#and Lucina promised to always be on his side despite not really meaning it and you know... being like ten

[grey-eyed-menace]

It smells like cigarettes and alcohol.

Nathaniel's expression is distinctly pinched in distaste at the smell, and Asher is vaguely reminded of all the times they've had to deal with Lord Verrine in the last few weeks, the expression not unlike what he showed during the times they had to deal with his Lord Father.

It probably doesn't help that this is a brothel, small and unassuming, a bar as a front, the girls descreet, she and Nathaniel look incredibly out of place amongst the patrons at this time of day, as few as there are.

The pale, impossibly frail, young woman and the disgusted redhead, wonderful work they were doing.

[fireemblems24]

Dimitri's Supports

I have waited FOREVER for this. Let's go. And I decided to put my patience to the test, saving Dedue for last.

Since it's Dimitri and I love him, and like Dedue who I also love, he's the only one unlocking all his A-Supports, I'm going to blog all my reactions to them like I did with Dedue. Part of me wishes I thought of this for the other characters, but honestly it would've taken forever lol. Plus Dimitri and Dedue get special treatment because I said so.

Raphael

Starting off with something light hearted, I hope. I do wonder if I'm going to regret not saving this one for the inevitably heavy-handed stuff coming later.

I'm seriously betting this is a support you're supposed to get in part 1 lol. Dimitri sounds young (or maybe I'm just haven't heard non-growl part 2 Dimitri enough yet?)

Dimitri's training made Raphael think he was dying lol. Dimitri's strength is really meme tier.

I need fanart of Dimitri and Chrom co-miserating their mishandled strength breaking something. And Lucina.

Lamo, Raphael has never felt a cramp before. Lucky bastard.

Raphael is a sweetie, going to apologize to his muscles. I really wish they gave him something else to talk about other than muscles and food. Not everyone needs Dimitri tier development, but I think I'd like Raphael a lot more if he just got a smidge more depth.

Got to say, it's a bit jarring to go from "moments away from a suicide charge in the rain" to "lol, Raphael, it's muscle pain." As glad as I am that I got this support, I do think some should've been locked to part 1.

And this isn't just for Dimitri's development. I also saw Marianne and Raphael's B before this support and she reverted back to her part 1 self too.

Catherine

Maybe it's just me, but he does sound a bit older.

OMG - Dimitri's back. 😭😭😭

Sorry, it didn't really hit in that first one since that seemed like a part 1 support.

Oh, cool! I was wondering if anyone would bring up Catherine returning to Faerghus. My bets is she's too loyal to Rhea. (I guessed right)

Catherine be simpin. That's ok, I get it.

So it's not because Catherine dislikes Dimitri, or that she's absolutely needed to rule House Charon, so I think Dimitri just likes her. She's cool though. I get it.

Lamo, she told him he'd better get his sleep like he's a kid.

Curious how the A+ support will play out.

Mercedes

Team Mom's support!

Oh, no, this one's taking a serious turn isn't it? But their initial supports were so light and cute.

Mercedes just told Dimitri that he's kind to a fault. Somehow I know he's going to deny that.

Annnnnd I'm right 😭😭😭He's still calling himself a killer and disgusting monster 😭😭😭

OK - so THIS seems perfectly in tone with his recent character development. But it's so sad hearing him still talk about himself that way.

Mercedes is such a therapist. I can't. She's too pure. But savage. I saw that Lorenz support.

"I am scared . . . so scared that I will forget their faces." 😭😭😭😭😭😭 Dimitri why????

Mercedes telling Dimitri to live in the present. Her supports are always so good. I legit think she's easily a top 10 favorite in this game.

Wow, Dimitri saying if someone told him that 5 years ago, he'd be different. DID NO ONE EVER GIVE HIM ANY HELP AT ALL???

I love how she's talking to him as a classmate, and equal, and not talking up to him. He's always wanted that.

Dimitri's never given his own dreams any thought 😭😭😭He really was just 100% living for other people most of the time. 😭😭😭

Awww MERCEDES, I can't. She says she just wants to keep being his friend. This is so damn sweet. And heavy. But still sweet.

It just hits super hard knowing how badly Dimitri just wanted friends in part 1. And looking back, Mercedes and Sylvain were really the only two who were pretty casual with him.

Aww, yeah, Mercedes not putting up with the bullshit, Dimitri. Telling him to quit the self-deprecation! God, I love her.

Oh, God, they both said the old FE code for "we're married" i.e. I want to "stay by your side."

Ok, @garlandgerard, I totally get why you ship this. Mercedes loves to nurture people, and Dimitri's emotionally needy, so they match pretty well. She also didn't put up with the constant self-put-downs, but stayed gentle about it. And they talked like equals too, like friends, which is what Dimitri always wanted. It's all very sweet.

Annette

Yeah, see, this one starts off with "your highness," but Mercedes it was just Dimitri. No hate for Annette. She's my girl.

These two always give me sibling vibes.

Haha, Annette "I thought I already knew you, but I'm not sure I really do." Hmmmm wonder what Dimitri did that made her think that maybe there's parts of him she didn't know. No. idea.

Hey, Annette, no one blames you for not knowing what to say to Dimitri when they reunited lol.

Annette too pure too, wanting to cheer Dimitri up with his favorite food.

Her not knowing what he likes to eat is 100% that moment when you realize you don't know someone's favorite color.

HOW can Dimitri have no strong feelings about food. I'm having pizza right now. Let me tell you, I have strong feelings about some food.

I love how easily Dimitri deflected from talking about himself lol.

Awwww, Annette wants to live with her family again. I'll make that happen, Annette. Don't worry.

Haha, they're conspiring together behind Gilbert's back.

They still have an A+ support, which is weird, because that seemed pretty well ended? Like I see why Catherine's needed more, but not this one. Still, not going to say no. I like their dynamic.

Ingrid

OCF they're training. God I love all the Faerghus childhood group though.

Oh, fuck, here comes Glenn again. My heart's not ready for this with Rodrigue dead. Poor Felix.

Ingrid being Dimitri's knight 😊😊😊 as it should be.

Haha, Dimitri asks her for an interpretation. Just make her your knight.

Glad he hasn't started saying "I'm not worthy!" Because right now it's about Ingrid's feelings.

Wow, there, Ingrid. "However you please, Your Highness." That . . . that sounds like an invitation. To "staying by your side."

Dimitri laughed. 😊😊😊

Oh, God, this is so cute. His pause asking her to support and defend him as his knight. 😊😊😊 OMG. I'm not sure that's all she had in mind though, good Sir, have you LOOKED in the mirror?

Seriously though, Ingrid's just surrounded by studs, isn't she?

Oh, God, I'm right. She didn't just mean knight. But Dimitri's too dense in that area to notice. She crushing hard. Girl, I get you.

She blushing, saying "for the Kingdom," naw, she just like him. Me too, Ingrid. Me too.

Dimitri always makes people promise not to die on him. It's so sad considering . . .

Flayn

With Flayn it's always a toss up. Sometimes things are super light hearted, and other times it's way heavy.

On a random note, does no one wonder why Flayn hasn't aged a day in 5 years?

Flayn having nightmares. Not allowed. I bet it's fucking Jeritza's fault. I'm glad you get to rip him a new one so many times in this game.

Why is Flayn apologizing?? She's never done a thing wrong in her life.

Right, Flayn's other support with Dimitri was pretty heavy. And it started so funny with him stomaching her food.

Oh, good grief, what's he apologizing for? Ok - so Dimitri did do some things wrong. But not to Flayn.

He lied. Let me guess. Her food actually sucks.

Aw, got it. He went right to the meal. Is he really going to come out and say, well it actually sucked 😂

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE MEALS???? AND THE TEA an embarrassing amount of tea.

Wait. He can't taste ANYTHING??? Like. How? Did he hide that????

Ok - I need to look at his team and dining dialogue.

OMG. He really never says a word about how anything tastes? He always just talks about smells????

OMG. How did I NOT NOTICE. I've taken Dimitri to dinner a million times. And tea timed him too many times to admit too.

AND I NEVER NOTICED HE NEVER ONCE SAID HOW ANYTHING TASTED. HOW.

OMG that support with Annette hits different now 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

OMG and Dedue's support with Flayn hits different now. Since he wanted to badly to find food Dimitri loves 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Does Dedue know? Is that why he's so dedicated to cooking??

Can I headcannon that?

OMG, I feel so awful about that jab about pizza. Dimitri CAN'T TASTE pizza or anything 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Please someone tell me there isn't any more "this awful thing also happened to Dimitri and he's failed to tell you" like learning he almost fucking died at Duscur. And now this. Dimitri needs to learn how to fucking complain.

The writers are so fucking mean to Dimitri. OMG. OMG, how am I supposed to take him to dinner and tea now, knowing this?

Why does everything hit so differently now? And so many Blue Lions supports are about food - but Dimitri can't relate

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

This game needs to stop bullying Dimitri.

But like, God, can you imagine? Not tasting anything? I'd starve. I'd actually starve. I never really get hungry. I really would starve.

On the flip side, he's good for Flayn then, since someone can eat her cooking I guess.

"I was just saying what I thought you would want to hear . . ." Dimitri - a summary.

Naw, that's a kind lie. That kind of lie doesn't really hurt anyone.

Oh - dear God. Flayn. Stop. No sampling pungent food.

Oh, she blushing. Dimitri got her blushing

Please tell me in their paired ending Dimitri gets his taste back.

Oh, there's an A+, does he taste something. Please tell me he tastes something.

This support though. It wasn't really one on my radar but

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Gilbert

Oh, man, this one right after Flayn's. God, I'm going to need the Alois one after this. Gilbert and Dimitri are two of the most somber characters in the franchise.

And I haven't forgotten that heartbreaking B support.

Haha Lambert sucked at lying too. Dimitri too pure. Weirdly, despite everything, it's still pretty true.

Oh, shit, oh shit, we're back to Dimitri's demand that Gilbert kill him. I'm betting you usually get that in part 2.

God, imagine seeing Dimitri recover only to see him beg for death again 😭😭😭😭😭😭

I need alcohol.

I need the Alois support.

OMG, shit, Dimitri. No. Don't. Stop.

Like, I know Gilbert won't really kill him, but damn. This support is heavy.

No, Dimitri, no Gilbert is not cruel for not killing you. God.

Oh, not sure about this. I get what Gilbert's going at here, but telling Dimitri that he's not allowed to die because he's got a duty is . . . I think Rodrigue's and Mercedes' live for what you want/the present is a LOT healthier.

At the same time, this is a pretty effective way to make sure Dimitri won't go and try this again, because he really takes duty seriously.

Dimitri doesn't wish to die? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh, thank God.

"Many times I have felt that I cannot afford to die . . . But this was the first time I truly feared the prospect." 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

"Is it really right for me to live?" Oh, dear God. I'm so soft for Dimitri. I can't.

Gilbert answered that one right. 100%.

Damn, these supports.

Alois

OK. I need this one. I really need this one.

I really hope Alois' inspiration is bad puns. I need bad puns right now.

Pretty sure this is a part 1 support though. I love how Alois, not Dimitri, is leading this. And that the person the Kingdom NEEDS is running around and getting attacked by monsters lol

Ok, bad puns. Bring them.

There we go. Thank you, thank you, Alois.

OMG no one's laughing 😂😂😂

Dimitri's laughing 😭😭😭😭😭😭

That's it. This is always getting saved for part 2. I need to hear part 2 Dimitri laugh.

I'm also so glad someone finds Alois funny. Dimitri and Petra need to start a club.

OMG I love the two other confused soldiers. I needed this 😂😂😂

Marianne

These two were so sweet in their C and B supports.

