[A/N: Hi.

I'm back! After months and months of inactivity and on and off writing. Honestly there isn't much excuse, I did lose the motivation to continue writing this fic, which I realise is a terrible thing to do, but I really could not make myself finish this chapter.

But finally I'm done, so here goes. If you're still reading this after the hugeee hiatus, thank you for your patience. I hope the wait is worthwhile.]

The next few days flew by, almost in a blur. Lucina knew she had to make a decision soon: to stay with Nohr, or to leave for Morgan. For now, though, she lived each day helping out around the castle and practicing like she used to in Ylisse, whenever she could. Odin no longer wielded swords, but he could give tips, and Lucina soon found a worthy training partner in Selena. Odin claimed that watching them train inspired him to come up with new moves, so he was a constant presence in their training sessions. With the comfort of their company, the castle felt a little more like home.

The stuffy training rooms, dusty and humid, were not to Lucina's taste: it lacked the width of Ylisse's open, grassy courtyards. She much preferred this secluded area she found, behind the thick walls and right next to the sea: a huge, flat piece of dirt, clasped within rock and saltwater on three sides. To one corner a mighty tree grew upwards, its trunk leaning against the wall as its branches and roots stretched outwards. Lucina loved the place, for its sea breeze and the huge patch of sky right above, wide and free. It seemed that way to her, anyway. Anything to make herself miss home a little less.

As per their daily routine, the two sword bearers smashed blade against blade upon the castle's grounds, and Lucina realized that Selena had improved tremendously in her time here. She no longer fought only with the Ylissean style of sword fighting, which had circular, fluid movements, but she incorporated the Nohrian style of brute strength and forceful strikes. It made it hard for Lucina to predict Selena's movements, which allowed the latter to gloat over her many victories. Yet, it was necessary for Lucina to face her now: if Lucina was to leave to find Morgan, learning about Nohr would be important.

She would worry about facing off against her beloved friends later.

"Another victory for yours truly! Bow before me!" Selena boasted, her hands positioned upon her hips as she stood cockily, a proud grin upon her face. Lucina was breathing heavily, her arms heavy, but she could not mask the matching smile on her own face.

"A good spar, Selena. That last hit was too swift for me to parry in time."

"Naturally." Selena glowed, basking in the praise as her cheeks flushed lightly.

"A battle that would be sang by bards! For generations!" Odin cheered encouragingly from beneath the shade of the tree, before scribbling onto paper what could only be more battle cries and dramatic musings.

Lucina walked over to the tree to sit next to Odin, her breathing becoming even as she rested, the sea breeze cooling the sweat from her brow. The practice had allowed her to see the blind spots and weaknesses she had, and it was worth being drenched in sweat, worth the way her muscles ached. With a fluid moment, Selena tossed her wooden sparring sword to one side and joined the other two, and the two basked in the satisfying exhaustion of a morning spar.

"Even now, I am still unsure as to why you three are here and what you're fighting for." Lucina admitted, her gaze trained upon the wooden practice sword in her hands.

"Well, we can't tell you, I thought we all agreed on that. Too bad." Selena jumped in immediately for the defense.

"I can accept that, but what about this war?" Lucina asked. "Why is Hoshido invading Nohr?"

"Well." Selena tried to formulate a response, but she paused. Odin took over for her.

"Lucina, you have to understand that when we came here, we were told to protect…the royals, and we planned to fight for their cause." Odin seemed prepared to continue a lengthy story, his theatrics dropped, and so the other two fell silent.

"We, as retainers, have no means to know the cause of this war, but I was told it happened when Hoshido stirred up resentment upon neutral grounds, leading to a battle that was the spark that started the inferno. Everyone was forced to pick sides, families torn apart by war-"

Selena interrupted," Lady Corrin chose to side with Nohr, choosing the family she grew up with over her blood family."

"She's a Hoshidan princess? Isn't she Nohrian?" Lucina questioned, incredulously, and that got her a glare from Selena.

"Let me finish!" Selena growled. Odin raised a finger, and dropped it, pressing his lips in a tight line, as Selena continued. "She was born to Hoshido, but some stuff happened, and then she was brought up as a Nohr Princess."

As Selena stopped, Odin decided to speak. "So can I continue, before you so rudely interrupted me…?"

"Spit it out, Odin."

