still deciding on some things.

Twylaken: You're welcome, here's one more than a year later!

ArcrayREI: Well at least Lissa will be getting some time in the spotlight coming up.

Wlyman2009: No Omake plans for now, sad to say.

EpicLinkSam: Some of the parents didn't have kids of their own, so it comes with the writing.

Mizunojohnmarl: Referring to ships as boat… ha.

Reclusive Dork: I don't think she has her A Rank yet… note to self.

Hotshot6: For later, but considered.

Naobea: All good guesses, none confirmed yet. Oh, and I messaged about Lissa.

Kerrowe: Oh, I've got plans for that.

The Unplanner: Ah, good on you for taking such a close look. Here's a hint; his name was actually mentioned in a previous chapter.

Rinkaku Ghoul99: Noted.

Guest (1): He'd be offended if it wasn't accurate.

Infinite Zangetsu: Chances are I'll have Tharja along to develop her and Ragna's dynamics, so the chance may exist.

Johnultimatee25: 10… seems a bit much.

Longtime: All good guesses

Panicrain: Good reasons for both.

Son Of Fellblood: Sorry, not bringing in any more BB characters.

Unsung Senpai: Wow… real strong fighter for Maribelle there.

RPG Profiecient: Would be cute… and Virion's biggest nightmare.

Guest (2): Energy is a good word for it