I swear I'm going to end up shipping Dimitri with everyone. Except maybe Annette, no hate, they just seem so much like brother and sister to me.

And Felix x Annette 100%

Survivor's Guilt - the pairing. Both wondering why they survived 😭😭😭

"There are so many others who are much more deserving of life . . ." - who said it? Marianne or Dimitri?

These two just understand how each other feels so well. It hits so different compared to Marianne's other romantic possible supports where they just try to make her smile.

Instead these two take comfort in finding someone who understands how they feel so well and feel relieved they can share that with someone.

Haha - "I must go on living. I cannot give in to death so readily." This coming right after his support with Gilbert. Good job, Gilbert.

They've both had it so rough 😭😭😭😭😭😭

"There is no need to force yourself to smile as your soul bleeds." Dimitri always gives such good advice that he never follows.

Aww, now at least it's getting cute instead of just heavy. Marianne laughed too 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Yesss, Girl, preach. I got a little sick of her other supports all being "cheer up!" Like I know it's all in good faith, but I'm so glad this chain exists. It just hits different.

Dimitri doesn't think he's strong enough to live his life. 😭😭😭 this game. I swear.

ohhhh - ohhh, Dimitri blushing now. And all she needed to say was they've been brought closer together. Congrats Marianne!

OHHHH tables have been turned. Now someone's making Dimitri promise he needs to live!

"I don't know what I'd do with myself if we lost you . . ."

"I promise to the goddess of Fodlan that I will never give you cause for despair."

OMG these two are being so sweet, I can't. 😭😭😭😊😊😊

Felix

Oh, boy, here we go. This should be . . . interesting.

Oh, we're starting off good I see. Felix telling Dimitri he needs to answer quickly or get cut in half 😔Felix. No.

Dimitri sounds so somber 😭

Dimitri admitting both are him - the vengeful "boar" and the friendly good person. And this is why I love him.

Dimitri feels the need to shoulder all the regret the dead feel, please don't. They wouldn't want that 😭😭😭😭😭

"The dead won't acknowledge your loyalty, they don't care." - Felix not wrong there.

I partly agree with the idea Dimitri is "serving his own ego" by claiming he's acting for the dead. I think it's a bit more complicated than that, but I think that's part of it.

Felix saying some good stuff here about the dead being dead and the living being living.

"If you keep stringing gravestones around your neck, you'll snap." - Felix, I don't know if you noticed but . . . uh . . . he sort of did.

Felix telling Dimitri to become a grave keeper is a bit funny. Not going to lie.

"I'm not immune to emotion you know." - just tsunderes things

Aw, Felix is upset his father died 😭😭 after all that shit-talking about Rodrigue 😭😭

Wish Felix didn't cut Dimitri off when he said "more than anyone you-" (care about other people, unless he joins CF and just kills everyone)

Oh, God, Felix is such a tsundere. "I couldn't stand the pathetic look on your face. That's all." Sure, Felix.

Kinda wish these two had an A+ though. Seems like there's more to do than the A+ with Annette and Flayn.

Really curious to see what their paired ending is like after that. Seems they're still learning to learn about each other. Well, Felix is. Dimitri didn't seem too upset lol.

Dedue

Ok guys. Here we go. I can't believe I managed to wait for this for last. Everyone hyped this one, so let's hope.

Really? We open with Dimitri having scars on his back? 😭

From 9 years ago? So scars from Duscur then?

Images of shirtless Dimitri now. though Not bad images.

He got scars protecting Dedue?

"It makes me think that is was worthwhile that someone like me survived." 😭😭😭 he's talking about protecting Dedue? 😭😭😭

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

"But I saved someone - saved you. That and that alone has been my crutch." 😭😭😭😭😭

I always knew these two were co-dependent.

Dimitri really out here saying that saving Dedue helped him "justify" surviving. 😭😭😭😊😊😊

OMG THAT'S THEIR STORY

OMG, poor Dedue. And Dimitri 😭😭😭did he literally "take a bullet" to save Dedue 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and still has scars? No wonder Dedue's so loyal. Some kid he didn't know did that. That's one hell of an introduction.

And picturing little Dedue just resigned and angry and waiting to die and just 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh, Dedue, you've repaid that debt ten-fold I'm sure.

Ahaha, Dimitri's doing the "you'd better accept your worth!" discussion this time lol.

Dear God these two. Now Dimitri's bringing up that Dedue busted him out of the jail.

I swear, these two have more of a plot off screen than some routes do on screen.

And now picturing Dimitri resigned and just ready to die. And then Dedue busts in. 😭😭😭

"That was nothing more than my duty as your vassal." Stop that Dedue. Dimitri doesn't want you to be his vassal. He wants more.

Holy shit.

"You are irreplaceable. Cherished." 😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊😭😭😭😊😊😊

Not to be that person - but I tell all my "friends" that.

Yes, Dedue, stop saying insisting you're just a "vassal" - that's a worse joke than Alois' puns from earlier.

"Please . . . do not look at me that way." What way, like you're about to make Dimitri cry, or like . . .

"You promised me you would build a Kingdom that is proud to boast of Duscur blood." - shit, man, these two. I just . . .

OMG so much emotion from Dedue. The only time I ever heard that before was in VW when he learned Dimitri died. But let's not remember that right now 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Oh shit. He called him "Dimitri." 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

And it made him blush.

OMG.

Guys, these two.

Aww, Dimitri looks so surprised. 😊😊😊😊😊😊

Oh, these two are so soft for each other. I can't. I just can't.

"To be your friend . . . is what I have always wanted." You're going to get it.

Man, I feel almost guilty S-Supporting Dimitri. He needs to pair up with Dedue pronto.

Dimitri sounds chocked up. OMG.

"So please call upon me when you walk alone at night." Ok. Dedue. Ok. Yes. Guys. This is all very straight.

I'm not saying it's - you know - cannon, but there's some big feels here.

Oh, Dimitri, stop it. You like Dedue's overprotectiveness. Don't lie.

Man, you guys were so right. Dimitri really just came out and said Dedue was "cherished" and "irreplaceable." Like, I'm not making this stuff up. And Dedue blushing hardcore just saying Dimitri's name.

They're both just so soft. I can't. I literally cannot. This support was gold. It was worth all they hype.

And learning more about how they meant. Dimitri really taking a bullet for Dedue there. I just . . .

I just want all the happiness for both of them. They're really something special towards each other. Like I legitimately think this is one of the most two-way loyal relationships in the whole franchise, and definitely the tightest bond in this game.

Like in past games you had Seth for Ephraim and Erikia and Soren for Ike and it's not like Ike, Ephraim and Erikia and etc don't care, but it wasn't the same level, you know? But this is such a two way street.

And I'm so weak for bodyguard with a crush. Like Seth/Eirika? Yes. Geoffrey/Elincia? 100%. Riza/Roy (Fullmetal Alchemist) there again. I'm sure there's more, but those are my top ones. Even Merlin/Arthur sort of counts even if Arthur doesn't know Merlin's his bodyguard lol.

I need to read fanfic for these two. I really don't want to spoil anything, but I'm dying. They're both just so sweet, and I just really love their dynamic. I really want to do a write up on it once I get to the end of the game.

[someobscurereference]

I just read one of your old fics, Where We Began, and honestly I'm so in love with it? If you don't plan on writing more do you have any other abstract ideas about it? Like about how the Nohrians would try to calm them down or which of the trio decided to trust them first or just anything like that? I just really like it a lot and it's entirely fair if you don't have any other thoughts about it, it's an awesome concept but you wrote it years ago, I just thought I'd give it a shot

(referring to this fic) Firstly, I'm so glad you enjoy one of my older works! I write a lot of FE, but I enjoy my early stuff as much as my more recent stuff, so I'm glad you enjoy it too!

Secondly, I don't plan on adding more to the fic itself like as a sequel or anything, but I always welcome questions about any fic I write!

Re: The Nohrians calming the kids down

The Trio definitely get rounded up after Severa gets caught in the barn, lol. The only hope they had was running away, and Camilla caught Severa. Owain & Inigo aren't going to just leave her behind, and Niles is probably hot on their tail. So there goes that escape attempt. They'd probably get herded back to the castle pretty soon after, but that just means they're (very clumsily) trying to whisper escape plans to each other once get they stuck in a (windowless) room. So the kids are probably panicking less outwardly at that point but still Freaked. Even if this is post-war, it's a big, dark castle full with Bad Vibes. Why wouldn't they still think this is Plegia?

Re: Gaining trust

This is harder because you have to convince a bunch of 12 year olds whose last memories are of the apocalypse and who have been taught anything that resembles Plegia is probably on the side of Grima that hey, you're in another universe, you don't remember coming here, you're actually adults, we didn't know your real names before a second ago and the aesthetic is Ominously Dark Here but we promise it's cool, we're tight. Like, even for a kid, that's not going to fly

Ultimately, this would come down to how much the Trio have revealed about themselves to their lords, I think. Because you need at least one (better if at least 2) of the lords to say, "Hey, your mom's name is _____ and you told me about this secret memory from the time you were _____ and ____ happened, which I never could have found out unless you told me yourself."

It would not require all the lords/retainers to do this because if Inigo or Owain were both like "Hm, that is true, the only way you'd know that is if I trusted you enough to tell you myself," that would sway Severa not to freak out entirely, I think. (And vice versa; if Severa & Owain both were convinced Leo/Niles & Camilla knew them, that would convince Inigo even if Xander didn't have anything to offer just then, etc.)

However, they're not all the same levels of trusting. Inigo would be the easiest to sway, Owain would be medium distrustful even if Leo/Niles offered good evidence bc Imagination Running Wild (although that also means he's the easiest to convince they hopped dimensions/time traveled too), and Severa would be hardest to convince about anything in general, even if she didn't have any other way of explaining how Camilla or Beruka knew X about her otherwise. Severa is jaded at age 12.

Inigo probably compliments Camilla & Elise even more so than in canon but he gets Visibly Flustered every time they talk back to him because Tween Vibes. (I elaborate a bit more on this down below).

I think Severa would actually butt heads with Camilla because Camilla is so doting and motherly (and a flyer!), and Severa at this age has a lot of Angst and Mommy issues that she has yet to work through. Also, it's up in the air how soon aver Cordelia's death this would be for her. So this would be a tough dynamic for both of them to adjust to, and Severa would probably avoid Camilla until/unless something changed.

I can't remember if this was an ask in regards to this fic or something else, but I remember a long, long time ago having the thought that a de-aged Odin/Owain would actually be more drawn to Xander and Camilla rather than Leo, simply because of the fact Xander has such a cool sword and Owain canonically admires Camilla's armor. Leo is a dark mage, which is also cool, but not quite as Immediately Cool to a 12 year old who Loves Swords and doesn't yet use magic. I think this would actually make Leo jealous and exacerbate his inferiority complex, lol. (*Niles voice: Green isn't a good color on you, milord*) But all it would take is Owain seeing Brynhilder and hearing about it for him to Flip Out over that too, so I think the problem would solve itself then, lol

As a side note, here is a short blurb I wrote years ago in a scenario where Leo is there when Odin de-ages instead of Niles. Also, here is another ask about young Inigo's behavior with the royals. In summary for that, I think he'd actually be a bit shyer than he is in Awakening (when he's late teen age, I hc) because at 12-ish he's reached the "always smile, no matter what" stage of his facade but not the 100% "fake it 'til you make it" approach, so he's still really nervous around anyone and everyone. (Espcially royalty. Especially Extremely Tall, Very Handsome/Beautiful Royalty. For reference, Lucina may not intimidate him at this age because they've known each other since forever and That's Different, but I think people like Chrom (assuming this isn't Chrom! Inigo) and Emmeryn (were she alive) would get him flustered still. But maybe not Lissa because she may be more Owain's Mom to him than princess just because of the way she acts (though he may avoid her out of fear of getting a frog in his shoe or something) (But he'd still be flustered if she complimented him bc Nervous!!) Anyway!! That's too long! Inigo at this age, even after he's calmed down and knows what's up, would be shyer than his canon self, I think. He's still growing up

EDIT: also an additional old ask found here about this fic. However, I mention the kids being 13/14 in that ask rather than like 11/12 like I mentioned here. I don’t have any concrete ages written for them in the fic, so just assume they’re whatever age that seems best (and their ages probably vary anyway). However, if they’re on the younger side I think the Trio are still absolutely Okay with fighting (even though they wish they don’t have to, they fear the Faceless too much to be comfortable when one comes close bc Risen Vibes), BUT the age difference between 11 & 14 does mean its even harder for them to fight than it might be as slightly older teens (although they still do probably have pretty good teamwork, despite not getting along) and without rescue there’s a good chance they’d still lose

[allykakamatsu]

Danganronpa V3 Smash Bros Tournament!

