Death by car accident was not how I expected to go. Then again, I can hear my inner voice channeling my mother, "Of course you'd die if you were pushing one hundred miles an hour on the freeway" and likewise I could probably hear her, dad, hell the entire family and extended family cry. I wasn't supposed to die yet, I was young, hell too young to fucking die.

Fuck, I shouldn't have fucking died. My dad just lost his own mom, and his dad can't even remember who he is half the time. Why the fuck did I die!

…

…

…

Where the fuck am I!? Hello! Hello! It's fucking boring in this dark! If this Heaven, this is some shit version of paradise! If it's Hell… Well shit, I guess I should've gotten baptized earlier! Or at least been a decent person in my life.

…

Oh, look, there's a light now… I wonder if this was how Grandma felt… Hehe, fuck it I know I'm already dead, let's see what the fuck else is going to hit me! COME AT ME LIGHT!

-1-

The Queen had given birth while the King was still out campaigning. The Queen died giving birth, the fever for the ordeal too much for the clerics and midwife to handle. The child was almost lost as well, small and not breathing at first. They had just lost the Queen, the King was still at war, and the tragedy of the first Queen was still fresh in their mind.

They had spent a fortnight on the babe's condition, not even realizing it was girl until the very last day. Two clerics had passed within those two stressful weeks, the royal mid-wife collapsing during the process and the castle staff had called two more because of so.

By the end of it, nearly fifteen people had handled and seen the child before the King had rushed to return back, and all fifteen-lay comatose from exhaustion in the castle courtyard. Hastily stripping off his armor, the King burst through the castle gate with his retinue in tow.

"My child! Where is my child! My wife, the Queen!" His voice roared against the surprised shrieks of the castle's occupants. His armored footfalls echoed loudly on the stone flooring, his booming still muffled them though. "My child!"

"Chrom!" The King looked to his side to see the heaving form of his sister, young Princess Lissa, her forehead was shined with sweat and she looked exhausted, near dead on her feet and using her staff to support her.

"Lissa!" Chrom ran to catch her before she fell. "What happened?"

"Your wife… The Queen is dead," labored breathing shook Lissa' voice, but her eyes still shined with determination. "Your child… Many thought she wouldn't survive. Two weeks… Two weeks." The sound of fainting crying was heard from somewhere in the now silent castle, and Lissa had a small serene smile on her face.

"My lord, let me," Frederick approached from the side to gently cradle the Princess. Chrom nodded, gently putting Lissa in the knight's arms before setting forth once more. He ran through the halls of the castle, his heart beating in trepidation at what was to come. The cries grew louder and louder with every step he took, and at the same time he found his legs growing more and more numb.

He noticed all the small things. His armor was still stained with blood, Falchion was had yet to be cleaned of the gore that marred it while still in its sheath, and Chrom smelled. This was no way to see his child after finally defeating Plegia.

Before he knew it, he burst through the doors and found himself staring wide eyed before him. Maribelle, after being sent back from the front, sat at the edge of the bed while gently rocking a still crying blue haired babe.

"Look, look, your dada's here," Maribelle cooed before casting a knowing glance to Chrom. He still stood on the opposite end of the room, starring wide eyed and nervously eyeing the child in Maribelle's arms. "Well don't just stand there and gawk, come and greet your daughter."

Chrom felt his body move him, eyes still staring wide as the crying child grew quieter and quieter as he came closer and closer to her. Her… The child was a girl.

Once he was close, the child's crying finally stopped and Chrom was able to get a good look at her. Pale skin, soft and clean. It was raining outside, he noticed, and for some reason she was completely dry.

Then he caught himself. Why would she be outside? If it was raining, she could catch sickness! As a babe, a sickness could be dead—

Chrom stared at her eyes now. Blue, like his, while her left eye… Her left eye held the brand of the exalt in it. Before he could utter a word, Maribelle smiled knowingly as she deposited the baby into his hands. He hadn't even realized he raised them.

He nearly fell over from the sudden weight, as little as it was in his hands. Falchion is supposed to be heavier, but… This child in his arms felt stones heavier than the famed blade. Many, many stones heavier. He fumbled a little, almost letting her fall before he clutched her close to his chest.

His legs finally gave out beneath him, and he fell onto the soft couch where Maribelle had sat. The noblewoman had gone already, leaving Chrom alone with his… His daughter. Staring wide eyed at her, all he saw was… Pureness. A small child, not clad into grime or dirty cloth. His child. Soft chime like giggles as she reached to touch his hanging blue locks.

"Chrom?" He looked to see his tactician approach him now. With the hood over their face, it obscured their features from the babe held in Chrom's arms. "I… I heard about the Queen." Chrom's face grew grave. He and his wife weren't… Close by any means. The marriage had been a political one, solely for an effort in order to get an heir to secure the line. However, the two had shared some tender moments, however brief that was.

"Does the child have a name?" Chrom looked back at Robin, and a soft smile graced the man's features. Robin thought she'd never see such a thing after the King had faced tragedy after tragedy.