"Fine. The tale continues. Corrin chose the majestic kingdom of war, over her blood kin of Hoshido, which only fed the flames. The Hoshidans felt that it is only right for Corrin to follow her bloodline, rather than what is just." Odin paused to gather his thoughts. "After the whole territory fiasco, I believe they seek vengeance for their Mother. The word around the halls is that Corrin murdered her mother, their Queen, with the legendary Ganglari, bestowed to her by our King."

"What? I didn't know that! Who told you?" Selena grabbed Odin's cloak as the man flinched, leaning away from her.

"Release me, Selena, I do not have an answer. This is merely a whisper I heard from the spirits of underworld!"

"Say so, then!" Selena released the dark mage, who had a hurt expression plastered on his face.

"You didn't give me a chance!"

Lucina spoke, breaking up their bickering for a moment. "Corrin murdered her birth mother?"

A choice I had to make, a few years ago. My country, or Mother? How could it that Corrin, a pacifist who could not even raise her sword against her enemy, bear to kill the woman who birthed her?

Odin recognized the look in Lucina's eyes. "Of course, these are just rumors. From wandering spirits. You should really take them with a grain of salt." For a moment, the dramatic Odin returned. "Just like the folklores of the travelling bard, these tales are naught but fabrication. You would do better to weave ones of your own."

"So because Corrin's Mother is dead, they want to fight against Nohr? What kind of dumb reason is that?"

"You're the one fighting for Nohr, you nitwit! You don't even know why you're doing it, Selena."

"Hey, we're fighting for a good reason! To protect the Nohrian royals, which was what we came all the way to this land for-"

The two continued on, and Lucina wondered how she was able to handle these two in the past: they seemed to have matured physically, but mentally it was the same old Severa and Owain.

Some things never change.

After training, Lucina found the time to visit Laslow in his room, finally. The past few days had been worrying: the trio were banned from entering until Laslow was a bit better, and no matter how much Selena cursed or threatened to burn the place down, Flora remained firm in her stance. Adding that to Lucina's training schedule and her daily duties, Lucina simply hadn't been able to visit. As she entered, Flora was already making her leave.

"I'll come back later in the evening to heal your wound again, and by then you should be fully recovered," She advised Laslow before she left, the blue haired maid walking off briskly and surely. Were all the maids and butlers this well trained?

"Such cold, brittle beauty that chills my heart….and here comes my radiant Lucina to warm it up." Laslow's face was lit up upon Flora's presence, but as Lucina entered she noticed the way his face fell, just slightly.

"I'm glad you're safe, Inigo." She whispered, a tiny smile upon her lips as she pulled a chair up next to his bed and sat. She took in the tranquil surroundings: while it was a bit chilly due to the downpour outside, a roaring fireplace by the wall and the lush red carpet upon the floor kept her warm and toasty. It looked like any generic room one would find in these quarters, with its stone walls and dark colored furniture, void of any extravagant furnishings. The only exception was a pair of sharp steel swords on a wooden display, tucked away into a corner of the room.

"And I'm glad you're alive, Lucina." Lucina recognized the look in his eyes: a look she had never seen in Laslow's eyes before, but she was certain she knew how star struck looked like. Laslow was surely, most certainly in love with the Lucina from his world.

The Lucina who died. She winced at the thought. Her hands felt heavy, awkward, and so she allowed them to rest on her lap, crossed. She felt strung up, as though handling a time bomb. Careful, Lucina. You do not want to hurt him again.

Laslow noticed, and his smile dropped, a weary expression taking over his handsome features. "I know, of course, that you couldn't possibly be the Lucina I love. The Lucina from my world."

Love. He still loves her, until now.

Laslow was always so sensitive, so attuned to the emotions of others. Of course he would know instantly that she was not the one he knew. The grief would not blind him, as it hadn't for Selena and Odin. Lucina nodded slightly. "The Lucina from your world…"

"I killed her."

Lucina's head whipped up upon hearing this, blue eyes meeting brown, and his eyes were gentle, so gentle, and Lucina wondered if the fearsome hero she saw on the battle field was the same as the shy, dancing boy she used to know.

"You…what?"

The look he gave her was almost painful as he spoke. "I am the reason why she died."

"How did I…Lucina die?" Her own name almost felt foreign upon her tongue.

It was with hesitance when Laslow spoke. "The last day in Ylisse, before we went back in time. She died trying to protect me." Laslow smiled bitterly at this part, and Lucina lamented fate's cruelty. Her heart ached for her alternate self, the Lucina who had not been as fortunate. Alternate Lucina did not get to see Father and Mother again, and fight by their side towards a better tomorrow. Alternate Lucina did not get to see the first dawn of peace, the rays of daylight promising a future of hope.

