Title: A Dream of Loss
Description: Nightmares can be terrifying, even after you wake up. This can be even more true when those dreams are based in one's past. For Lucina these type of dreams are all too common, but at least she has someone there for her when they happen.
Lucina scrambled through the burning wreckage, fog and black smoke turning the dark of night into an impenetrable void. Occasion the faint, ghostly glow of burning wreckage cut through the black, only to vanish with another staggering step forwards.
All around her violet, burning eyes followed her. Through the darkness screams reached her ears, the voices so terrible they could not belong to any living person.
Lucina skidded to a halt, something liming before her, so dark that it stood out against the void around here. One by one three sets of massive slitted eyes opened before her, each as big as herself.
"Die!" Grima bellowed into her mind. Obsidian teeth flash as the Fell Dragon's maw rushed to devour her whole. Lucina screamed, the great shadow consuming her in a single instant
Lucina tumbled through darkness and then suddenly she was in the sunset field where she confronted Robin. Falchion was in her hand, pointed at her husband's chest.
She couldn't do it. She couldn't kill the man she loved, regardless of what get duty said. Falchion fell her her limp fingers and clattered against the ground
The scene shifted and changed yet again, shadows swirling around her like mist on the wind. She was on Grima's back, the fell dragon lurching under her feet with every flap of his massive wings. All around her battle rages, the Shepherds fighting endless waves of Risen flung at them to halt their progress.
With a cry Lucina charged forward, curing swath through the undead foolish enough to step in her path. Grima's vessel was just ahead, she had to reach him before he could draw more power. Yet each Risen that three itself at her slowed her just a little bit more, allowing more to reach her. She wouldn't make it.
There was a burst of light and sound as a lightning bolt shot past her, smashing into the risen blocking her path and throwing them aside in smoldering heaps.
Lucina smiles, silently thanking her husband's aid. Yet she did not have time to even so much as spare a backward glance, not right then. Leaping forward she crossed the remaining distance between herself and Grima's hooded form, bringing Falchion down on his head.
The fell dragon lunged, dodging the blow. He sneered under his hood. His eyes glinted with an evil fire, the face of Robin, no, the false Robin taking on an almost monstrous appearance.
Whirling back around Lucina slashed as Grima's side, only for him to dodge again. She pressed forward, attacking again and again, only for Grima to parry with the blade that materialized in his hand. Their swords clashed and Lucina was forced back, staggering as she nearly lost her balance. Black lightning cracked at Grima's fingertips as he launched a spell, Lucina manages to roll out of the way with but an instant to spare.
Coming out of her roll she lunged again. The speed of her recovery caught Grima off guard, scoring a hit on his side. Black smoke spewed from the would and he howled in agony. Bringing Falchion around Lucina slashed twice in rapid succession, the first knocking Grima's sword wide and the second cutting him from shoulder to hip.
"This ends here, Grima!" Lucina bellowed. With a final shout she stepped forward and drive Falchion through his black heart.
For a moment the world went still, nothing making a sound. The Grima's body began to dissolve, vanishing in a cloud of inky black smoke.
For a moment Lucina stood in shock. She's done it, she'd actually done it. She'd defeated Grima, the monster that had haunted her dreams and brought about the destruction of her world. She did it, she'd won!
Lucina spun around, excited to tell Robin the good news. Then she stopped dead in her tracks. She was back in the sunset field, Robin standing across from her, his body translucent as it drifted apart in a million tiny motes of light.
Robin mouthed something, but Lucina couldn't make it out. Only the final words she understood, the words "I love you"
"No, don't go," she cries, tears running down her cheeks. She reached out to him, running forward. Robin lifted his hand too, and soon they were almost touching, their fingers but inches away.
And with that Robin was gone, vanishing completely before their hands can meet. The sun sunk beneath the horizon, plunging the field into darkness.
Lucina collapsed onto her knees, sobbing. It was her fault, all her fault. She'd done this by killing Grima. It had been her duty to do so... and it had taken away the person she cared about most.
And now she was alone.
And it was all all her fault
. . . . .
With a choking gasp Lucina's eyes snapped open. It was dark, and what little she could make out was blurry. Breathing heavily she brought her hands to her face, finding it damp to the touch. She'd been crying.
She blinked several times, her vision clearing. It took her a moment to realize she was in Ylisstol, in her room and in her own bed. It was still early, the sky not yet having turned the faint blue that heralded the coming sunrise.
