X-Emblem

Issue #1

The Girl from Future Requiem

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Under the star-filled night sky, the moon shone down upon a city in ruins. It looked as if it was recently attacked. Not a single hint of life is found. Houses that once stood are now burnt ash. In the center of it all, the castle is in a similar state of disrepair. Despite the dreary atmosphere it projected, one woman stood before it.

The woman wore a blue tunic with a long-sleeved, royal blue shirt underneath. Her shoulders are covered by small plates of metal armor. Simple, dark blue trousers and tall boots covered her lower half. A leather belt and scabbard are cinched around her waist. The sword the scabbard held is almost as long as her height. A cape hung from her back. Blue eyes gazed out from behind the bangs of her blue hair. One eye had a sigil in its iris.

"I'll be going now, Mother, Father…" She said to the city. Her gaze looked determined yet sad. Then, she turned and began walking away.

My name is Lucina.
I am a princess of Ylisse. Or at least, that's what I was.
Ten years ago, the fell dragon Grima was resurrected. The world is headed for destruction. The trees are but dry brush and the people struggle in despair. I, Lucina, princess of the Halidom of Ylisse, have inherited the cause of the last Exalt, my father, who passed when I was a child. I spend my days fighting to protect the people from the Risen, underlings of Grima.

But I did not fight alone. At my side are the children of the soldiers who fought alongside my late father—my precious companions. Together, we set out to retrieve Ylisse's national treasures, the Fire Emblem, and the gemstones, which had been taken in the last war. With them, we can perform the rite of awakening, our only hope of defeating Grima.

However, we only managed to recover four of the five gems needed. Regardless, we decided to perform the rite anyway, hoping that Lord Naga will answer us. When she did appear before us, she informed us that there was only one way to save the world.

Go back in time to prevent Grima's resurrection.

When I told my friends about this, they were hesitant. Some of them wanted to go but the others didn't. The rest are undecided. The out realm gate opens in three days, so they had time to decide. If any of them don't want to go, I would respect their decision.

During those three days though, Grima attacked and destroyed Ylisstol. He must have learned of our plan to return to the past, so he sought to destroy us. We fought back, but the people we fought alongside died. Soldiers and innocent civilians alike. The fell dragon ravaged it to the ground before we drove him off, but it was too late. The land my father loved and swore to protect is gone. Ylisstol is beyond saving.

So, we fled to safety. It told them that while it is too late to defeat Grima in the future, we can still return to the past to save our world. However, I don't know if we can return to our world after leaving it. I reaffirmed that it is impossible to defeat Grima and I will return to the past to stop him even if I have to do it myself. I told them that if any of them want to go with me, they should meet me at Mount Prism by daybreak.

After paying my respects to my dead parents, I made my way to mount Prism…

"I've made it," Lucina breathed as she stopped walking. Before her is the altar of the divine dragon Naga on Mount Prism. "To our rendezvous…before the altar. And they're…"

Lucina looked around, expecting to see her friends. But there is no one. Not a single soul.

"Nobody's here…!" Lucina cried as her voice nearly broke. She thought at least one of her companions would be willing to come with her. Lucina can only hang her head."

"I see…" Lucina finally said. "But…I was prepared for this to happen."

She raised her head, her eyes filled with sadness but hardened with determination. "Everyone…I leave this world to you."

Suddenly, she heard an unearthly roar. Turning her head to the source, she drew her sword at the sight. Walking towards her in shambling steps are men with weapons. But by their skin and red eyes, Lucina knew what they were. She fought against them during the assault on Ylisstol moments before it was reduced to ruin.

"Risen!" Lucina cried. "I can't believe it…they've spread this far!? Be careful, everyo—"

It took her a second to remember that she is alone.

"That's right…I have to fight alone from now on…"

A Risen with sackcloth over its head roared and charged at her. Uttering a battle cry, she charged forward and sliced off its head.

"Keh! One after another…Hyaaaaaah!" Lucina cut down Risen left and right. "I won't be able to get into the shrine like this. There shouldn't be this many of them, so why…"

"Oh, …it was because I always had them with me…"

With all the strength she could muster, she stabbed Falchion into another Risen. The Risen roared as it fell to the ground and became ash.