•Monokuma decides a good way to get everyone to kill each other is a Smash Bros Tournament, I mean, with all the salt someone’s bound to snap.

•No one kills each other, aside from Maki attempting to kill Kokichi, but it does become a weekly tradition despite the rage.

Kaede Akamatsu

• Get’s into a heated debate over who gets to main Rosalina with Kaito, but after a bit she caved and agreed to pick someone else.

•She end’s up picking Peach after Tsumugi makes a comment that they kinda look alike.

•Little did anyone know that Kaede is actually kinda a monster with Peach and frequently does really well in the tournaments.

•Favourite stage is New Donk city, and every time she gets to play on it she sings Jump up Superstar the entire match.

•Nobody is sure if they love or hate it.

•When not singing, she’ll make the stage music anything that has a dominant Piano.

•Favourite item is the Star Rod

Shuichi Saihara

• Acts like he’s never played before and decides to main Chrom due to him seeing easy enough to play and liking his personality.

•In actuality has played on and off for years and is a proud Dedede main but is too embarrassed to admit it.

•Also plays Pikachu but cause it’s Miu’s main he doesn’t usually use the electric mouse.

•Usually middle of the road in the tournaments.

•Prefers to fight on Battlefield but so long as the stage doesn’t move he can live with anything.

•Likes to keep items off.

Rantaro Amami:

•Good with all three Link forms, but has a bias for Toon Link.

•Can’t remember when he started playing, but given how he’s the only one who doesn’t panic by tripping they assume it’s Brawl.

•They also assume this because whenever someone picks Meta Knight he gets visibly distressed.

•Tournament wise he Can either do really well or really s**t depending on the day.

•Doesn’t have a favourite stage but tends to pick the Zelda stages cause he likes them the best.

•The only one who’s happy when a warp star shows up.

Ryoma Hoshi:

•At first played Incineroar cause its the only cat.

•After realising how bad his recovery was though, he kinda just tried anything to see what would work.

•Found a few semi-mains, namely Snake, Link and Villager

•Usually doesn‘t try to hard in tournaments so comes in last, or will even sit out, but when he wants to win, he will.

•Moral of the story, if he picks Villager, panic.

•No stage or item preference, but when it’s his turn to pick he tends to go with Shadow Moses island cause he likes the look.

Kirumi Tojo

•Mains everyone and is good with all of them.

•Like, can beat Mario with Little Mac good.

•Does have a slight preference towards Shiek though due to her admiring the ninja’s loyalty.

•Due to her skills, she tends to sit out with Ryoma to give everyone a chance.

•When she does play though, well, try not to loose too fast.

•Also usually the one who has to stop Maki killing Kokichi if he beats her.

•Always goes random when stage picking time comes, but also puts all the stages in battlefield mode in case it lands on something BS.

•For similar reasons tries to ignore items

Angie Yonaga

•Everyone expected her to pick Palutena, and while she does have her as a sub main, Angie usually plays Sephiroth. •Why? Angel (kinda), kick ass theme, and loves watching the others panic when they see him. Plus, Atua told her to pick someone unexpected.

•Also tried Pit and Dark Pit, and while she likes their personalities she isn’t big on their gameplay.

•To this day the only one who’s beat Kirumi in a match, and outside of that time she’s still good in tournaments.

•Atua told Angie to pick Big Blue one day, and ever since everyone dreads her turn on stage select.

Tenko Chabishira

• Always plays as a girl no matter what.

•Plays Min Min more often than not, but occasionally surprises everyone by whipping out villager.

•Why? “She’s Himiko cute!!”

•Pretty good at the game, but super competitive. Unless you’re Himiko, be prepared to get yelled at at least once if she looses.

•One day while everyone was playing random, she got Ken and kinda hated that she likes it so she occasionally plays him in private. •Shuichi caught her doing this while he was playing Dedede, and they both promised to never tell a soul.

•Punch Out stage or bust!

•Doesn’t have an opinion on items, but when she plays villager she hopes for the bunny hood cause she thinks it’s adorable.

Korekiyo Shinguji

•Lucario or bust (he likes the aura theme) though he’s also kinda a monster with Lucina

•Strangely though, whenever he uses Lucina he acts... different? (the class is convinced he’s possessed when this happens.)

•Outside of that though, tends to be one of the worse players.

•Second to none at recovery though.

•Hyrule castle has been his favourite stage since day one And that’s never gonna change.

•Always has items on, he likes the surprise factor (he and Shuichi are never allowed have a one on one fight)

Miu Iruma

•Has probably been playing the longest aside from Kirumi.

•Has played all the games, and cause Of this is decent with all of the OG 8, but will always pick Pikachu.

•Will only ever pick someone else if it’s a random match or someone makes her give Shuichi a turn, and in that case she picks Pichu as a backup.

•Despite her boasting, is usually in the lower end of the group.

•Doesn’t stop her from rubbing it in when she wins though.

•Tends to go for Wily’s castle for her stage, if for no other reason than she’s the only one who can handle the yellow devil.

•Super Hammer or bust!

Gonta Gokuhara

•Likes Donkey Kong the best, but also tries to learn how to play Joker from Kokichi cause he looks like a gentleman.

•Also likes all the Pokémon even if he isn’t the best with them.

•Honestly, aside from Olimar he likes everyone, and he only really dislikes Olimar cause he’s bullying the bugs!

•Everyone agrees to never touch the pikmin rep when he’s in the room.

•Tends to come in last with the only one he can beat kinda consistently is Ryoma without villager, but he still has a lot of fun.

•Tends to pick whatever stage everyone likes best, and has no clue how to use items.

Kokichi Ouma

•Always plays Joker because who else is a phantom thief going to pick.

•Actually he plays Villager in his spare time but Kaito is the only that knows and that was a mistake so shh.....

•Begrudgingly teaches Gonta how to play, if only from the horror on someone’s face when they get cocky only to loose to the guy who didn’t even know what a Smash Bros was a few weeks ago.

•Peak troll. Camps with gun, let’s people *cough* Kaito and Miu *cough* Hit fake smash balls, always picks the auto scrolling stages, he just loves making everyone groan.

•Only thing that makes him visibly salty is Miu on stage select cause f**k yellow devil.

Kaito Momota

•A proud Rosalina main. A badass space princess that protects the stars, what’s not to love?

•First time they all play, they all expect him to suck..... so you can imagine their surprise he‘a one of the best players in the class, especially at edge guard

•Despite that, is the most susceptible to stage hazards and bad items, especially fake smash balls. He has gotten better at recovering from them though.

•Never asks anyone to turn them off though, cause it’s worth it for the black hole and the assist trophies.

•Whenever Kiyo plays Lucina, he makes sure to sit at the other end of the couch.

•Always tries to give people pointers, though since he really only plays one character he’s not the best at it.

•Will ALWAYS pick either the Mario Galaxy stage or the Star Fox stages

Tsumugi Shirogane

•Tends to pick Kirby for A, the cute hats, and B, it gives her an excuse to rant about the lore. You know those Kirby fans who obnoxiously push how the series is super deep? That’s Tsumugi.

•Rants the whole match, leading to people preferring Kokichi obnoxiously joining in on Kaede’s singing to it. •Knowing they’re not safe when she’s not playing either, they all agree that unless it’s random’s to never pick a Kirby stage or character (another reason for Shuichi to hide being a Dedede main)

•She’ll occasionally rant about other series too, but Kirby is the biggest example.

•Despite this, she’s actually a pretty good player, even if she can be a bit to sadistic with down special sometimes.

Kiibo

•Refuses to touch ROB or MegaMan to avoid falling into the stereotype of the robot playing the robots.

•Instead picks Pyra and Mythra cause they’re great characters with a bit of computer theme that only Tsumugi knows about mercifully hasn’t ranted on yet.

•Plays very predictably, but just because you know a Lightning Buster- Prominence Revolt is coming doesn't mean blocking it is easier.

•As such is usually in the middle of the pack tournament wise. •Refuses to use side B as Pyra because one time he did and Kokichi did a stupid combo which took him from 30% to death so he’s not taking any chances again.

•Tends to put The stage on random, which he occasionally regrets if he rolls a side scroller.

Himiko Yumeno:

•Mains ALL the magic users. •Robin, Zelda, Hero, Sephiroth, so long as they have a big focus on magic she’s all in.

•Tends to use Hero the most, specifically Eight, because she likes the MP gauge.

•Despite seemingly never practicing and only doing okay with most moves, is the fastest thing in the freaking world at picking the right spell. If she gets magic burst or Kamikaze, prepare to die.

•Everyone assumes she’s probably played Dragon Quest cause of this, but she hasn’t confirmed and just chalks her skill up to magic.

•The only one who can make Tenko stop raging.

•Keeping with the theme, will usually pick the World Tree stage.

Maki Harukawa

•Messed around with everyone a bit but was only super good as Zero Suit Samus.

•Even then she’s mostly middle of the pack, but she doesn’t mind too much.

•Unless she looses to Kokichi, then it’s a struggle for Kaito and Kirumi to stop her from killing him.

•Tends to handle snacks cause Kirumi has to be in the room to keep order and she usually gets knocked out early. •The most frequent subject of Kaito’s tips, which range from helpful to ”Kaito I don’t have a f**king Luma”

•Tends to pick Shadow Moses island cause she likes the look, and though she won’t tell anyone she loves the music

[the-werdna]

As promised, here is the first of the several Robin x Lucina oneshots I am going to be writing in the near future. You can find the whole thing linked above, or in the cut bellow.

Title: Shopping

Description: To say Lucina’s fashion sense is an “acquired taste” would be an understatement to say the very least. However, Robin doesn’t seem to really mind. Why would it, when seeing his wife happy is everything he could ask for?

“Robin, what do you think of this one?” 

The tactician turned towards his wife, taking care to be just a tad slower than usual to brace himself for what he knew would come next.

“Well, I think it would certainly suit you. Very understated,” Robin commented, smiling as he gazed upon the very much not-at-all-understated bright lime green blouse Lucina was holding up triumphantly. The color alone would have been quite garish, to say the least, though that was hardly the only thing that made it an eyesore. No, the yellow polka dots and the layered pink and purple frills around the sleeves and collar certainly didn’t do it any favors in that regard.

Yet that was to be expected, given his wife’s–let’s call it “particular” taste in apparel. It was something he’d gotten very used to over the years they’d been together.

“Truly? I was worried that it may be a little too bright. But if you think it suits me, then it must be perfect for me,” Lucina proclaimed, visibly delighted by his answer. Her eyes sparkled with joy, simmering in the afternoon light streaming in through the shop’s windows, her teeth flashing in a beaming smile. Such was the radiance of her happiness that Robin too couldn’t help but smile all the brighter, sharing in his wife’s joy.