Alternate Lucina lost Mother, but only once. Did she die knowing she would never see Mother and Father again?

"An honorable death." Lucina whispers, and Laslow laughed dryly.

"She would not be dead, if not for me. I loved her. I swore to protect her with my life. She said that after the war, we could travel Ylisse, just the two of us…" Laslow blubbered, words tumbling from his mouth in a mess, and he covered his face with his palms, body quivering. His silence was a terrible calmness, like the still waves before a storm.

And Lucina did not know what she could say, in that moment. Shaky hands reached out, and she gently touched his shoulders. His shivering stopped considerably.

"And I would not be alive, if not for you."

No response. Lucina continued, as best as she could.

"Back on that day, in my universe, you saved me. You blocked an attack for me and suffered a considerable wound. Thankfully, we were able to save you." Lucina then laughed, a light hearted chuckle in an attempt to break the mood. "I remember that day well. You were swearing as Brady tried to pin you down to heal you, and in your confusion you clocked him in the face. We finally managed to get you to stop, and…" Lucina paused, collecting her thoughts. "There were the sad parts. I remember how I grieved for those we lost. But now that I look back at it years later, I choose to see the humorous side of things."

Laslow seemed calmer, but his palms still covered his face. He was listening. When he spoke, his voice was slightly muffled. "I should have protected you, then. Like the Inigo who protected you. "

"The situation was different. I think my Inigo-"Lucina stopped. "You, Inigo, would have…made the necessary sacrifice for me, the way I did."

"But I didn't. I left you to die."

"I think I would rather have died than have you hurt like that ever again." Lucina whispered, and her words rang within her bones the only way truth could. "Believe me when I say that."

"Your last words. You said that you hadn't wanted to go like that." Lucina could sense the distress building him in Laslow's voice, just a bit. "I have never seen you cry like that."

"I wouldn't, of course," Lucina confessed. "I don't think anyone would have wanted to die that way."

"I…I am, I don't-"

"But I think I would have preferred death any day if it meant either me or any of you."

Slowly, Laslow dropped his hands on his face, and turned to look at Lucina: a full, deep glance, studying her features as a whole for the first time. His eyes were no longer clouded by grief: they were a little lighter, a little brighter, and Lucina felt a bit more hopeful.

"I would have preferred too, to die a hundred times before allowing you to die for me." He said, and his eyes whispered, but you still died for me all the same.

"Then forgive yourself, Inigo. Lucina chose to do so. Honor her sacrifice by celebrating her life, and not by mourning her death." Lucina paused, hesitant, and said what she hoped would bring the Inigo she knew back. "I forgive you, Inigo. On behalf of the Lucina you loved."

And she could see it, in that instant. Laslow letting go of his demons and his self-blame, just a bit. It was enough for now, she decided, and she smiled slightly, in what she hoped would come off as comforting. She reached out and patted his shoulder comfortingly, albeit in a forced fashion.

Laslow returned the smile, a proper smile. When he spoke he sounded more like the Inigo she used to know: the flirty, smiling boy of her childhood. "So, what are you doing here, Lucina? All the way out here in Nohr?" His eyes narrowed. "In fact, if you're not the Lucina we know...Who are you?"

And so Lucina told him. The two sat together in the quiet room, with naught but the gentle rain from outside to interrupt the conversation. The two caught up with lost times. For Laslow, it was a moment of recovery, another chance for him to talk the love he had lost once before. For Lucina, it was a moment of nostalgia as she recounted the things she experienced that the other Lucina could not.

For a moment she had peace. Judging by how rarely peace came by nowadays, she savored it while she could.

Just a little more, before I move on.

When she left the room in the evening, she was greeted by the sight of Xander, the paladin from the battle against Hoshido. He had not seen Lucina approaching, for the man had his eyes shut, as though contemplating something, his arms resting upon that long, dark sword of his, strapped to his side. His stance was relaxed, confident, but Lucina knew that it was a guarded stance too. A simple fluid motion would be enough to defend the prince of Nohr. It was almost intimidating, but Lucina was no shirking violet herself. She stood her ground.

"Fair evening, Xander. Are you by any chance visiting Laslow?" Lucina asked amicably.

"On the contrary, I was waiting to speak to you." Xander spoke. His voice held a certain power to it, firm. Lucina knew he was not someone she wanted to get on the bad side of. Even with a halo of soft, golden curls framing his face, Lucina could not erase the demonic way he fought that day from her mind.