"Everyone…I'm thankful to you. I called myself a princess, but I was helpless…You always devoted yourselves to me, didn't you? It was because you were there…Because you were beside me, always cheering me on…that I've been able to fight until now. And even if…We never see each other again…I love you all."

As she continued to cut down the risen, the faces of her friends flashed before her eyes.

"I'm coming!"

"I'm not going to lose!"

"Cynthia…Severa…"

"Shall we go together?"

"I'll end this!"

"I'll support you!"

"Inigo…Owain…Nah…"

"I'll be…with you…!"

"Go get the win!"

"I will not lose!"

"Noire…Yarne…Laurent…"

"I'm following you."

"I'll protect you. You'll see!"

"I'll finish this."

"Brady…Kjelle…" Lucina is sobbing, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Gerome…"

She breathed in. "It's all right. Because I've made up my mind! That even if I have to go by myself…even if I can't come back here…and even if I…never see them again…I said I'd go back to the past and change destiny!"

"I told Father…to watch me save the world!" Lucina sniffed. "But…but…it really is…lonely, you know? Fighting all by myself…"

A roar startled her from behind. A Risen lunged at her.

"No! An Ambush—"

Suddenly, a large shape descended upon the risen. When it landed, it is a Wyvern. On its back is a man in black armor who struck down the risen with an ax. His hair is rose-colored, and a mask covers his face. The man looked at Lucina.

"What's the matter?" The man asked. "It's not like you to have trouble handling these pushovers."

"Aren't hurt anywhere are you, Lucina?" A blonde-haired man in a black-and-purple priest robe walked towards her with a staff. A scar is along is the right eye.

"Sheesh," A woman with black hair and in heavy armor walked towards her in clanking steps. "At this rate, you're going to lose before you even make it to the past."

"Gerome, Brady, and Kjelle," Lucina said with eyes wide. "The three of you…you came!"

"It isn't just us," Kjelle said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder as more people came rushing towards them. Lucina's eyes widened further as they approached.

"Lucina!"

Lucina wasn't sure if she is seeing things. "All of you!"

"We're here too, Lucina!" Nah, a small girl with green hair tied in twin tails said. She wore a pink dress with a red cloak and had a matching satchel. She took out a stone and became enveloped in light. Where once stood a girl now stood a dragon. "Everyone and I mean EVERYONE is going together!"

"You had trouble with the Risen because we were late," Laurent, a red-haired mage said. He wore a hat with a wide brim and a robe befitting his status as a mage. In his arm, he carried a tome to which he used to conjure a fireball and throw it at a crowd of Risen. "In apology, we shall finish up here."

"I won't lose like yesterday!" Yarne shouted. He is a man wearing light armor but bare-footed. Long ears trailed down from his brown hair. He took out a stone and transformed into a huge rabbit. He charged at a crowd of Risen and scrapped. "All right! With the full might of the Taguel!"

"HAHAHA!" Noire, A black-haired woman shouted with a demented face. She wore a green uniform with a silver arm pauldron on her left arm. Around her head is a circlet with a feather sticking out. She fired arrow after arrow at the Pegasus riding Risen. "To the abyss with you!"

"I'm Cynthia and I'm gonna punish you!" A brown-haired girl with pigtails cried. She wore silver armor and rode a Pegasus to battle several of the sword-wielding Risen. "I'm gonna do my best!"

"I won't go easy on you," A man wearing gray leather armor cried out. He had dark gray hair swept to the side. As he struck down a Risen, he bumped into someone. "Sorry, could you move aside?"

"This is my true power…" A blonde-haired man wearing yellow and black clothing said slowly. He raised his sword and charged at an armored risen. "TAKE THIS! CRITICAL HIT!"

"Heh, you're all pretty good!" A red-haired girl, tied in twin tails, said with a smirk. She wore red armor. She raised her sword as she met a crowd of oncoming Risen. "As for me, I'll put an end to this!"

With that, she stabbed the nearest Risen. She pivoted on her heel and sliced off the head of a Risen. Then, she slashed another one.

By then, the battle is over and the Risen were eradicated. Lucina sheathed Falchion and gazed at her friends.

"You all…you all came for me!" Lucina said. "But…why…?"