When he’d first beheld the fruits of Lucina’s fashion sense, he’d been quite horrified. But then, seeing how happy she’d been; the sheer childlike joy she’d held in a true smile that had been all-too-rare for her...  he’d known that he’d do everything in his power to make sure she could keep smiling like that. And if that meant putting up with her more tacky choices in apparel, whether that be going out in public with his wife dressed in the clothes she bought or he himself wearing clothes she’d picked for him, he’d gladly suffer it all to see her truly happy. 

“I’ll go try it on! Then when I return we can pick something out for you to wear!” Lucina promised, leaving him there as she hurried off to the store’s changing room. 

.  . .  . .

True to her word she returned moments later, having swapped out her tunic for the blouse. Paired with her other clothes, it somehow seemed even more garish to Robin’s eyes. Not that it mattered to him. Even if wearing the ugliest outfit imaginable, Lucina would still appear to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Still, he had no time to really ponder the fact much longer, as Lucina began to furiously search the wracks of clothing for something for him to try on.

“Oh, how about this one?” Lucina asked, holding up a multi-colored scarf with a repeating fish pattern.

“I… I certainly like it, though, isn't it a bit too early to be looking at winter clothes? Summer has barely begun,” Robin replied, trying his best not to make excuses. He’d gladly wear it if she insisted, of course, but if he could avoid it without upsetting her…

Thankfully it did not come to that, Lucina nodding piercing. “Of course, how careless of me. I should be looking for something you can wear now! Let me see… Oh! Is this more to your liking?” She returned the scarf, pulling out a shimmery red tunic for him to try next. 

.  . .  . .

Half an hour later the two exited the shop, Lucina still clad in her now purchased blouse while Robin carried the bag containing the cat-patterned robe he’d eventually settled on. While a distant part of him still dreaded having to wear the thing at some point, the thought wasn’t of much concern at that moment. No, getting to spend time with the woman he loved was too great a reward for it the dampen his mood.

“Where to next?” Lucina asked, beaming back at him as they began to stroll through the town square. She reached out, taking his hand in his. “Perhaps we can stop at that bakery you enjoy? Oh, or we could finally try that tea shop at the edge of town! The one that Inigo recommended to us, you recall?

“I do,” Robin confirmed, nodding. “I’m certainly willing, so long as you want to.”

“I see no reason not to,” Lucina agreed, a bubbly laugh followed as she tugged on his hand, pulling him forward. “Come. Let us go then. Before the day grows later!”

Or maybe they would just continue to enjoy each other's company as they strolled along at each other's side. 

Robin’s own laughter joined Lucina’s as he fell in alongside her. Despite her words urging haste, neither of them moved all that quickly. Late in the afternoon as it was, they still had plenty of time. Enough at least for a more leisurely walk through the bustling town in which they could simply enjoy each other's company. 

Even so, as they walked along hand in hand, Robin couldn’t help but notice the occasional stares they got from the townsfolk, most aimed at Lucina and her new outfit. Not that it was unexpected. Such reactions were something he’d gotten used to at this point: just the extra attention he needed to bear for the sake of his wife’s happiness. Thankfully Lucina always seemed to be blissfully unaware of the looks she was getting, something Robin was glad for. So long as the looks remained nothing more than longer than usual glances, then he knew there was no danger of it hurting his love’s feelings.

It was then however that his eyes were drawn to a group of young girls, looking to be no older than their late teens, coming down the opposite side of the road. Unlike the other townsfolk, when the girls noticed the blouse Lucina was wearing they did more than merely stare. They came to a complete stop, gawking as the garish design. 

One girl even pointing towards her, jeering, while another of her friends sneered some snide remark behind a covered hand. Snickering giggles from the other girls soon followed whatever comment had been made at Lucina’s expense.

Robin’s eyes narrowed, his lips pursing into a deep scowl.

As he and Lucina passed them, Robin turned to glare at the girls. It lasted only a moment, Robin being careful only to do so while Lucina wasn’t looking as to not draw his wife’s attention to the group’s jeering... But it was enough. The girls blanched at his look of raw, unmitigated fury, quickly turning away and hurrying along the road at an even quicker pace than the one they’d taken before stopping. Good, better run, Robin thought, feeling the flicker of anger simmering back down to a mere ember. Of the few things that could get him truly angry, the thought of anyone taking away the moments of joy that his wife so deserved…

Let’s just say it was a particularly personal insult.

“Robin?” Lucina asked, the tactician only then realizing he’d slowed and continued to stare down the street long after the rude group of teenagers had vanished from view amongst the crowds.

“Sorry. I got distracted and zoned out for a moment,” he assured her, smiling as he squeezed her hand before resuming their leisurely pace.

"I hope I'm not boring you by dragging all over the place," Lucina said, her smile fading a small bit. 

Robin shook his head fiercely. "Don't be silly, Lucina. I want to be here. Always." He squeezed her hand tighter.

"Oh, good. I am glad, Robin. Truly," Lucina said, her smile returning in full.

As they walked Robin found himself recalling the day he’d confessed his love for her. That was the day he’d first seen her smile in joy as she clutched the flowers he’d given her, all of her worries, fears, and the weight of her duty washing away if only for that brief moment. It was then that he realized how much he wanted to see her smile like that again. After all, she suffered and sacrificed, no one in the world deserved happiness more than her. 

Robin twirled his wedding band around his finger, feeling the grooves of the floral pattern that adorned both his and her rings. It was a physical reminder of that promise. Of how no matter what the future held for them both, it was her happiness that he put above all else.

It was then that Robin felt lips brush against his cheek, Lucina leaning in suddenly to plant a quick, yet tender, kiss upon his face.

“Um, I… What was that for?” Robin asked, touching the spot with his free hand as he felt his cheeks flush. Even after years of being married, public shows of affection were still something he wasn’t entirely comfortable with yet. 

“I wanted to thank you, Robin. For agreeing to come with me today,” Lucina smiled, a soft, joy-filled laugh escaping her lips. “I know it's something so silly and simple, hardly worthy of thanks. But it still means so much to have you here with me.”

“Ah,” Robin intoned, feel his face tug into an even deeper smile. Now it was his turn to publicly affirm his affection for her, returning her kiss with one of his own upon her lips. A small gasp escaped Lucina, but it was short-lived, her free hand moving quickly to cup the side of his face and hold him into a more drawn out kiss. Then a moment later Robin pulled away, placing his own hand against the side of her face, drawn into the sheer joy held in the expression staring back at him. 

“No, it’s me who should be thanking you, Lucina. Seeing you happy is everything I could ask for. It's all that I’ve ever wanted.” 

[yukiwrites]

A Broken Promise, A Fulfiled Duty

Thank you so much for commissioning me again, @breeachuu​! This was so feely to write I cried a bit ;v;) I hope you like it!

Summary: Robin sacrificed herself to stop the threat of Grima for eternity. She left behind her growing family -- Chrom, Lucina, Morgan and their baby sister Luci --  as well as the friends she promised to always stay with. Nidra grieved her human friend more than anything in the world, but decided to uphold her promise with Robin.

Commission info HERE (closed!) and HERE! (closed!)

Origin Peak. Naga had used most of her power to transport and heal the Shepherds as they fought over the Fell Dragon's back. Grima flew over the clouds, its sheer speed making the soldiers flinch, taking the most they could to simply stand, let alone fight under these conditions.

Nidra, Meliodas, Henry and Cynthia fought with their backs to the Fell Dragon's neck, where Robin and Chrom fought the Avatar of Destruction, the Robin who came from Lucina's future. The older manakete protected her children, taking blows meant for them with ease -- her dragon form was significantly larger than Meliodas' due to her old age, and Cynthia fought over her pegasus. Henry made a mount out of his wife and cursed any and every Risen within his sight -- and boy, was his sight amplified due to Nidra's flight.

But the dark mage gasped for a split of second due to Nidra flinching under him. It was as though her power had been sapped for a moment, taking her by surprise. Widening her eyes, Nidra looked around to the battlefield, seeing it in slow motion. She could feel that every manakete in the area reacted the same way -- it felt like Naga had been borrowing a bit of each dragon's power to use it to seal Grima with Falchion, guided by her true son, Chrom.

Her heartbeat slow, Nidra almost closed her eyes, feeling somewhat peaceful that her power was being used to banish Grima from this era, but soon the rush of battle came crashing down at her: her power was returned all at once as the very ground they stood shook.

Robin didn't let Chrom deal the last blow.

She used her own magic against the Fell Dragon, taking its pain within her body and dissolving alongside it.

"ROBIN!" Nidra could hear Chrom's desperate yell from behind, her own body moving towards it.

"NO!! MOTHER!!" She heard Morgan and Lucina say in unison, their voices begging for it not to be true.

Nidra blinked, quickly opening her large jaw and picking Meliodas by his neck, grabbing both Cynthia and her mount with each of her hands: Grima's gargantuan body was falling at an increasing speed.

Henry held onto Nidra's neck as the manakete beat her wings slowly so as to alleviate the wind's pressure in her husband and humanoid daughter.

Naga's light once again enveloped the Shepherds, allowing them a safe landing at the foot of Origin Peak, right beside the now disintegrating bones of Grima.

Chrom held the only thing left of Robin: her coat. He squeezed it with one hand, grinding his jaw so as not to burst into tears right there and then. "It's done -- Grima will never again... never again," he stuttered, his eyes overflowing with tears despite his utmost efforts. "Never again plague humanity." He brought Robin's coat to his chest at the same time Morgan threw himself in his arms. "Let's not give up hope -- our bonds with Robin are much too strong for her to simply disappear like that. Let's not... give up hope." His voice faltered as his eyes fell on Lucina, who looked at the lump of dust the Avatar of Destruction had become, then back at the coat her father held.

"She was... she IS my true Mother, no matter what my parentage with that Vessel who came back from the future is." Lucina whispered, slowly heading towards the remainder of her family. "She has to come back; she promised... she promised she would take us all to live the life of a true family."

Nidra sobbed, not realizing she had placed her family safely on the ground and transformed back to her humanoid form. "R-Robin...!" She cried. It wasn't a surprise, really -- Robin really was someone who always prioritized other before herself, so seeing her give her own life for the sake of this world's future was truly something she would do, despite having promised otherwise.

But it still hurt.

It hurt so, so very much.

Nidra wasn't ready to part with her closest human friend from this era. From any era, really.

Robin was much too important to the manakete for her to even fathom saying goodbye that soon.

"Oh, Robin!" Nidra grieved, digging her face within her hands. She felt a tackling hug almost shatter her ribs, then an equally strong pair of arms squeezing the breath out of her body.

"I-it's gonna be alright, Mother!" Cynthia sniffled, digging her face into Nidra's chest. "Now I know what it means to be a true hero, and Robin fits the d-de-description! But, you know?" She looked up to her mother, her cheeks awash with tears. "Heroes always come back in the end!" Her lips trembled. "D-don't they?"

Nidra widened her eyes, conflicting emotions warring inside of her. She looked from her daughter to her approaching son, then to her husband whose hand never left her shoulder. With her enhanced hearing, she could still hear Lucina's, Morgan's and Chrom's quiet sobs, the Exalted family doing their best to not be overcome by sadness and grief.

"If anything ever happens to me... Nidra, I'm counting on you to take care of her." Nidra remembered her friend saying the very day young Lucina was born. The very day she took it upon herself to be the small princess' godmother, and to watch over her until her small light faded and her own children ruled over Ylisse.

Once again Nidra felt the tears burn her eyes, but this time she took a deep breath and patted her daughter's head. "... Of course they do, Cynthia. They always do. And Robin WILL return."