"I am listening," she said.

"I shall get straight to the point then. Earlier, we received news of a different fight that was going on in a different part of Nohr. While most of our forces escaped unscathed, a few did not make it." His tone did not change while speaking, but his brow was furrowed, his shoulders tense. "As such, we had to make a few military adjustments.

My retainer, Peri, will now serve under Lady Elise. As such, you will take her place as my retainer."

"I…see." Lucina did not question the decision outwardly, but digested this new piece of information. She remembered the fearsome Peri, cackling as she hacked away at soldiers left and right. Could her skills match up?

"Peri has quite remarkable skills."

"Yes, she is one of Nohr's best when it comes to fighting with a spear, but I saw the way you fought too. Like a bird of prey, flitting through enemies with that sword of yours." A small smile crept upon his face. "While I do not fully trust you, I do think you would be a fine adversary for the opposition alongside Laslow and me."

"I understand. Though I am undeserving of such high praise, it is nice to hear compliments from an accomplished swordsman like you." Lucina expected Xander's distrust, but the praise was pleasing to the ear.

"To speak the truth, I do have another reason for making you my retainer." Xander's steady gaze did not reveal anything.

"I presume that I will have to find out on my own?"

"No. I made you my retainer because of your skills. No, not your skills with a sword," Xander corrected as Lucina's gaze fell upon her sheathed Falchion. "You may or may not realize it, but you have within you the blood of a dragon."

"How did you know?" Even in this time and place, her bloodline gave her an advantage.

"I do not know myself, but Corrin affirmed it. She told me it was her…sixth sense, but I trust Corrin's judgement." Xander frowned, as though puzzled, "She also said that the dragon blood in your veins differed from ours, so I am uncertain about your lineage."

Lucina did not know either. Was it from her exalted bloodline, or from Grima? If Odin did not possess this ability, it was probably from Mother.

"With this blood in you, you will have the power to use dragon veins."

"Dragon veins?"

"You have seen the other royalty open portals, have you not? If you learn to control this ability, you will be able to do that, and manipulate your surroundings to your advantage."

"And you will teach me?"

"In due time, Lucina." Was that a faint smile on Xander's face, or was she just imagining it? It vanished as quickly as it appeared.

"I see. Thank you, then," Lucina returned the smile with one of hers. "Will that be all?"

Xander seemed as though he was about to speak, before composing himself again.

"Yes. Then I'll see you at our next battle meeting." With a slight nod, he departed, solid footsteps ringing out upon the stone floors amidst the constant beat of falling rain.

Instantly, Lucina spun around and headed down the stairs, away from Inigo's quarters. However, instead of heading right towards where her dorms were, she made an unfamiliar turn towards the left, towards the end, following the trail of lit torches that guided her through the dark, narrow hallway.

While Lucina did not have the same fervent passion for books as did Mother and Morgan, she appreciated a good tome every now and then. When Father and Mother were not around to guide her, she would consult those books to learn about anything and everything she needed to know. After all, Frederick encouraged it. The knight even taught her from these books himself, his gentle voice ringing through the library room as he taught the children- the willing ones at least, about history, or strategy.

Therefore the first place she headed to was Nohr's own library room, a dark musky room filled with shelves and shelves of books, seemingly endless as they stretched out into the darkness. A chandelier overhead lit the centre of the room, but yellow lights were not enough: Lucina herself carried a candlestick in one hand as she browsed. The books were in surprisingly good condition, considering the fact that there was no designated librarian. Mouthing the titles to herself, she slowly scrutinized the faint wording of the tomes.

It did not take her long to find a book that answered her questions, a thick emerald tome that she struggled to drag back to her quarters.

It did not take her long to start her own practice either: the first of many nights Lucina would spent trying to activate dragon veins, as per the book's guidance.

In due time was too vague. If Lucina wanted results, she needed to act fast. Xander was worrying too: Lucina had spent half her life reading people's faces and learning people's thoughts. She could tell that the crown prince did not trust her. She was too much of an enigma. Not enough of a backstory. Suspicious.

Xander is one of many strangers in this foreign world. I will be gone from here in mere weeks.

Her thoughts did little to comfort her.

Back in Ylisse, with the exception of the children, she did not bother with external friendships. A war was to be fought, after all, and if she had to be honest, people often found her a little too formal and stiff. Not that she needed any more friends: within their small crew of four, she felt normal and safe. Being with them was as comfortable as breathing. It was the way things were. Thus, Lucina hadn't expected to get along with the rest of the army: perhaps a handful of greetings, exchanged for the sole purpose of courtesy. Nothing more.

