Lucina's gentle breathing was the only sound in their chamber as Pit stood a pace away, his pain evident on his face as he gazed at his beloved partner while she slept soundly. It was about midnight, the light of the moon softly illuminating the room from the skylight above. He swallowed and bowed his head, his heart aching with guilt, before he placed the note in his hand on his side of their bed.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her temple lightly before making his way silently out into the hall. He headed further down to another chamber and slipped inside, fighting back a wave of guilt and grief as his gaze fell on the occupant.

Sleeping in the crib on the other side of the room was his infant son, not quite a year old. The child, like his older sister, had inherited Lucina's pale skin, though he also had her blue hair that was tousled beyond help like his father's. The Brand of the Exalt marked his right palm, and when he was awake, he revealed the same bright blue eyes as Pit's. His tiny, fluffy white wings twitched as he slept, and Pit hoped he was immersed in a wonderful dream.

"Oh, Marth," Pit said softly as he gazed down at his son. "I hope you'll forgive me one day for this… I'm doing this for you, your mother, your uncle, everyone. I want you to be safe." He fell silent for a while, losing himself in the sound of his child's soft breath. "With any luck, maybe I'll be back someday. Maybe one day, you'll be able to know your father through more than just the stories." He lowered his head as he blinked back the hot water stinging his eyes. "I want to bring you and your sister a world where you don't have to live in fear. I want you to grow up happy, even if it means I can't be here for you."

With a heavy heart, he pulled his laurel crown from around his head and set it down gently next to the infant Marth. If nothing else, he hoped it would be a memento the boy could have as some connection to his father, even if only slightly. Pit sighed and ran his hand gently and briefly over his son's hair.

"I love you, Marth," he mumbled. "No matter what, never doubt that." He swallowed around the lump in his throat as he straightened up, his voice breaking. "Goodbye."

With that, he turned and left the room, then made his way to the Gate Chamber toward the center of the temple and retrieved a small pile of clothes he had hidden within, then glanced to the Gate itself. He turned away and headed down the main corridor to the temple's entrance, stepping into the cool night air. If he used the Gate, it was possible someone- probably Kuro- would be able to track where he had gone, and if he was to accomplish what he wanted to do without putting his loved ones in even further danger, he couldn't let them find him.

He spread his wings and dove over the side of the islet, clutching the change of clothes tight against his chest as his eyes continued to sting with water, bound for an unknown future that may be brighter, or may mean his death and the suffering of everyone he cared about. But if it meant removing the threat hanging over them, he would give everything he could to see them safe.

Author's Note: Well, that's that! End of an Era is officially complete. But... remember when I said it would be the last part? I lied. There will be one more story coming, titled The Death of Eternity. Trying to decide on whether I want to write that or The Angel and the Princess next, so I guess we'll see.

Also, yes, I decided a while back that Pit and Lucina's son would be named after Hero-King Marth, the guy who defeated Medeus twice and unified Archanea. Seemed fitting for Lucina's son with the god of Light. I mean, after all, the Hero-King was known as the Prince of Light to the people of Altea after he liberated them from Dolhr/Doluna.
Okay, done ranting about Fire Emblem for now. Until the next story!