"Nyep, Robin isn't so weak to just, you know, die if you kill her!" Henry smiled, wrapping one arm around his wife and daughter, opening the remaining one for Meliodas to join.

"She is a very strong woman, indeed." The young manakete nodded, his expression of grief out of sympathy for his friend Lucina for losing her mother. "We'll never stop looking for her."

"... No. No, we will not." Nidra nodded, looking up at the parting clouds, feeling the warmth of the sun for the first time in months. "I would rather you both returned with us to Ylisse, however, though I will not force you to."

"Mother?" Cynthia tilted her head to the side, her face still wet with tears.

"I've a duty to uphold there and it would be best if we all were together."

The end of a war did not mean the end of one's duties with their kingdom -- on the contrary. It was within the rebuilding that rested the true responsibility of a ruler.

Chrom would need to be strong for his family, present OR future one, at the same time as he ruled over a kingdom and establish better relations with their neighboring one.

Nidra's volunteering to care for young Lucina alongside the wet-nurses would help the Exalt immensely, though it did much to increasing his grieving over his wife.

Seeing Nidra holding Lucina instead of Robin the times he went to visit the baby brought Chrom mixed feelings he would rather not divulge to his eager to help manakete friend.

He arranged for her and Henry's quarters to be moved closer to the Royal Wing and would do the same for Cynthia's and Meliodas' hadn't the manakete children refused in lieu of staying at the barracks, close to their time-traveling friends.

Lucina was promoted to the leader of the Shepherds at the same time Morgan took it upon himself to lead search after search for their missing Mother. The entire Royal Family did the best they could not to feel Robin's absence by doing what she did the most: prioritize work at the expense of their own health.

Given the circumstances, Nidra didn't feel that she had the right to tell Chrom off, or any of them, really. The most she could do at the moment was uphold her promise with her dearest friend and be there for young Luci at her every need.

"Cool thing that we've moved to the Castle, huh?" Henry hummed one afternoon as they took a short break under a tree at the gardens. "But I guess we'll be kicked out once Robin comes back, nyaha!"

Nidra pinched her husband's ribs, stealing a squeal out of him. "Robin would never do that to us, though I do agree that I would rather live in the outskirts of the city once everything returns to normal around here."

"Fufu, yeah, raising four dragon children will really need a lot of space; good thinking on the outskirts, Ni-Ni!"

Nidra smiled for what felt the first time in six months, ever since Robin had disappeared. She absentmindedly caressed her stomach, wondering how it felt to be pregnant. "Two of them are already grown, unfortunately. Though I'm not opposed to having them living with us for the rest of our days."

"MY days you mean? Yeah!" He laughed, bonking his head on her lap as he melted down to the grassy ground. "Don't try to take it all on yourself, okay? I'm not gonna live as long as you, but I sure as heck ain't gonna leave you that soon -- so you can tell me anything! I thought we talked more than this before the end of the war!"

Nidra's eyes burned, her hand flinching over her husband's silky hair. "It's only... that being confronted by the sudden truth that I will be left alone one time or another; to care for a too young baby on my own for all eternity... I suppose it is like when humans are confronted with their own mortality, but with the mortality of my loved ones instead."

Henry clasped both hands over his chest, the same way humans usually fashioned the corpses of their loved ones inside the coffins. "I'm not gonna die that soon, though? I told you I'm researching life-extending stuff with your dragonstone, yeah? Besides, thinking about my death all the time's only gonna make it come sooner!"

"No!" Nidra gasped, holding Henry's face with both of her hands.

"Just when I started thinking that I actually wanted to live a bit longer instead of wanting to die a gory death or something..." He chuckled, lifting both hands to upside-down caress Nidra's cheeks. "Robin's gonna come back and we're gonna have our amazing five-dragon family, alright? Let's have that smile now!"

Nidra snorted, her vision blurred by tears. A few fell over Henry's cheeks, making him let out 'eeks' of surprise and setting her off even more. "I love you, Henry. Thank you so much for being there for this foolish wife of yours."

"Hey, no biggie! We're bound to life AND death, you and I!" He giggled, slightly pulling her downwards for a kiss.

The manakete indulged her husband, kissing him for what felt the first time in months. Her heart much lighter than before, Nidra smiled over Henry's lips. "Now I must see Luci."

"Hey, we were having a moment!"

"Forgive me, Henry, but a song is bubbling inside my chest and I must sing it for my goddaughter. May it give her the strength it gave me when I first heard it."

"Oooh, a one person concert! I'm coming, too!"

Nidra arrived at Luci's quarters moments after she had been fed by the wet nurse -- the woman was somewhat having trouble putting the baby back to sleep, as always.

It was as though the little princess missed her mother's arms and refused to be lulled to sleep in anyone else's but hers. Nidra felt the song bubbling out of her lips as she stepped inside the room and opened her arms to the wet nurse, silently asking for Lucina.

The seasons, they turn, ♪

Winter to spring. ♫

Dulling the pain and ♪

Erasing the sting. ♫

She sang slowly, carefully holding the wailing little girl.

The seasons, they turn, ♪

Summer to fall, ♫

Time's warm embrace, ♪

Begins to heal all. ♫

And though she may be gone, ♪

Just ash in the wind, ♫

One life surrendered, ♪

So yours can begin ♫

Baby Luci blinked slowly, her tears giving way to drowsiness, as though she could understand the words being sung to her.

Courage, little children,

This is your song. ♫

She is your Earth,

She will make you strong. ♫

The young princess sucked on her thumb in her sleep, peaceful as though she weren't crying her eyes out moments previous.

"Woot! You calmed her down stat!" Henry clapped by the door, being shushed by both women in response. "Oh, yeah, whoops. Sleeping baby."

Nidra smiled softly at the tiny little human in her arms, feeling their bonds of god family strengthening. She would do anything in her power to protect that little light. Whatever it took.

One year after singing Mila's song to Luci for the first time, Nidra once again felt as though her power was being robbed out of her for a moment, much like that day, almost two years ago. Though this time, it felt as though her power was being borrowed to return something, instead of sealing it.

The manakete blinked, her breath slow to return as she looked down to the baby in her arms. "Robin...! Your mother is back, Luci!" She gasped loudly, quickly getting up and adjusting the baby in her arms so she could storm out of the room, towards Chrom's study. "Chrom!"

"Nidra?! You too?" Nidra almost ran into Nowi inside the room -- Nah, Tiki and Meliodas were there as well. "You felt it, right? Robin's presence!"

The older manakete sniffled. "I did... I did! Robin has returned! I can almost pinpoint her location!"

"Me too!" Nowi lifted her hand, followed by Nah. Tiki and Meliodas nodded in response, making Chrom widen his eyes and open his mouth although no sound left it at first.

"Take me there! Quickly!" He said at last, tripping over his desk as he tried to circle it towards the door.

"Hop on!" Nowi lifted her dragonstone, ready to transform inside the cramped room.

"MOTHER! NOT HERE!" Nah snatched the stone from Nowi's hands, sighing in relief right after. "C'mon, we'll be your guides!"

"Meliodas, go get Morgan and Lucina! They need to be there, as well." Nidra huffed as she draped baby Luci around her chest, ready to run all the way to the open field she felt Robin's presence at. She wouldn't transform while carrying a baby that young, after all. The air pressure was still too much for her.

"Very well!" Meliodas concurred, quickly running to the opposite direction the other manaketes did

"She is your Earth," Nidra mumbled, caressing Luci's poofy hair, "and she will make you strong," she sniffled, almost feeling Robin's arms around her. "Gone she is no longer; from the ash she returned -- to sustain you, year after year."

Song used: Modified version of Heritors of Arcadia

[a7xjoker33-blog]

The Summoner's Tales: Chapter 1 - Any Day in June

Prompt: Origin Story for your summoner. What was it like to be summoner to Askr?

      A puff of smoke appeared at the base of the large stone structure etched with a carving of the the world tree. Standing a good seven feet or so tall, the tablet never ceased giving off a simultaneous air of mystery and contempt. On the one hand, the fact that it acted as the portal through which so many worlds, times and realities could be connected with and drawn into this one was an awe-inspiring concept. Something so simple as a giant stone holding such importance. On the other hand, any summoner would know the pain of standing in front of the altar for hours on end, wishing and praying for some act of kindness and fair play, only to be met with the cold indifference of random chance. The stone tablet was just that - a stone tablet, but damn if I didn't yell at it time and again hoping beyond hope that it would sense my frustration and reward my efforts.

      I often considered the likelihood of there being other realities where other summoners stood as I did on that platform in front of the tablet, firing Breidablik and their dwindling ration of orbs into the heart of the beast. How many were lucky? How many summoned the heroes they so desperately wanted? How many quit out of frustration and left their new-found home behind? How many were drunkenly doing so only to wake up in their castle cots the next morning to the surprise of new allies and fewer orbs? Had anyone ever tried special trick shots? Did those help at all? Maybe if one were to sing a thematic song......

"Smoke? That's a good omen! I wonder who might be joining us today..."

     Lucina's voice beside me on the right snapped me out of those wandering thoughts. A quick shake of the head then refocused me on that infernal and beautiful stone structure a few yards before me in the summoning plaza on the Askrian castle grounds. A small audience accompanied me to the event that day. Well, small given the size of the barracks at the castle. To my right stood Lucina, hand resting on her Falchion blade holstered at her side; the mightiest weapon among the worlds we'd been summoning from and interacting with for months on end. A weapon of legend which had continued to evolve and develop as she fought here at my side; still not even close to as impressive as the girl who wielded it.

      As he did in most things, Robin stood right next to her, tome open to record the summons of this day. I always knew I could trust Robin to offer sound advice and strategies for our battles here with the Askrians. His calm nature and tactical mind had been boons since the first day I arrived in the kingdom, and we would often find ourselves discussing anything from odd histories of the various realms to the status of our troops and allies. Sometimes our conversations were over things as simple as the ruffled mops of hair we each wore upon on our heads. We each knew how similar our roles were to one another, and that along with our dorky personalities led to us becoming fast friends. He and Lucina were two of my most trusted comrades. They in turn were as thick as thieves with one another, sharing a bond stronger than any other two members of this makeshift army I had stumbled into commanding.

"Think it will be anyone cute? I bet it's a cute girl. Pleeeeeaaaassssseeeee let it be someone cute! Lucy - cross your fingers with me!"

     Lucina couldn't help but chuckle at that. Robin smiled and shook his head. To my left a few paces off and no longer leaning against the tree she had been a few minutes ago was Soleil; the happy-go-lucky girl who made each day with the army a bit more fun. By this point she was leaning forward, crossing the fingers on each of her gloved hands, bouncing a bit as she eagerly awaited to see a cute face appear out of the smoke. It didn't matter the day or fight our group faced. That girl made them all easier to endure. None of us were ever quite sure how she managed to do it. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't even maintain the group's spirits as well as the girl with long pink locks and an heirloom headband from her grandmother. Her charisma was a blessing that I envied. I mean, I find myself to be a pretty fun guy (fairly good-looking to boot, I'd say!), but that girl could flash you a smile and you'd climb a mountain for her!

     Beyond being the sunshine of my day most everyday and trying to ask every girl and guy in the army she found cute out to tea, I was amazed to see her rise to prominence as quite possibly the best fighter in the army. I often wondered between she and Lucina who really would have won that title. Lucina wondered it too, as it turned out. Even challenged Soleil to a friendly match one day to try and answer the question. Several of us in the mess hall had noticed Lucina approaching Soleil with an air of excitement. Lucy still had that bit of her father in her - that drive to be the best, Chrom’s competitive spirit. She wasn't about to learn someone in the army had surpassed her skill with a sword and do nothing about it . If that were the case, she needed to know so she could retake the title. Never did get the answer, though. Best as Robin and I can figure after watching the conversation from a distance? Lucina got caught off-guard by Soleil's flirtations and thought Soleil was leaving for the barracks to grab her sword.