Somehow, it went differently as she had expected. Everyone in Nohr went out of their way to be friendly with the new foreign mercenary. Mozu always made sure she was well fed, whipping up delicious and nutritious meals for her. Keaton, the "local werewolf" according to Selena, gifted her a worn, scuffed rag doll as a sign of friendship, and the strange gift somehow reminded her of Yarne and his soft, brown fur. Silas, a friend of Corrin's, showed her around the place, and promised to give her a tour around Nohr, "once the war was over". Lucina wasn't sure if she would stick around long enough to fulfil that promise, but she appreciated all the efforts made on her behalf, all the same.

And Corrin, Corrin was the nicest. She often stopped by her quarters to drop off something she thought Lucina "would appreciate" or "might like", and Lucina ended up with a bunch of delightful and useless trinkets in her room. The general seemed to have so much time on her hands, evident now as she entered Lucina's quarters for the fifth time today.

"Lucina, glad to see you here," she walked in with a skip in her step as Lucina allowed her entrance, curious red eyes scanning her simple abode. Much like the other rooms, Lucina's was decked out with the bare necessities, and then more. The trinkets from Corrin remained on her mahogany desk, along with a book or two she used for reference. More tomes were stacked next to her bed on the side table, the poor object straining to hold the weight upon it. There was no need for the fireplace to be lit during such fine weather, and a pleasant wind drifted in from the open windows.

"Hello, Corrin. You're back again." Lucina followed the shorter woman as she entered the room. Corrin turned, and smiled slightly, tilting her head.

"Is something the matter?" Lucina asked, almost instinctively. That's the look mother gives me when she wants to talk to me personally. The recognition was pain in her veins, a strange sense of déjà vu that she could not get rid of. Corrin's lineage was simply a mystery, and no matter how many books Lucina tried to scour in Nohr, she simply could not find any evidence of Corrin's linkage to Mother. But how can she believe that when Corrin acts almost like a carbon copy of Mother?

"Let's take a walk. The council meeting just now had me cooped up for quite a bit: I think a refreshing walk will do us well." Corrin reasoned.

Lucina pondered for a bit, and then accepted with gratitude, "Thank you."

Corrin's smile reached her red eyes, the only person who could make such sinister looking eyes look friendly.

Side by side, the two walked out of Lucina's quarters, down the stairs and out the entrance, and Lucina silently followed as Corrin headed towards the central fountain.

Corrin cut straight to the point. "I wanted to ask you something, actually."

"Go ahead, Corrin." Lucina's hunch was spot on.

"Well, I was wondering if you could tell me about your mother." Corrin made the question a statement. Lucina would have normally refused anyone else from Nohr: she was planning to leave, anyway. No point in sharing so much.

But not Corrin. The way she spoke, the way she moved, they all vaguely reminded her of Mother. Strangely, Lucina felt it almost sacrilegious to withhold this from Corrin, almost as if she was talking to Mother herself. There was definitely some connection between the two women. Lucina knew this for certain. Perhaps something, anything will trigger if she told Corrin about Mother.

"What would you like to learn about my Mother?"

"Hmmm…What kind of person was she?" Corrin asked, her head tilted again. A smile grew on her face, "I guess I just want to know more about her, since she looks like me."

Lucina thought for a bit, before speaking. "Well…Mother was always a role model for me. Many people looked up to her for her leadership and her tactician skills. She was the exemplification of competence. Wise, knowledgeable, and always curious to know more." Both Mother and Father were so capable that Lucina almost did not know what to do with herself. How could I possibly live up to such a legacy?

"She seemed really intelligent. I'm sure she was really great at what she did." Corrin smiled, widely. "As the commander, myself: I wish I could have half your Mother's mettle."

Corrin's smile did not reach her eyes, this time.

"So your Mother was a tactician? I thought you were a sell sword, but I didn't expect your family to be working for the army, too."

Lucina had almost forgotten how observant Corrin was, despite the clueless image she always portrayed: Corrin was too, herself, a tactician. Wisdom and curiosity were traits that defined her too, despite her naivety. Lucina had to be cautious.

"My Mother worked as a tactician at the kingdom I hail from. We were much more fortunate. Our kingdom did not see much battle, with the exception of bandit raids." Lucina lied through her teeth, her fingers clasping together as Corrin narrowed her eyes.