"Isn't it obvious cousin?" Owain asked with a smile. "We're coming with you! All of us!"

"You're really all right with this?" Lucina asked everyone.

"Yeah," Kjelle confirmed. "I've already made up my mind. This time, I'll protect the world."

"No matter how frightening it will be, no matter how unrewarding it will be, I'm ready," Noire declared.

"Even if I can't come back, I've got no regrets," Brady said.

Gerome sighed, drawing Lucina's attention.

"And Gerome…even though you were dead set against it…"

"I'm going to set Minerva free," Gerome said bluntly. "The few remaining wyverns were decimated in last night's attack. It would be too sad for Minerva to linger in this world. But to the very end, I do not mean to interfere with the past."

"I see," Lucina smiled. "Be that as it may…thank you, Gerome."

"More importantly," Gerome continued as he walks toward her. He held something out. "If you ever need to conceal your true identity, use this mask."

"What?" Lucina was taken aback.

"We do not belong to that era. We should not become too involved. In particular…it would bode ill for us if you were to be recognized."

"It is true," Lucina said. "This holy brand in my iris is proof of my royalty…I cannot allow the chaos it would bring to the world of the past. Understood."

"Then I'll see these…" She picked up a pair of glasses and put them on. The lens has swirly eyes and blocked her eyes. The sight was so ridiculous.

"Woah!" Severa cried out. "WHAT are you doing with those massive glasses!? Quit that, Lucina! That's going too far!

Severa ran over and scooped up a mask. "At least use this one!"

"That's…a butterfly mask…?"

"This one suits your outfit better, don't you think?" Severa asked with a smirk as Lucina put it on. For good measure, she tied her hair from behind her.

"Seriously, Lucina," Nah said with chuckles. "You're always making such strange fashion decisions."

Noire has managed to stifle a giggle. "You were always wearing dresses with weird patterns when we were kids."

Everyone laughed at this, even Gerome.

"All of you…" Lucina laughed. Then she sniffed. "I'm sorry…I'm so…"

"Lucina?" Yarne asked in concern.

"Are you crying?" Laurent asked.

"Is it 'cause you got hurt somewhere!?" Brady asked, his staff at the ready.

"Do you not like the mask!?" Owain cried out.

"But the other masks are even weirder!" Inigo said.

"Hey," Gerome protested.

"No, that's not it," Lucina said as she wiped her nose. "It's because I'm happy. Being able to be with you all again…for some reason…being able to laugh together again…!"

"Lucina…" Nah said.

"All that stuff about going to the past alone," Lucina continued. "All that bragging about how I could fight by myself…it was wrong of me…"

"Come on! Quit crying, Lucina," Kjelle said with a smile. "So, you can't fight by yourself. So what?"

"Cause from now on, we'll aaalways be together!" Nah said. "Don't worry so much. It'll be okay!"

Lucina giggled softly. "So, I see."

"That's right, Lucina," Severa affirmed. "Because no matter how far apart you think we are, our souls will always be together!"

"Our souls…will always be…together…" Lucina said slowly.

"Oh!" Cynthia cried out. "I've heard that before! That's a motto of the Pegasus Knights, right!"

"Y-yeah," Severa said with a cringe. "Well, SORRY for hearing it from my mom."

"But it's a good saying," Laurent said.

"Yeah," Owain agreed. "Spiritual stuff like that gets my sword hand twitching!"

"It fits us perfect right now," Brady said.

"Yeah," Inigo chimed in. "Somehow, that's how we've become."

"If I ever feel alone, just remembering those words'll make me feel like I'm not gonna go extinct!"

Gerome grunted at the positive atmosphere.

Lucina gave a light giggle. "That's right. And I too…will remember those words, always."

Everyone smiled at each other. Then, that tender moment is interrupted by the ground shaking. The temple of Naga began to crack from the force of the quake.

"Wh-what?" Cynthia called out.

"The Temple — "Owain cried.

"Is Grima invading!?" Laurent asked.

"Ah! Look!" Cynthia cried out pointing. Everyone turned to see another horde of risen rushing towards them "The Risen, again…"

"Keh…fine!" Kjelle readied her lance. "We're fighting!"

"No…" Lucina held out a hand. "There's no need to engage."