     Soleil returned with a personal teapot and two cups. Robin and I both rolled with laughter as Lucina found herself on a tea-date with Soleil for the next hour. To her credit, Lucy seemed to enjoy it as well. Both girls knew they were the best in the army. Soleil just didn't really care to prove it like Lucina did. She was much happier to just lift the spirits of a girl who often found herself burdened with her own past and the memories of what she had lost. Had to love that about Soleil; flirtatious to a fault? Perhaps, but there wasn't a person alive who you'd rather spend time around than the happy-go-lucky girl with a smile as bright as the sun and a penchant for sass.

"Whomever it is, I'm sure we'll be the best of friends!"

     Speaking of outgoing personalities.....Sharena, Anna and Alfonse stood behind me; the original three members of this army that had now grown to over fifty individuals strong. So many faces coming and going; some that had grown with us and others that had left promptly or who had passed on their knowledge of skills. Yet the Askrian prince and princess and their commander-at-arms still were here, fighting what at times felt like a losing battle against the forces of Muspell. It always felt as though we were fighting back a predestined endgame, but the bouncy princess, lord of benches and avaricious commander still stymied the tides of enemies pouring out of the fire kingdom.

     Also in the audience were what I liked to refer to as Lucina's split-personalities. Lancina, Marthcina and Bunncina. Lucina was surprised the first time she came face to face with not herself - with the Lucina who still wore her butterfly mask picked out by Selena and Gerome in another time and reality years ago and insisted she be called “Marth.” It was an odd thing seeing her explain to this past version of herself that the war to stop Grima was progressing well and that she - the masked version - would get to meet Chrom as Lucina and not as Marth in the near future whenever she left this new realm. The second time when she met a version of herself wielding a lance and wearing a garb similar to her father's promoted attire things went a bit smoother. By the time Spring Lucy rolled into the plaza, the welcome party of Lucinas was well-versed on how to break the odd news. Nowadays they had formed the most powerful squad in the army, though giving orders to "Lucina" often led to a harmonic chorus reply of "yes?"

     We.....we quickly assigned nicknames after that. They always liked to be there to welcome whomever appeared and show them around the castle. Masked and Spring Lucina were always paired together while Brave Lucina often would converse with her partner-in-crime on the battlefield Soleil. Today she exchanged smiling glances with her OG self at Soleil's desire to see another cute face around the castle.

     Last among the ranks was the red-haired pegasus knight of Ylisse Cordelia, who had asked many months ago to watch as I summoned. What exactly she expected to gain from watching me, I have no idea, as I'm fairly certain she is unable to use the magic gun of summons, headaches and heartaches. But I didn't want to crush her spirits. She always watched so intently, as though she felt she was on the verge of figuring it out. I let her try one time when only the two of us were in the plaza. She actually did manage to get something to happen, though I imagine being blasted backwards via some weird backfire onto her butt wasn't what she had in mind. Made me promise to never tell anyone that story. Oops....

     The smoke began to clear as the central orb of the summoning tablet continued to glow red through the haze.

"I am Eldigan. Those who defy my lord will meet my blade. But I trust that you and I will have no such problem."

     The Lionhearted paladin himself: Eldigan. One of the most powerful cavalrymen among the realms; the wielder of the mighty Mystletainn blade. First time he'd ever appeared in this realm. That would be sure to make his sister and niece in the barracks quite happy. Particularly his sister. Sweet girl, but good lord the girl has a weird obsession with her brother. Come to think of it.......

"Wait! Someone else is coming through!"

     Right. Had had enough orbs to fire twice at the tablet. The centerpiece orbs still glowed a crimson red as the Lucina Squad led Eldigan and his horse into the castle. I wondered who would appear this time? A news bulletin from the Order's feathered messenger Feh had imparted that new summons had an increased chance of pulling from the world of Elibe and the time of Nergal's Campaign against Lycia. For long nights I had wondered where these messages were coming from that Feh was bringing back to the castle. A couple of nights I tried to stay awake with Soleil; each of us taking turns watching the dainty owl as she slept atop her perch, hoping to see her take off to some location allowing us to trail her. Inevitably though we each fell asleep leaning back to back against one another, only to wake up to the morning sun and find that the owl had brought back another seemingly omniscient message. The little owl just smiled and hooted, flapping her wings. Taunting us with a secret she wouldn't share.......cocky little bird. We'll see if you get any of Oscar's cake later.....okay, probably like a slice, but I'm not giving it to you right away. You'll have to wait at least five minutes.

     A long black-haired woman wearing a ceremonial garb of the plains people of Sacae stepped forward out of the smoke. A sword hung from her belt to one side, and her grey eyes conveyed a look of confusion at her new surroundings.

"I am Karla. This place is very strange....Who might you be?"

"Karla? I'm not familiar with any legends of her. Mike, have you?"

     Catching Robin unfamiliar with a hero was always a small treat for me. He read so much within the Askrian library about the different legends, heroes and conquests from the different worlds that there was very little I knew anymore that he didn't. Little victories - they get you through the days. I did a little fist-pump to myself.

"I saw that, you know."

"I'm going to guess you two in the cloaks are in charge? A pity. Neither of you look to be much in the way of fighters. I sure hope....whatever this place is doesn't turn out to be a waste of time."

"Everyone, this is Karla. She's from the world of Elibe, particularly Lyn's home country of Sacae. Pretty sure the uh....garb and sword give that much away though. She's famed in the world as one of the best arena fighters in all the lands - a lethal swordmaster able to strike in a blur. You may also know her as the sister of Karel, the Sword Dem-"

"My brother is here?!? Does he carry the Wo Dao still? How does he fare? Wait, another question - how do you know that much about me?"

"In order? Karel is here in this realm, but not among us. Last we saw him was on the battlefield where we bested him. He's shown up occasionally since, always in fine health but never joining us. Second, yep, still has your family's sword with him. But uh.....feel I should let you know - that particular sword isn't quite so rare here."

     I looked over at Soleil as she flourished her own version of the legendary sword with a smile and wink. A little figure eight pattern before re-sheathing it and a slight bow. I love how she can't help but show off a bit. Truthfully, I'd have done the same.

"That's.....perplexing."

"As for your last question, we are the Order of Heroes. Bit bland of a name, but hey, what can you do? I'm Mike, the summoner and tactician for the group. Turns out that this world is connected to many worlds. It acts a bridge of sorts; allowing heroes from different times and realms to venture to and from here. Sometimes, like with us, free to follow their own whims and train as they wish until they're called upon to return to their own times.

Sometimes they're bound by a contact when summoned to our enemies side to fight for that army. Pretty much the worst mercenary job you can think of. Just without the pay. Or....being a mercenary at all, I guess. Thing is, I'm not from this realm either. I came from another world - one where I've seen many of the endings to many of the stories and times all of the heroes here have lived through. Bit of a voyeuristic perspective, you might say. But at least it lets me know about you all and how to best help you."

"Sounds suspicious. What makes any of us sure we can fully trust you? Sounds like you may be no different than this opposing force of summoners. Wait, did you say army?"

"Ha. Fair point, I guess. Well, doubt I can convince you to believe in me by a simple conversation right off the bat. You're free to wander around this realm at your leisure. If you so choose, you can join us here at the castle as we continue to fight back an invading force hellbent on destroying this kingdom and the citizenry. There's plenty of room in our barracks and we could use your blade and skill. At the minimum, you'll find ample opportunity to train here. Lucina and Soleil are two of the best swordswomen I've ever met in any of the realms. They'll be every bit your match, and possibly better."

     I winked at Lucina. She just raised her eyebrow as if to say in response “really?” I'd sadly gotten used to that reaction. Can't blame a guy for trying though, can you?

"You might even be surprised to find some familiar faces here! Believe you know a musclehead named Bartre?"

"Bartre is here? I thought he was still travelling with the new Marquess of Pherae."

"Pretty sure this Bartre is a bit older than the one you know. Which is good news and bad news!  Good news! He's a bit more polished of a fighter than you probably remember! Also he's got a papa-stache now!"

"That man.....actually, I always did wonder how he'd look with facial hair. It's been awhile since we had our last training session. And the bad news?"

"You'll be seeing your future daughter here! Congrats! You're gonna be a mother!"

"WAIT, EXCUSE M-"

"I'll just leave you to it then! Cordelia, I'm sure you can introduce Karla to her family. Have fun!"

     I whistled as I casually strolled away from the plaza, heading back towards the mess hall and my quarters beyond that. I'm fairly certain Karla was shouting some amount of obscenities at me as I walked away. Sometimes it's just best to let the heroes figure out some things for themselves, you know?

     As we passed through the mess hall where some heroes were still eating their morning meals (late risers; I envied them, as that luxury had been lost to me since arriving here), Robin and I made plans to meet up at the training grounds later that afternoon to oversee a few friendly training matches, possibly even to set up an expedition to the local training tower a few miles out from the castle. I did hope Karla would choose to remain with us for some time. Her blade was as renowned in Elibean legend as her brother's. There was more I wish I could tell her. About how little time she'd have with her daughter, about how her brother would later find redemption and peace away from the battlefield, about how overjoyed Bartre would be today to see his wife one more time. Would she be taken aback to learn of her future? Perhaps, but circumstances being what they were, it's best to let her learn the major details right away. The rest could wait for later, and maybe longer still. It was always....difficult to determine how much to let Heroes know about their futures. Each hero would handle the knowledge differently, but it was consistently hard to tell how much was too much to let on. Sometimes ignorance was bliss.

     I made my way down the stone corridor between the mess hall in the center of the castle towards the barracks in the back. The midday sun streamed through the large openings on the left side of the corridor where windows would be back in my world. Another beautiful day in the kingdom, I thought to no one but myself. Ever since coming here, it was hard to deny that the kingdom of Askr had weather that would make anyone jealous. Plenty of sunny days and blue skies overlooking bountiful green farmlands and small villages. The air consistently felt crisp and clear. If I didn't know any better, I'd believe the castle to be near some large body of water. It never ceased to amaze me how.....light the air felt. I stopped for a moment just to breath the air in. I closed my eyes. I can't say it reminded me of home, but it did remind me of places I knew back in my world.

     Beautiful places where civilization hadn't quite mired the natural landscape, where man had only brushed his hand along the Earthen surfaces rather than dug down deep as if to bend the dirt below to his own will. Places where you could pause to think and reflect. Places where you felt that if there were some greater power behind all of this creation, this was as close as you could find to their fingerprint on the world. A place where once I had been able to sit alone on an overcast day along a rocky beach and stare out into a cold, northern ocean mere miles from where my grandmother had grown up, half way around the world from anything I knew and just.....breath and think. Just look out to the horizon, and for a moment smile thinking that you were looking at the top of the world; taking in a moment to reflect on how small we all are in the grand scheme of things. No more significant or long-lasting than those pebbles on the beach. Constantly buffered around by waves of time and all just looking for somewhere to rest a minute.

     I'd simultaneously found myself with plenty of time to think in this new world and little time to reflect on the small things with it. The burden of leadership, I suppose. It still all felt like a weird dream to me. One day you're driving to work, wallet and an old IPod classic circled by a pair of earbuds in one pocket and the next thing you know, you're falling from the sky into a ditch in a different world. Upside down with a massive headache; nothing to your name but a white embroidered cloak and a pocket with that IPod and wallet lining the inside of it. There stood a face I recognized from a series I enjoyed playing for hours on end. Anna, or some version of her wielding an odd white and gold-embroidered object that reminded me of one of the weird gun-shaped controllers some gamers would buy as an accessory for their consoles. I was kind of right. It was a gun. Turns out in their hour of need, Anna had found this.....Breidablik device and hoped it would summon the legendary hero that Askr had been promised. Instead they got me. A pale, glasses-wearing dorky extrovert with a mop of brown hair that never laid right, a slight beard that he could never decide if it was too long or too short, a sarcastic tongue and mind that got him into trouble more often than not for thinking he was one of the smarter guys in the room and a duality of confidence that shifted on any given day between cockiness and self-depreciation. Yay for them.