"I…see." Corrin did not prod further. "Was she an only child?"

Lucina was taken aback by the question, but she answered, just the same. "Well, to be honest…Mother never really spoke of her family circumstances."

The answer was simply too complicated. Lucina chose to leave it unanswered.

"A mystery…" Corrin mused, her expression thoughtful.

"If I may inquire, Corrin," Lucina asked. "What is with all these sudden questions about Mother? It appears to be a bit more than simply just curiosity."

Corrin flushed slightly, and avoided Lucina's gaze.

"Well, I just…!"

Corrin stopped walking abruptly, and Lucina stopped short too, in her tracks.

"I guess recently I've been thinking. About your mother, and how you're…looking for her," she stammered slightly, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes avoiding Lucina's steady gaze.

She was silent for a while, as though thinking. Lucina did not have to prompt Corrin before she exhaled a huge sigh and continued to speak.

"I have to start by telling you a bit about me first. The thing is, I was not originally a princess of Nohr. I'm sure you've heard this story around camp from the others." Corrin waved an arm around, as though nonchalant, and gave out a false laugh.

Lucina smiled politely, as was the right thing to do.

"I was born as a princess of Hoshido, brought here as a child. My birth mother told me that I was kidnapped before her demise. And so a while back, even before you arrived at camp, my birth family came looking for me."

Corrin smiled bitterly. "I refused to return with them.

But then you appeared. And now that I see your dedication to finding her, I wonder…if I too, should return back to my family."

Lucina was not good at this sort of thing, comforting people and giving advice and what not. "I am afraid that I do not know what advice is appropriate to give you."

However, before Corrin spoke, Lucina added on, "I do think though, that you should do what you think is best for yourself. I know in my heart that Mother wants to return home. Mother believe that our family was connected by invisible ties, and that she belongs back with us, at home." The lump in her throat was unmistakable.

"Do you belong back in Hoshido with them, Corrin?"

"No." The conviction in Corrin's voice was unmistakable, and Lucina could not stop the small smile that appeared on her face.

"Then do not return. Remain with the people you feel connected with, regardless of blood ties."

Corrin perked up upon Lucina's words, her eyes now twin crescents as she smiled up at Lucina.

"Thanks, Lucina. It was really helpful talking to you, actually." She laughed slightly, embarrassed. "I can't believe I was suspicious of you."

That stung more than Lucina would like to admit, but she could understand. "It is fine. You are in charge of the lives of so many people, so it is wise of you to be suspicious of a stranger in your midst."

"Sorry," Corrin stuck her tongue out cheekily, and she was no longer a lone, brooding commander: she was now Corrin again, playful and happy go lucky. "I'm glad you're not upset. Anyway, here we are!"

Lucina looked up, and realized that the two were outside Corrin's quarters. Mindless walking had brought the pair here, and Lucina could gather from Corrin's hopeful tone that she wanted to be back in her quarters.

"We shall part here then, Corrin. Farewell."

"Bye!" Corrin prepared to climb up to her abode, but before that she turned, a slight smile on her face, "I'm really glad you've decided to fight for us. It's a pleasure to have your sword by mine." Her cheeks suddenly glowed red. "I'm sorry, by the way. For springing my history upon you like that, without warning."

"No need for apologies, Corrin. Spending time with you is always pleasant." Admitting that was a bit more embarrassing than Lucina would like to admit, and she flushed too.

The smile grew as Corrin spoke, "Likewise. See you." Swiftly, she ascended back into her quarters, leaving a lone Lucina in the shadow of her treehouse. Corrin's parting words left its mark upon Lucina, and her fingers could not stop shaking long after she left the place.

She trusts me. She trusted me with her story, and now I am to turn around and betray this trust? To desert her army in the middle of war?

Do not forget why you came here, Lucina. To find Morgan. To find Mother. To reunite your family again.

Conflicting thoughts overwhelmed her, refusing to dispel even as she dipped her head into the hot bath to drown them out, later in the day. Among all these thoughts, one stood out stubbornly.

You have lost your family once, Lucina. You cannot lose them again.

Lucina saw, again, Grima's corpse: the blank black eyes, the burnt edges of her Plegian coat. She saw once again Frederick's bloodied body that even hard armor could not protect.

She saw a future where Morgan laid facedown, unmoving, blood seeping from his small body onto the emerald green plains of Nohr.

It cannot happen again.