"Lucina. Her name is… Lucina." Chrom looked back at the babe in his arms, just as Lucina cheered.

-2-

Chrom counted himself blessed. Blessed by the dragon Naga who watches over his people. Blessed by loyal and strong subjects, they had followed him unquestionably into Plegia and back, blessed by stalwart companions; Frederick, Robin being two of the most loyal and even companions like Panne and Gaius were welcoming. He was proud of his Kingdom, though the reasons for his ascension still marred his heart. If there was one thing he was most fond of—

"Papa!"

It was his daughter, Lucina. He let out a laugh as his two year old daughter leapt and hugged him around the neck. Her long blue hair mirrored his own shade, and much like his, seemed rough and disheveled. Now that he noticed, the blue dress she was in also had mud stains on her knees.

"She was out playing in the gardens again." Chrom turned at the familiar voice. Robin stood behind him, a knowing smirk on their face as their hands were tucked in the sleeves of their coat.

"Let me guess, practicing handstands, cartwheels, and other such acrobatics?" Chrom groaned. Lucina giggled before leaping, or rather flipping out of Chrom's grasp. Landing on her feet, she stood proudly as Chrom and Robin applauded.

"She's had a great teacher, I presume," Chrom murmured, noting Robin shrug their shoulders.

"I simply think she just picks up things rather well," Robin responded back. "Although, I did happen to dust off the old Jester's clothes, just to stretch myself a bit." Chrom rolled his eyes as Lucina ran off once more, no doubt to see her friend Kjelle, or perhaps Sumia's baby. Chrom recalled that child's name is... C. Something with a C.

"Cynthia, that's who it was," Chrom commented to himself quietly. Robin looked up at him in confusion, but he just chuckled. "Just wondering about the children, Lucina's going to have a lot of companions in the future."

"You've raised her rather well," Robin said as the two began to walk around the courtyard.

"We raised her well," Chrom replied fondly. Though he couldn't see it, he knew that Robin's pale features colored slightly. "You've helped me raise Lucina every step of the way... You know she sees you as her mother."

"Does she know—"

"No one's told her, but... The look in her eyes tells more than we think she knows. Likewise, it seems not a lot can get past her…" Robin remained silent at that, unseen eyes looking distant as fingers began to fiddle themselves. "Any word from Gaius?"

"Yes... And no." Chrom furrowed his eyebrow. "Gaius has sent word back from Valm about mounting militancy. A new king seems to be rising in power."

"Any chance that Valm may set its sights to Ylisse?"

"... There's always a chance, as little it can be. Valm is a large territory as is, to subjugate all of it would require a very sizable force on its own. Though if Valm were to be fully conquered..."

"Could Ylisse defend against such a force?" Robin eyes Chrom, hands fiddling once more with the hem of their sleeves. "I see you too have also begun to speculate such.

"Our army, though smaller, had the advantage of being easily more mobilized to defend Ylisse. The issue is our navy. Valm's notable coastline territories have had long traditions with naval pursuits whilst Ylisse—"

"Our wars have always been waged on land, notably between Ferox and Plegia," Chrom finished. "I've been made to study many of those battles. Knowing our Kingdom's shortcomings is also a necessary practice for a ruler to have." Robin shrugged and chuckled before looking back at Chrom once more. "All our naval capacity lies with our allies, Ferox." Robin nodded once more.

"At most, we can count on them to aid us in the event of a naval invasion from Valm. Send word back to Gaius... As well as some candy. Knowing him, he's probably already missing his favorites." Robin jotted that down before both turned their attention to the shouting voice. There Lucina was, dancing atop the castle's inner courtyard walls. Wall guards looking in fear as she danced a little too dangerously close to the edge on some landings.

"Princess!" Both Robin and Chrom recognized that baritone voice moments before an armor-clad figure sprinted through petrified soldiers to grab the young Princess out of the air.

"That is incredibly dangerous! I have yet to sweep all excess dust and stray debris off the ramparts!"

"Uncle Frederick, you're funny." Lucina giggled as Frederick positioned her on top of his shoulders. "Wee!"

"... I'm never letting her on the ramparts again."

"Chrom!"

"Nope! Lucina is forever exiled from the battlements!"

"That is your daughter, you think she'll listen?"

"I can try damnit! Frederick, Lucina is no longer allowed on the battlements!"

"At once my lord!"

"Not you too! Frederick, be reasonable!"

"All precautions in regards to safety, are reasonable!"

-End Chapter 1-

Notes:

Yes - Lucina is si(self-inserted)... Not really, or wholly. It'll be explained later.

No - Robin is not her mother, and Robin's gender for this is left ambgiously blank for a reason that I'll pull out of my hat later

Yes - This is in the "bad timeline" of Awakenings, meaning all our favorite parents will soon be dead

Yes - I love theatrics and bloody drawn out unrealistic cliched deaths. so expect to see those in the near future XD