      I'd had my fill of fresh air, so I turned from the corridor's opening and continued on towards the barracks. This was one of the few mornings I found myself with a bit of free time before the daily drills and marching. Things had been quiet from the Muspell front for a few days. Disconcerting, but hey - take the breaks you can get. I had plenty on my mind already, and only one thing was going to calm me down. I waved hello to a few of the passing heroes. Arden and Effie on their way to training grounds to most likely lift something heavy. Lazlow or Inigo or whatever he was going by that day was reminiscing with his mother appearing in her younger form about his time as a retainer for the Crown Prince of Nohr. Cecelia and Seigbert passed on their way to the library for lessons in diplomacy. Still mentoring young royalty in another world. On another day, any of them may have stopped to chat with me, but I guess my hands in the pockets of my cloak and a distant stare probably didn't send off a "Sure! Let's have a nice chat where you tell me ALL about your day!" vibe. I didn't mean anything by it; it was just where my head was at.

     After a few minutes of walking down stone corridors and around turns in the barracks hallways, I found my room situated near the northwest edge of the castle. Alfonse, Sharena and Anna all had rooms near that corner as well, but given the time of day I knew I was alone there. Heading inside I plopped down on the cot in the corner, propping myself up against the headboard and wall it touched, one leg kicked out and the other propped up on the bed. I grabbed the IPod from the cloak's pocket and popped my earbuds in. Surprisingly I found that despite there being no electricity in this world, a few magic tomes were able to recharge the thing by lightly electrocuting it. I didn't ask too many questions. I was just thankful to have the darn thing working.

     I scrolled down until I got to the "Q" section of artists, clicked on Queens of the Stone Age, found their blue-faced album titled "Rated R" and hit the play button on the song "In the Fade." The slow fade-in of a guitar chord hit me and things felt right. I glanced down to see the repeat icon lit up. Eh, I'll switch it off after a few plays. I grabbed my wallet from atop the wooden desk adjacent to the bed and flipped it over to the back slot where a now-pointless driver's license was sleeved. Yep, still there. Not crazy yet. The day on the license matched the day on the calendar in the mess hall: June 7th.

I was 25 now.

     Hope mom and dad are doing well. Wonder if time here works differently. What if I do eventually head back and time hasn't changed at all? What if I have aged though? Two years older, two years more handsome, maybe? Ha.......I hope everyone is alright.

     No one at the castle seemed to pay attention that morning to the date. Just another day here. I'd have been more upset if it were a bigger deal to me, but to be honest I felt it more enjoyable to celebrate the birthdays of the others since arriving rather than my own. Never meant much back in my world, so why should it here?

     A knock at the door broke the inner monologue underplayed by a favorite song from a band no one else here knew.

"Mike, you in there? I uh...followed you back from the plaza. You seemed like you were somewhere else though, so I let you be. You know, in your own head? Anyway, got a minute?"

     Soleil sounded a bit more hesitant than normal.

"Sure thing, Sunshine. It's unlocked."

     I put the wallet back down on the table and removed my ear buds as she entered. She closed the wooden door behind her, but those olive eyes usually conveying a warmth as bright as any daylight were fixed down and to her left. She fidgeted with her gloved hands, rocking back and forth on one foot.

"What's troubling you, Sunshine? Something's on your mind if that smile isn't on your face."

     She sighed and met my eyes.

"You know so much about us, Mike. I get what you told me about having seen all these stories - all these lives and interactions - played out in some way before. Seems crazy to me, but hey! I grew up in some kind of....weird....time bubble thing, so who am I to judge? But it's soooooo personal! You know who we are at our best, and at our worst, who we're descended from, our skills, who we could learn the most from or have the most in common with, who will get along well, who can ride a horse or shoot magic or who has slain a dragon or who is a dragon or that I can't dance and how that' so embarrassing but now you're trying to help me learn how by introducing me to my grandmother who is really cute by the way -"

     Soleil was getting excited. She always got talking fast like that when she was flustered. Usually it was because there was a cute girl around. I'm pretty good-looking, but this wasn't that.

"Right, right. It's....kind of hard to explain it all myself. It's like reading a whole series of books and then one day finding yourself in the middle of the plot of one. You know who everyone is and how the plot should go, but you're now in a side chapter you never knew about. It doesn't make much sense to me either. But what's brought all that back up? Think I shouldn't have told Karla about Fir?"

"No, it's not that. It's just.....you never open up to us about you. Kind of feels like you're always keeping us an arm's length away. Even Lucina and me."

".....I...don't mean for it to seem that way. I really don't."

     I suddenly became aware that my hood was up. I hadn't even noticed it before. I pulled it down and nodded my head to the spot on the bed next to me, swinging my legs off of the bed so she'd have a place to sit. She flashed a small smile and sat next to me, hands grasping the edge of the mattress as she leaned forward to look at my face on her left. I opened my mouth for a second to say something, and moved my jaw off-center. Truth be told, this line of questioning from her was leading to the same place my mind had been most of the morning before the summoning session. I glanced right to look at her, meeting her eyes.

"Your dad had a conversation with you once, right? About how he wasn't from the world of Nohr and Hoshido? That the day may come when he had to return to his own world?"

"Yeah, I told him I wanted to go with him if I could. I'd love to see his world. Turns out we both got that chance in a way when you brought us here. It's not his world, but all of the friends he knew are here. Lucina, Geroma, Aunt Selena, Uncle Odin, even Grandma! And that's sooooo cool to get to meet them all! I get to meet my grandmother and see why dad was always trying to dance like her!"

"Exactly, but....it's kind of like that for me. You never knew his actual name was Inigo, right?"

"Yeah, that was a total shocker..."

"He kept certain parts of his past hidden. Same as Selena and Odin. Now they had a mission that kind of required them to do so, but with me it's......"

     I sighed.

"I don't want to lose you. Any of you. I've made so many friends here and feel so welcomed by you all, even as weird as I may seem knowing so much about you. But I don't know how exactly I got here. I mean, yeah, I get the whole Breidablik thing, but that whole situation still seems crazy. Say something happens someday, and the whole thing is undone. That I have to return to my world. The closer I get, the harder it will be. I'm the only one from that world. I'll have to return: alone. As much as I'd like, I can't take you or Lucy or Rob or anyone back there. Your worlds all overlap. Mine doesn't. I hate goodbyes. Never been any good at them.

And that's not even taking into account what happens if I were to lose any of you while here. I want you all to be able to return to your own worlds safe and sound when this war is done. Hopefully the challenges of your worlds are all far easier after the work and training we've put in together here. But I don't know. It's going to hurt to leave everyone behind or see everyone leave. Whichever comes first."

      I found myself leaning forward at this point, forearms resting on my thighs with my fingers intertwined. I looked down at the ground for a moment. Soleil just watched, waiting for me to continue. I was always amazed by how well she could handle serious topics. She was far more mature and understanding than you'd think being the peppy flirter.

"I'm not that interesting of a guy, really. It's pretty surface-level, Sunshine. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and I wasn't doing anything all that impressive with my life before coming here. Your stories are all way more interesting than mine. Despite being pretty good-looking, smart, funny, charming - "

     She snorted while trying to fight back a laugh. I snickered a bit too.

"You know what I mean. I'm just the guy who summons you all here and needs help from Rob to make sure I keep you all safe and alive. I'm doing the best I can to be everyone's reliable friend. I hope that's working. But I still wake up some days unsure of why the hell this stupid thing chose me."

     I raised up Breidablik from my side and shook it a few times before setting it arm's length out on the desk.

"You're special to us, Mike. You ARE a good friend and leader. And you're the only one we'd want leading us out there. You work night and day to make sure we all do our best. So turn that frown upside down, cutie! I hate seeing you down like this."

      She reached over with both hands and forcibly pushed my mouth into a smile. We both laughed again, and this time the smiles were genuine between us.

“You know, one of these days I'm really going to miss you being here to cheer me up. Or me being there to cheer Lucy up. Or Rob getting startled by something and cheering all three of us up."

"Hahaha! Like that time he was practicing a new spell and set the row of training dummies on fire! The fire nearly spead to the mess hall!"

"Lucy was so mortified and Chrom just laughed. Then he reminded them they had just broken a pair each the day before, and they both got really quiet...."

"Hahaha! Yeah, it's fun being around them! I get now why dad missed them so much. And Lucina's QUITE the cute one."

"Down girl. Think Rob would have a thing or two to say about that. Besides, you and Lancina already have your own thing."

"That's still so weird to me that they're not the same girl really."

     We each just smiled and looked forward.

"Soooo......weren't going to tell anyone about your birthday, cutie?"

"You knew?! I purposefully didn't tell anyone. How'd you find out?"

"Lucy and I snuck in here one day and checked the wallet. Felt it might tell us a little something about you. Been planning something ever since."

"Well glad personal boundaries are so well respected!"

    I chuckled. She just smiled a toothy grin at me. I really would miss that one day.

"So wanna get going? Think you're supposed to be meeting Robin here soon. Then Lucy and I have you for the afternoon off."

    Funny how a few minutes of talking with someone you trust can turn a day around, isn't it? Especially when that someone is a cute guy or girl who you can't help but smile and laugh with. We all need that person.

"In a minute."

    I grabbed my IPod still sitting on the bed beside and between the two of us, looking for the one earbud marked with the little "R" on it. Popped it in my ear, and offered its pair to the girl beside me. She moved her long pink hair out of the way and behind her ear, smiling as she heard the song.

Losing a feelin', that I couldn't give away Countin and breathin, disappearin in the fade. They don't know, I'd never do you any good Stoppin and stayin, I would if I could.

     And as I'd done on so many occasions before with the girl with brown eyes and a smile that warmed the soul, and with the blue eyed girl with the heart of gold, we both just leaned back against the plaster-covered wall; listening and enjoying a quiet moment. No battles to fight, no comrades to mourn, no futures to rewrite or family to save, no ringing of steel or cacophonies of sound rising from the chaos of a battlefield. Nothing but smiles on our faces and the sound of music. Two pebbles resting on the shore. For a moment, untouched by the waves of time.

[arthoure]

Courage

A Yarne/Lucina fanfic for @tallmansions but especially for @vethica! Enjoy sakura season! You made it through the winter!

The battle rages on every side and Yarne's senses are overwhelmed.

He knows they're for his protection: heightened smell, heightened hearing, heightened touch. An instinct constantly screaming for him to run as fast as his muscled legs will take him, to preserve his heritage like Mother did before him.

The Risen paladin thunders toward him, eyes glowing red on both horse and rider.

Run. Run!

Yarne feels the hair rise on his entire body, but he shoves the impulse down.

Mother fought, to give him life. Father fought to keep the future from happening, even if he didn't win and broke his promise to return.

Lucina fights: for her own parents, and for him and his, and for all her friends. For everything.

Yarne won't let her do it alone.

He transforms with a yell, instantly as large as the mounted enemy, and lunges for him. The pounce knocks the Risen off his horse. His sword flails, slashing once, twice--but Yarne won't stop, can't stop, until the corpse finally lies still. Yarne rolls off and transforms again, lying on his back, gasping for breath.

He should probably get up. There's more fighting to do. But the cuts across his chest and stomach feel like lines of fire.

"That stings," he groans.

"Yarne!"