Lucina simply had to do what she must, even if it meant betraying old and new friends.

May Naga find mercy from within to forgive what I must do.

Persistent practice in Lucina's free time had proven useful in her improvement when it comes to controlling dragon veins. Of course, she had help from other sources too. Xander had found the girl practicing deep into the night, and as a result often happened to drop snacks and helpful tips for improvement while "passing by". How he had found the time to do so in between his solo missions Lucina had no clue. Elise, the sweet young princess who reminded her fondly of Aunt Lissa, too made an effort to bring her canisters of warm drink that remained warm through the night, or snacks that were a tad bit lacking in finesse and quality.

She appreciated them all the same, and finished every single bite.

They were considerate: too considerate. Her guilt ate away at her from within, threatening to break her resolve, but still she picked up her sword, to practice fighting the Nohrian way. Still she pushed herself to open portals with the magic of dragon veins. The results were nothing short of miraculous, and she learned to open a portal within the few weeks, albeit a portal that wasn't very ideal.

But there was no more time. With every day that passed, battles against Hoshido were being won and lost. Every night as she laid in bed, Lucina shut her eyes and counted to three. Under her breath, she would make three wishes:

One. Let Morgan be safe and sound, wherever he is.

Two. Let this be the final path I will have to take. Let this portal I make be the path to reuniting my family again.

Three. Let Mother still be here with us. Let her be alive, and breathing, and laughing, and smiling-

Of course, that was more than three wishes, but a girl could hope.

Tonight, however. Tonight was different. It was the night Lucina would actually leave Nohr for Hoshido. She knew that just like all the places from her world she would miss this place: the lazy sea breeze, the scenic view of land and sea divided by walls from the watch towers high up above, and the people. The food and the smiles and all the small things they did, making Nohr almost like how Ylisse used to be.

But she would not dwell on that. Family was most important.

Her preparations took place over the course of three days, slow and methodical. Within a light satchel, she had packed all the necessities she could think of, along with light provisions to last her for a few days. Worst comes to worst, she would hunt for bears to make bear jerky for sustenance, the way Mother taught her.

Leaving her quarters was simple. She took the familiar front path out, her footsteps light to avoid waking anyone. She knew the path so well it was practically instinct, as she made the turns and crept down the stairs, right before the hallway that led out of the quarters. And she was out! Instantly, she shivered: the winds were strong at night. She pulled her cape upwards to cover her neck better, to keep out the cold.

As she walked towards the docks, she hesitated while walking past the stables. Surely they wouldn't miss a horse. It would make things more convenient for her too, and cut short her travelling time tremendously.

But then she remembered Corrin and her laugh and her trusting eyes and all she could feel was the guilt that clenched around her heart like a fist, and she walked away from the stables, fast enough to leave her doubts behind.

"Lucina." One word cracks her resolve, cracked her stone cold mask from within. She could feel her bravado fade, seeping out of her. Reluctantly, she responded without looking back, "Laslow."

"Erm, where do you think you're going? Are you deserting us?" Selena's accusatory tone travelled just fine, even though she seemed to be at a distance behind her.

"Why are you leaving us?" Odin's voice was strangely small, unsure, and Lucina had never known this side of Odin. Of course she wouldn't. She had always stuck with family, and these three were family. Odin, most of all, with the shared blood within their veins.

Mother is family too. She is your parent by blood.

"I have to go." Lucina forced her voice to be steel, her stance to be solid like hard armor. "Morgan needs me. Mother needs me."

"You don't know where she is, do you? Robin could be anywhere, and-"

Laslow was interrupted by Selena's voice that carried a tinge of anxiety, "We need you more, Lucina! We need you here with us."

Lucina couldn't help it. She turned to look at the trio, and Selena had her head held up, her eyes almost watery as she looked straight at her. Almost. Selena never cried in front of people.

"We can't lose you again, Lucina. Not again," she pleaded.

Lucina wanted to cry. Why would Naga leave it to her to make such a hard decision? Cruel, cruel fate. Clenching her fist, Lucina stood firm as she spoke, "The three of you are my beloved, treasured family, but you have one another. Mother is somewhere out there, alone and looking for Father. Looking for Morgan and me. She needs me."

"Lucina." It was Odin this time, but his voice was more certain than before, his eyes reflecting the light of the lit lamps around them, warm and soul searching. "You're really leaving us, right?"

"Yes. I have to go."