"Huh?"

"After all, the temple is about to crumble," Lucina said. "Before that happens, we must all charge through."

"Got it!" Inigo said as he took off running. "Come on, Lucina!"

"I will serve as the rearguard," Lucina said. "Please go on ahead!"

Nah gasped. "Understood!"

"Are we clear?" Lucina asked. "Keep the emblem and the gemstones out of the enemy's hands, stop Emmeryn's assassination, and our fate…is certain to change. We will change it, for sure, with our very own hands!"

"Yeah!" Everyone shouted before running to the temple. In Cynthia and Gerome's case, they flew towards the temple. Lucina kept back and made sure that every one of her friends and family has made it through.

Thank you, all of you. For coming to my side, every last one of you…As long as I have you here, I can do anything. We have until now, and we will from now on…

Her eyes trailed back to the oncoming Risen.

They're quite drawn here, aren't they? Then…they can all be crushed underneath the temple. Our role in this world end here. Well then…it's about time for us to head out.

As she saw the last of her friends enter the portal, she glanced behind her once more. She looked to the distance as if she expected to see Ylisstol still standing there. To where her parents have been laid to rest.

"Goodbye…my Halidom of Ylisse…"

Lucina turns around and rushes forward as the temple crumbled around her. She reached the portal and felt its light engulf her.

No matter what happens, I must save this world. I will prevent Grima's resurrection and save my departed father. I know I will. I now believe that it can be done. That we can seize a hope-filled future…that we can bring back the blue skies of our distant past…I will try to believe. And for me…because I have all of my friends…because we will always be together from now on…together in spirit, no matter how far apart we may be…I…we will…change our fate!

For a few moments, she felt herself drift through the seas of time. Then, at last, something like an opening appeared in front of her. She drifted through it and found herself freefalling. Acting quickly, she tucked her body into a ball, keeping her elbows and knees bent. She turned her head to the side as she moved her body so that her buttocks hit the ground. Using the momentum, she kept her body moving to a roll until she stopped. She didn't move first.

She silently thanked the times where she fell off Cynthia's Pegasus.

Taking a few deep breaths to let the adrenaline settle, she moved her hands, feet, arms, and legs to check for any major injuries. Nothing broken. That is good.

Lucina untucked herself and began to stand up. Her head felt woozy, causing her to place a hand on her forehead. Shaking her head to relieve it, she glanced around at her surroundings.

The area she found herself is rich with vegetation. Trees towered over her, the foliage nearly blocking out the sky. Some of them are different hues of color. Flowers bloomed left and right where she looked.

Despite the past few minutes of battle and running from the Risen, the sight is breathtaking.

"Where am I?" Lucina breathed. She looked around to see if anything is familiar. "Is this Ylisse? I don't remember this forest…"

A roar filled her ears, causing her hair to stand on end. Lucina whipped around, seeing a familiar sight.

"Risen!" Lucina drew Falchion. It appeared some of them managed to survive the temple's collapse and make it through the portal. Meaning they have followed them into the past.

Roaring, she charged forward and cut down the nearest one to her. Not stopping, she raised Falchion to block an ax strike from another Risen classified as a berserker. Sliding her blade from beneath the ax blade, she pivoted on her heel and sliced at the legs. Twirling Falchion in a reverse grip, she plunged the blade into its head. It gave one last bit of movement before becoming still. She didn't have time to see it become ash as she faced more Risen.

"Come to me!" Lucina roared as she charged at them. "I'll take you all on!"

As she continued to battle the Risen, black clouds began to gather. Flashes of lightning within them with the sound of thunder following. Lucina paid it no mind as she continued her assault on the risen. But the numbers keep growing faster than she could cut them down.

"Just how many…?" Lucina grunted as she ducked to avoid another ambusher. "Followed me here!?"

She stabbed Falchion into it and proceeded to cut down a Risen cavalier's horse. The rider flew off the horse and right into the pathway of Falchion's cutting arc. The head came off and rolled on the ground before becoming ash.

Lucina panted heavily as the Risen surrounded her.

So, this is my fate? Lucina thought. To be overtaken by the Risen before I could do anything? Right after I promised to change my fate? Our fate?

One of the Risen started to advance on her. She gripped her blade tighter.