Someone lifts him up and slings an arm around his shoulder. Yarne cries out in pain but soon they're walking, and the familiar scent from the sweaty black hair so close to his over-sensitive nose is comforting.

"Father, wait," he insists. "The battle isn't over."

"It is for you," said Lon'qu. His grip doesn't ease until they've made it to the back lines, where Brady runs for him. Lon'qu lets him go.

"In this time, I keep my promises. Heal up, Yarne."

The adrenaline evaporates. Yarne's head spins so badly he can't even say thank you.

"Lucina?" he asks weakly as Brady leads him under the tarp of the healer's tent.

"Fine, last I heard. Now shut up and let me work."

***

Brady's quick and efficient, but oddly gentle. Yarne had never really noticed. He'd never really been in the thick of things; never really put himself at risk. Never really needed a healing like this.

When his wounds are clean, bandages wrapped, and the glow fades from Brady's staff, Yarne dozes on the stiff cot he was given. He wakes up to a small, calloused hand taking his.

"Lucina!"

He tries to sit but she keeps him down with her other hand. Despite their height difference, she's always been much stronger.

"Rest," she insists. "I'll sit with you."

She lets go of his hand only long enough to pull up a camp stool, and then cradles his palm between both of hers. Her clothes are still stained from the battle, but Yarne holds on tight.

"I'm sorry."

They blurt it at the same time, and then look away, though they squeeze each other's hands.

"I saw you get hurt." Lucina speaks first. "I promised you that I would watch your back."

"I think you might've promised that to everyone. It's okay, Lucina. My father had me, this time."

Yarne gives her a big smile. Hers is smaller, but she does return it.

"I'm just sorry I worried you," he says. "All my flight instincts were going berserk. If I hadn't hesitated..."

"No," Lucina soothes, smoothing a thumb over his knuckles. "I saw you fight. It's all right if you're afraid: we are all afraid. But you fought all the same. I think it is the bravest I have ever seen you."

Yarne would shove the compliment aside, but Lucina's nothing if not sincere. Her pride and admiration are undeniable in her voice. He feels himself blush.

"I'm stronger now, thanks to you," he says. "I used to just worry about my own hide...maybe because of pride more than anything else. Dying is one thing, but going down in history as the last taguel? The one who failed an entire race?" He tries to laugh but it comes out too dry. "It was so important to me, to not be that person. But now there are more important things."

Lucina's head has cocked.

"You're more important," he elaborates, even though he feels himself turn redder, and the sensation stings his cheeks. This is probably something he should be saying on his feet, proud and strong, and instead he's lying injured on a cot.

"I wanted to run, Lucina. But for the first time, even more than that, I wanted to stay, too. I want to protect our parents. I want to protect what we have."

"I do not need protecting," Lucina says, but Yarne knows it's only habit. She hates letting other people sacrifice for her.

"But you said you'd be my girl."

And sometimes love means making sacrifices. Lucina laughs a little as he brings her hand to his lips to kiss.

She leans forward from where she's sitting and kisses his mouth. His breath catches, which hurts beneath his bandages, but he doesn't pull away. It's worth it.

"I don't know much about taguel families," he murmurs, feeling her breath warm his face. "But I know about you and me. It's not about bravery or strength, anymore. It's just instinct. You make me this way."

"You make me stronger, too." Lucina pauses, and then adds, looking a little surprised with herself, "And happy. You make me remember happiness."

Yarne ignores the strain or how Brady will chide if he sees him. He pushes himself onto an elbow and pulls Lucina into another soft kiss.

Most of the world scares him. The future scares him. But he knows that at the least, he and Lucina won't be alone. Their parents will make it through, this time, and so will they. They'll make it so.

[svarmodiig]

                                          Collections of Writing .01

I don’t really have a title for this piece, but as I’ve been struggling to get back into writing, I challenged myself to try and write little pieces here and there until I get back into the system. 

Unnamed Piece.

Word Count: 1708.

It has been a year or so now since the loss of their parents, and the children are still adjusting to their new routine. Lucina, on night watch, is unable to fight back her insecurities. She is found by Inigo, who comforts her.

There is a sizzle as her tear drop falls into the campfire, a vicious hiss disgusted at the princess for even allowing her wet tears to threaten the continuing flame from staying alight, yet she did not care. It wasn’t as though there was a shortage of fires nowadays, the Fell Dragon had been sure of that.

In the reflection of her royal blue eyes, the fire burns strongly, dancing where it stood, fire spitting here and there- it was almost as though she was staring at her own heart. The only thing that stopped her cold exterior from being a reflection of who she truly was, was the warmth in her heart, lit only by her passion to bring around an end to the war, and to end the suffering of innocent lives.

How she wishes she could show that kindness, to smile freely as though nothing was amiss, and laugh along with the others, but her position hardly allows for such freedom. There existed one final hope for this world, which mimicked a black hole; removing even light, even hope, from their existence, and that hope was her, or rather, what she had.

The divine blade Falchion, once wielded by the legendary hero-king himself, her ancestor, Marth, was the only blade capable of ending this chaos. With the loss of her father, the duty fell to her; she was the only living person capable of wielding the blade- at least, to her knowledge.  Her own sibling refused to test their ability to wield the blade; they did not wish to consider a world where she no longer lived.

These very words were mirrored by her own cousin, Owain, albeit with a certain… dramatic flair to them. Though it upset her, she understood their decision, she knew all too well the burden the sword held. Her father had once warned of the weight of the blade, but she was too young to understand the meaning of his words. The blade itself was like any other, but it was the weight of what it could do that made it heavy.

In truth, she oft wondered if she was truly the best person to fulfill such a task. Her skills did not yet match her late father’s, and she was far from the once legendary hero king before either of them. What hope did she have, then?

It was with this knowledge that she pushed herself beyond her natural capabilities day after day to try and better herself, stopping only when her muscles were burning, screaming in agony for mercy, when she drowned in her own sweat, a fire raging in the back of her throat. And when she inevitably collapsed to the ground from exhaustion, she would beg the gods for more strength.

Today had been no different, any now she sat alone, resting by the campfire. The others were likely asleep by now ( somewhere not too far away, she can make out the sound of her cousin snoring away ) leaving her to watch the campsite for any Risen still wandering at this hour. She allows one final tear drop to sizzle in the fire before abruptly drying her eyes. The time for sorrow has passed, once more she must be strong, and keep watch.

“ Seems like quite the party you’re holding, “ A voice remarks from where she knows not. Instinctively, Lucina reaches for Falchion, carefully analysing her surroundings. “ I must confess, I’m hurt I was not invited to join you. “ Still, she cannot locate the voice, though she knows it comes from nearby.

“ Who goes there- Show yourself, coward! “ She replies, a confident tone to her voice, challenging the voice.

“ Stay your blade, milady… “ The voice begins, before a familiar face steps out from the darkness, a soft smile offered in exchange for peace, “ It is only I, Inigo. “ A frustrated sigh is let out by the princess, as she rests Falchion by her side once more.

“ Do you believe yourself amusing, Inigo? I believed you were an enemy- that you had come to raid our camp. I was prepared to attack you, what then? Would you still be laughing with a sword piercing your chest? “

“ Milady, you wound me… I did not mean to fright you so… I could not sleep, and found myself patrolling the campsite for peace of mind, that is, until I discovered you here, crying. I did not believe directly approaching you would be best, I know you do not let your guard down too easily, I only meant to allow you to put it back up before I came over, forgive me. “ The princess finds herself with a smile on her face, if only temporarily. Inigo often appeared as though he existed in a world of his own, where everything was rainbows and sunshines, yet it was only his method of coping… It was far different from her own.

“ You are forgiven Inigo… I’m sorry you had to witness such a moment, I promise it shan’t happen again. “

“ Lucina.... “ Inigo begins, pausing as he takes a step forward “ May I? “ She only nods in response. With her permission, Inigo seats himself on the log beside her. “ I cannot say I understand how difficult it must be in your position… The fate of this world lay on your shoulders, I can’t even begin to imagine how it must feel, but… You must know that you do not carry this burden alone! “

“ Inigo… “ She replies, though her eyes fall short in meeting his, continuing to study the ground by his feet.

“ I know you may not believe me but… I struggle with the same thoughts you do… What if we can’t do it? What if we aren’t good enough to save this world? What if we can’t find the gemstones, or perform the Awakening ceremony? What then? “ She looks up in time to watch as his eyes dart to the side to avoid meeting with her own. “ And worse… Why are we still struggling? What is even the point anymore? “ His voice begins to waver, fighting back the sorrow that begins to overwhelm him. “ But… I don’t give up, not because I can’t, but because I don’t want to. We all share this dream, as long as I have you guys… I will never give up! “

“ … “ Lucina finds herself at a shortage of words. She didn’t know, or believe, that he had this serious demeanor hidden beneath his optimistic exterior. He had to be stronger than she was to keep it up, even when the others lashed out at him for it… In truth, he wanted nothing more than to see them happy… She understood that now… “ How? “

“ How what, milady? “ He responds, curious.

“ How is it that you can be so… certain? Despite your fears, you continue to fight for your dreams by choice, no matter the reality that they may not be accomplishable… How do you do it? “

“  Because I have my friends, Lucina, I have you, and all the others… You give me strength to continue on. I know that, no matter what happens, I will always have you guys, and that’s better than having nothing at all. You may be our leader, Lucina, but we all still think of you as a friend… You can still talk to us about any fears you have, come to us when you need to smile, or if you need help. I promise you, we won’t think any less of you… “ Once again, Lucina finds herself smiling at Inigo’s kindness. “ Look, there’s the smile I like to see! “ He chuckles upon looking back at her.

“ Thank you Inigo, truly… I will do my best to open up to you guys more often… You are all the source of my strength, not this blade… I would do well to remind you all of that. “ The princess sits in silence for a moment, watching Inigo, studying him… Could he truly be… No, she was certain it was nothing… Yet she cannot help but wonder still… “ Inigo, might I ask you a question? “

“ Of course, milady, how might I help you? “

“ It’s just… You and Owain have been getting rather close lately… I… “ She pauses, “ No, I cannot possibly ask, forgive me Inigo, forget I even began. “

“ Lucina? I must confess, I do not understand, what is it you are curious about? “ It appeared as if Lucina could not brush this off as easily as she had perhaps hoped.

“ Oh, it’s just that… Owain could do with a real friend like you… The others, they tease him for his heroic performances… Yet, I know that he does it for good reason. He is not as brave as he appears to be, I know him better than anyone else. I understand he can be a bit.... Much at times, but he doesn’t mean to be annoying, he only wishes to be a hero worthy of saving us all. They mock him from a lack of better understanding, but they get to him sometimes. I wish I could be there for him more, but I cannot always spare the time. “ She smiles, placing her hand on Inigo’s, meeting his gaze with a serious expression. “ Look after Owain, Inigo.... There is no one else I can trust this task to. Please… Be there for Owain… “

“ Lucina… I… I understand. Of course, you needn’t have asked… Owain and I have been friends for as long as I can remember… I couldn’t let my best friend stand alone… “ Inigo smiles, a special kind of smile which only showed itself when his feelings for Owain surfaced.

“ Inigo, it shan’t be long until the sun rises, please, try to get some rest… We have a busy day tomorrow. “

“ But… What of you princess? “

“ I shall be fine, don’t worry yourself Inigo. “

“ Only if you’re sure… “ Inigo replies with some resistance. “ Please remember what I told you today… Goodnight Lucina. “

“ I shall, goodnight Inigo.” Lucina watches as Inigo makes his way back to his tent. “ You and Owain shall make each other very happy one day. “ She mutters under her breath once he is out of sight, smiling contently to herself.. “ I promise to fight to create a world where that is possible. “