"Then I shall come with you." Odin's lips stretched taut, into a line, and Lucina knew he was no longer fooling around. He was serious about joining her on her journey. Puffing out his chest, he spoke, "I have seen that this day would come, from the messages of my nightmares. This, surely, must be my destiny. I, Odin Dark, will join the exalted princess on her quest to find the legendary tactician!"

"I cannot possibly ask this of you, Odin."

"You can and you shall and no decree of yours will be able to stop me. She's your mother, which makes her my aunt, which makes her someone related to me on this family tree of ours. Somehow. By the shared ancestry and this dragon's blood in my veins, I swear we will retrieve her together! " He smiled. "I'm going."

"Hey, me too me too! Don't you two dare leave me behind." Selena growled, daring Lucina to challenge her decision.

"Then shall we go pack our things now?" Laslow smiled charmingly, his body posture relaxed as he stood. Lucina could not help but let her eyes wander to his wrapped wound, and she imagined pale blood stains blooming against white bandages. Her shoulders tensed up.

"No, I will not allow this. The three of you have an oath to fulfil, for someone, somewhere-"

"Sheesh, Lucina. It's not like we're abandoning our duties. We'll just help you out a bit and be back to help with the war. I mean, where are you heading?"

"…Hoshido, to find Morgan first. He might have a clue as to where Mother is."

"Perfect. Let's infiltrate their place and find secrets that we can send back!"

"That's ridiculous, Selena. We should stick to the towns and take down small passing military groups. Then interrogate information out of them, then send it back to Nohr." Laslow reasoned.

"Are you sure that is even plausible?" Odin winced at the plans.

"To hell with it all, I say we do it like the old days again!"

"I…I do not know what to say." Lucina could not possibly allow them to go with her, she wouldn't-

"Just say yes, Lucina." Laslow's voice was clear, certain, like calm waters. "Let us be there for you now, when you need us."

"Just because you were the leader doesn't mean you're all powerful, you know. Get off your high horse and accept our help. Stop trying to do everything by yourself," Selena added a last phrase for good measure. "You turd."

"…Thank you, my friends." Lucina felt a blossoming warmth in a chest. All of a sudden, she felt as though she could slay titans and take out entire empires, as long as her friends-her family- were by her side, fighting alongside her.

"Then let us-"

Before Lucina could finish her sentence, the familiar sound of a portal opening came from behind, and she spun instantly to face it. Right before her, tumbling from the open portal a feet above its usual spot, was Elise.

Sweet, gentle Elise. The youngest princess who brought her drinks and snacks, the bright troubadour who gave her flower crowns of violet and white with a smile like spring, came tumbling out. Wounds riddled the poor girl's body, ugly harsh marks that made Lucina sick to her stomach. How the girl survived such an onslaught of injuries she had no idea.

Odin was the first to react. "Elise!" His voice caught, laced with anxiety and pain, as he swept the princess into his arms, swiftly yet carefully so as not to worsen the wounds. He did not seem to notice the blood that seeped onto his wounds and the ground beneath them, his eyes fixed on the girl. Lucina's eyes roamed over her body, looking for fatal wounds: nothing that a staff can't fix, if she was to infer. But oh god, oh Naga.

Elise struggled to open her eyes, and the voice that came from her lips was a soft squeak, "Please don't attend to me first."

Tears streamed down her weary face, almost gushing. "Save Effie, please! She's still out there. She distracted them so I could return to ask for more help. Please, please help her."

As she said the following words, Lucina could feel her heart plummet.

"I can't lose her too." Elise sobbed bitterly as she spoke, her hands clenched tightly upon her steel staff. Each word was enunciated with pain, with so much feeling that it overwhelmed Lucina, and her heart cried out to Elise. She looked at Elise, and she saw herself at four years old, at ten years old, at twelve. All the pain she has experienced from losing someone she loved: Lucina thought she had it all sealed away, within her, but now they all came rushing out, and it hurts, it hurts.

I understand. I have experienced that pain too, many times. All of us have.

Without a word, Lucina tightened the grip on her sword and headed for the portal.

I can't leave-not today. Elise needs me now. Nohr needs me now.

[A/N: Ideally the plan would be to finish the entire story, but I honestly doubt my own capability to keep up with this fic until then. But fingers crossed..! Right now I am aiming to finish Arc 1, at least. In my head I have this fic divided into Arc 1 and 2, and Arc 1 is slowly heading towards its conclusion. In regards to my updating schedule, I will try to pump out the next chapter in about a week to a month, depending. As always, concrit is requested and appreciated.

3]