No! I meant what I said. Even now, I won't give in! I will change our fate!

Just before she could engage, a bolt of lightning struck the Risen's ax. The Risen roared with pain as the electricity coursed through its body. Then, it fell to the ground, becoming ash as it did so. Then, more lightning rained down upon the Risen.

Lucina was taken aback. "An arcthunder spell? But where is it coming from? Laurent?"

She didn't have time to ponder as more Risen began charging at her. However, their advance is cut short by a red beam of energy that tore through the bodies of the Risen like a knife through warm butter. The beam spread across the field and taking out Risen. For some reason, it didn't seem to target her.

When the dust had settled, she turned to where she thought was the source of the beam. Standing within a grove of trees is a group of people dressed in strange clothing. One of them is a man dressed head to toe in a black and blue outfit. What unnerved her is the glowing ruby-red eye that took the place of two. A gloved hand had a finger pressed against his temple.

He must be the source of that spell. Is he a mage?

The man lowered his hand and opened his mouth. What came out was something that Lucina couldn't make out.

"What?" Lucina asked.

Snikt!

Lucina whirled around to see another Ambusher had snuck up behind her. Before she could raise her sword, the upper half fell to the ground. It looked as though it had been sliced clean. As it crumpled to the ground and became ash, Lucina saw who did the deed.

A man who looked to be about her height stood there. Like the people she saw, he wore a strange set of yellow and brown clothing. His face is covered by a yellow mask with black protrusions in the eyes. But what caught her attention are the claws. Metal claws, not like the claws of animals she knew. Moonlight glinted off the sharp blades that cut through a Risen like it was nothing.

The man seemed to be speaking to her, but like the one-eyed man, she can't understand what he is saying.

"I'm sorry," Lucina said. She made a gesture to her mouth and shook her head, hoping that he'll understand. "I can't understand you."

She didn't know if he understood her, but she felt that he got the message. He turned to the group of people and shouted something to them. The man with the red-eye said something back. Then he stopped for several minutes and nodded. He turned to his people and spoke to them.

Lucina wondered what had happened. The group of people parted as a noise followed by smoke appeared. As soon as it settled, two people stood there, one of which made Lucina jumped out of her skin. One of them looked like something that popped out of a scary story. The pointed-ear creature had blue skin and wore a red and black suit with white gloves and boots. His hands have two fingers and a thumb while his feet have two toes. A blue tail moved from behind him. Yellow eyes looked at her curiously.

It looked like a devil.

The creature stepped to the side as the second person made his way forward. He wore a black suit that covered his entire body while his head is covered in a strange helmet. It looked silver and had a visor in the shape of an X.

The man stopped before Lucina. The man with the claws stepped to his side as he pressed a finger to his temple, right where his temple would be. Lucina didn't understand what he is doing. Then she felt something in her mind. The feeling in her mind felt gentle. This continued for a few minutes before the man with the helmet lowered his hand. Then he opened his mouth.

"Can you understand me now?"

Lucina jumped with surprise. She nodded. "I…I can. But, how?"

"It's one of my gifts," The man said with a kind smile. "It comes in handy whenever Cypher isn't around, and we need to prevent a misunderstanding. You can put away your sword now."

"O-okay," Lucina forgot that she had it drawn. As she sheathed her sword, she saw the others approaching them. She paused midway.

"It's alright," The man assured her as they stopped. "We won't hurt you. You are among friends Lucina."

Once again, she was surprised. "How do you know my name?"

"Apologies, I should've introduced myself first," The man placed a hand over his heart. "My name is Professor Charles Xavier. We are the X-Men."

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I hope you like this.

Lucina and the others are going to get more than they bargained for when Lucina encountered the X-Men. I'm pretty sure you guys can guess where and what place Lucina had landed in. What awaits them, wait for more to find out.

I got most of this from the Fire Emblem CD drama volume 3. The title is Recollections of Future Requiem. It takes place before Lucina and the others decided to travel back in time to prevent Grima's resurrection. Bad News is that there is no translated script. The Good News however is that there's a video playlist on YouTube with it.

Please let me know what you guys think in the reviews so I know if I should continue this.

Thank you all for reading! Keep the faith that we will survive!