Lucina released her breath in a long sigh, willing her pounding hard to calm itself. It was just a dream. Just a dream, she told herself. She could already feel warmth of the person nestled next to her, not needing to even look to confirm he was still there. Yet she could not stop the pang in her chest. Could not stop the tears still rolling down her cheeks. It felt so real.
"Bad dream?" A voice murmured next to her.
Lucina turned her head, looking over to where Robin lay next to her. Her husband's eyes were still half glazed and distant with the remnants of sleep. Yet even still concern lined his face as he looked at her, his lips twisted into a worried frown.
Lucina nodded slowly, squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to banish the images yet clinging to her conscious mind. "I'm so sorry, I did not mean to wake you."
"It's alright, Lucina. Besides, you know me, I don't need that much sleep anyways." He forced a smile. Still his words did not come off as overly convincing, especially with how he paused immediately afterwards to rub his eyes.
Lucina said nothing in reply, glancing away. It wasn't that she wished to ignore him, merely that she was unsure what to say. She didn't want to trouble his rest any more than she already had.
"It was about when I... 'went away', wasn't it?" Robin asked, his all too perceptive eyes seeming to cut right into Lucina, even clouded by sleep.
"Yes," Lucina answered simply. She let the statement hang there for a couple seconds. Then at last she spoke again. "How did you know?"
"You told me you had that was a recurring nightmare you had while I was gone, remember?" Robin answered gently. He paused for a moment, then added, "also a couple nights ago you were tossing and turning, and you were murmuring in your sleep. I gathered what you were dreaming about from what you said."
Lucina nodded but once again said nothing. She hadn't even realized she'd disturbed him before this as well. She felt horrible, knowing her nightmares had affected him so.
"Lucina, you can talk to me about it, you know." He put a hand on her arm, squeezing it tightly. "I don't mind being woken up or being here to talk whenever you need me. What I do mind is knowing something is bothering you but I can't help. Please."
"I... In my dream I saw the fight with Grima, but it was different. I was fighting him and I struck him down. I was so happy, I'd finally killed that monster. But when I turned to find you, I saw you disappearing, vanishing before my eyes. And it was my fault." Fresh tears pooled in her eyes, one droplet tracing a line of silver down her cheek.
"Shhhhh, it's okay," Robin murmured, wrapping his arms around her and hugging her close. "It wasn't your fault. None of that was. I made the choice, not you."
"But I should have tried to stop you, and I did not. I watched you disappear before me and..." Her voice was lost in her throat. She did not sob or cry openly, only her tears betraying her distress.. "...and I did nothing to prevent it."
"It's okay, it's okay," Robin assured her again and again, rubbing her back. "Things worked out, right? I'm here now, aren't I. There is nothing to cry about now. The dream wasn't real, I'm here."
Lucina said nothing, instead opting to tuck herself closer against his chest. "I was so lonely," she murmured. She sniffed, her nose running a bit from crying.
"But not anymore, right?" Robin asked, squeezing her a bit tighter
Lucina nodded. "Yes, I am... Here I am, crying over nothing like some... Some child." She sniffed again, wiping her eyes on her forearm.
"It's completely naturally to get a bit emotional after a bad dream. You're tired and not thinking as clearly," he reassured her, smiling gently. "Come on, let's get some rest. I promise I'll be right here the whole time,"
"Good," Lucina whispered, her eyelids already drooping. She wrapped her arms around her husband, savoring the warmth of his body pressed against hers. Perhaps if she didn't let go, he wouldn't slip away inside her dreams.
Lucina closed her eyes and within moments drifted off into sleep. A smile was on her face.
Author's Note: Well here is another short one for you guys. I wanted to get something out sooner than I have been, but really did not have much time to delve into something longer. So rather than having actual substance, I went for something fluffy instead. I hope you enjoyed it.
I know I said the exact same thing about three chapters ago, but there will only be 2-3 more chapters of LAT before it goes on semi-hiatus as I work on a new Robcina centric storyline. The reason it is still 2-3 chapters away when I said that 2-3 chapters ago is simple: I decided to take the time to revise a few things in the upcoming storyline and I had some chapter ideas for LAT I wanted to do.
In other news, I am not sure if I'll be able to get a Morgan's birthday chapter out or not, but I intend to still try. So be on the lookout for that should I manage it.