Title: Robcina Week Day 7 - Hope

Description: Lucina had never had hope for her own future. No dreams of personal happiness or a life after her duty was done. However, before she knew it, that had changed.

Notes: Includes minor spoilers for my other stories: A Future Disowned, A Future Broken, and A Future Tied by Fates. However, I kept these vague so as to not give anything away as well as to keep this understandable even if you haven't read them.

Words: 844

Lucina had never truly had hope for her future.

No, that wasn't quite right. She'd always held hope that the world could be saved, that Grima could be defeated, and that a better future could be created. Those were the things she had always been hopeful for. The things she strived to create.

But she'd never held hope for her own future, for the life she'd have when her duty was done and the world saved. It had always seemed so dreadfully selfish to even so much as consider such matters when countless lives hung on her actions and deeds. How could she then ever think of her own wants and desires, when so much was at stake?

So she'd never let herself dream of a life that came after. Never once thinking of her own happiness and what that would mean for her.

Then she met Robin.

When she'd fallen in love with him everything had changed. For the first time she'd had someone who pushed her to pursue her own happiness, not at the expense of others, but in addition to theirs. Someone who so earnestly wished for her to be happy that she could not help to want to strive for it too. Someone she dreamed of a life with, and of a future of peace and joy they could share together.

She'd found new motivation then, new strength to fight for their world and their future. Another reason to save the future, a reason that soon became the most important one. A love that strove her forward and gave her new hope she'd never had before.

Then came the discovery of Morgan, their daughter from the future. She was tangible proof of the life she and Robin could have, a daughter born of two time-crossed lovers who'd found each other. In finding Morgan, Lucina had discovered the joy and wonder of being a mother. So she'd found another reason to hope: to dream of the family she and Robin would have together.

Then she'd found that hope, that reason, tested. Discovering Robin's role in her own future's doom, she'd been forced to choose between her own happiness and her duty. Yet when it came down to it, she couldn't not bring herself to strike down the man she loved. The Lucina of before would have, for she had not experienced that joy, that hope for her own happiness, that the Lucina who stood there on that field had. She had changed, no longer able to sacrifice anything for the sake of her duty. Perhaps, simply, it was because the person she'd been before hadn't ever had hope for something better. She'd never had hope for a life and victory that hadn't needed those sacrifices.

Soon after her hope met its greatest test as Robin sacrificed himself to end Grima's threat once and for all. That had almost shattered her, to seemingly have the hopeful future she now fought for snatched away. It had seemed a cruel joke by the universe, giving her the very thing she'd once wanted, a sacrifice for the sake of the victory she fought for, but now at the cost of her happiness. She'd almost despaired then, nearly lost all hope, became again the person she had been at the start.

A woman with no hope for a future for herself…

But Robin had returned, just like he'd promised. With newfound hope Lucina had found herself beginning that life she'd wished for. It had not been without bumps in the road, though these challenges only strengthen her optimism for the future. Traveling to that other world, helping another her save it just as she'd helped saved this one, finding and reuniting with their son, Marc… All of it yet more proof that she and Robin would have the happily ever after they'd earned, no matter what future held for them.

So it was that even when their world was again threatened, even as strange invaders from the Outrealms came and jeopardized the peace they earned, Lucina resolved never to despair again. Not even as she and Robin were separated and flung into another world did she give up that hope, knowing that this too would merely be yet another obstacle they would overcome together. She never doubted they'd find each other through it all, for nothing could hope to stand between then, not when their own hope proved all the stronger.

Lucina smiled, squeezing Robin's hand as she gazed out at the view beyond them: a land of clouds and mists, an endless sky in which islands amongst the heavens. By their side friends old and new stood, ready to face the shadow that threatened their worlds.

She savored the warmth of Robin's touch, drawing hope and strength knowing he was there with him. They'd overcome this challenge just like all the others. She knew this was true.

No matter what the future held for them, she'd always have hope. Hope to see the world of peace and happiness she and Robin had fought for. Together.