A/N: And so we come, as we inevitably must, to the end of our time together. I like to think it's been quite the ride- that's up to you, I suppose. I had a lot of fun writing this- I hope you had a lot of fun reading :) Think of this as a sort of extended epilogue.

Chapter 14: Be the sword at my side

They didn't get to go on their date as soon as they got back to Ylisstol. It took Lucina a while to recover enough to be able to spend a day out on town. She was content, though, with Inigo's frequent visits to the infirmary. Sometimes he would bring books to her to read- some of her old favourites, detailing the great feats of the first king or the hero-king. Sometimes he would just stay and chat. Sometimes she would fall asleep, and find him dozing off as well when she awoke. Really, she never spent a moment alone. The others could not keep away, especially upon discovering that she no longer held their little… plan against them.

Her family were amongst her more frequent visitors, but at varying times due to their tight schedules. Her father liked to stop by early in the morning, before his first council meetings, and have breakfast with her. Her mother, not a morning person by any means, preferred to stop by in the evenings, when the warm orange light of a sunset bled through the windows of her temporary quarters. One evening, during her visit, her mother decided to bring something up that had clearly been on her mind for a while.

"So are you just going to forgive him, just like that?" She asked- Inigo had left only moments before, and her eyes were fixed on the doorway he had exited through. Lucina blinked a few times.

"I suppose so." She answered. "I don't see much of a point in holding it against him- I was hurt because I thought it meant he didn't feel the same way. But if he loves me, then surely the only option is to forgive him and move forward?" She reasoned.

"Is that so?" Robin asked, her voice thoughtful and distant. She swivelled in her seat to face Lucina, her gaze searched. Robin had a piercing glance- even behind warm looks or smiles, there was a quality to her stare that left the impression she could see through to one's very soul. It could make people uncomfortable, but Lucina did not quail or shrink under her mother's stare. Instead, she allowed her expression to be open but stern, so that her mother could see her resolve.

A smile split the searching expression in half, her lips stretched wide and the corners of her eyes crinkling.

"It's moments like these I have no trouble believing that you're my daughter." Robin admitted, a fond light shining in her eyes. "Both you and Morgan have far too much of your father in you."

Lucina blinked a few times, confused. Robin shook her head, dismissing the line of conversation.

"It's nothing. Easy forgiveness like that is a very Chrom-ish trait to have, is all." She admitted. The conversation was interrupted then, when Morgan ran in, chased by Lucina's younger self, obviously indulging her in some silly game of chase. Her mother didn't bring up her decision again.

When Lucina was finally deemed well enough, she was tempted to fake illness once more. She was so nervous! It was odd… she had spent so much time with Inigo, had even been on something close to a date with him before, but still, her nerves jittered wildly.

She was walking down the corridors towards the training room, intent on finding Cynthia to seek aid in preparing for the day. However, as the door entered her view, it flew open and she was suddenly aware of a blur of bright red heading straight for her. Aware that she had only just been cleared as well enough to walk- her stab wound had taken a fair few treatments, even with accelerated healing available, to convert it but nothing but a mere scar- Lucina had no intention of being injured once more and side-stepped easily. Cynthia went crashing to the ground and fell flat over.

In an instant, she rolled over and sat up, glaring at Lucina.

"I'm never complaining about your training again, princess." Cynthia said seriously, her eyes entreating. "Kjelle's been harassing us, all morning!"

Lucina blinked a few times, confused.

"How is that any different to how I've been?" Lucina asked, frowning. She folded her arms across her chest. "I'm sure she's just trying to help you!"

Cynthia shook her head, flailing her arms around wildly.

"She's worse! So much worse! At least you were just giving me basic fitness training and aiding my fighting technique! She's obsessed with being the strongest and keeps trying to beat us all up to prove her strength!" Cynthia exclaimed. Lucina held her hand to her mouth, trying to bite back a laugh.

"I can try to speak to her." Lucina offered. "After all, I have a bit of wisdom in the area to pass down." Cynthia shut her mouth, regarding Lucina for a moment, before grinning, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Just a bit?" Cynthia asked, accepting the hand that Lucina offered.

"Don't push your luck." Lucina responded, as Cynthia bent over to brush off grass blades that had clung to her trousers. She straightened. "She still won't talk to me though." Lucina admitted. "Not properly, at least. It's like she's not really there whenever I speak to her."

Cynthia was quiet for a moment, before extending her arms ahead of her in a stretch.

"I'm starting to think I've had enough of a vacation." Cynthia admitted, though Lucina didn't miss her attempt to change the subject. "When will you start training us again?"

Lucina raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you guys were desperate for me to stop?" She quizzed. Cynthia shrugged.

"Not stop, so much as ease up." She informed Lucina. "Some of the stuff was actually pretty useful, it was just mixed up with a lot of stuff that did more harm than help. I don't mind going for a run. Just at a reasonable hour. And Morgan does put too much sugar in his breakfast."

Lucina laughed.

"Duly noted." She responded. Then she remembered her initial objective. "I'm here because your assistance is required. I have a date."

Cynthia's eyes bugged rather amusingly out of her head, and her jaw gaped. For a moment, she stared at Lucina, clearly struck dumb by Lucina's admission, before a wide grin stretched across her face.

"Well, now, I think a congratulations is in order, then." She said with a smile. "I'd love to help you, princess."

"I'm offended that you would go to Cynthia for help when I'm standing right here." Severa commented, coming up behind Cynthia. She glanced away, glaring off to the side. "I mean, not that I want to help, but clearly I'm the better choice, between the two of us."

"You can help, Sev, two heads are better than one." Cynthia pointed out. She glanced back at the training room. "Though I don't think we have much time to spare, we'll have to go back and help Noire and Yarne out at some point before Kjelle kills them."

Lucina nodded.

"Then we'll have to be quick." She responded.

They were anything but quick- after deciding that Lucina's collection of tunics and blouses were inadequate for a day out with Inigo, Severa and Cynthia moved on to critically appraise their own collections of clothes, before forcing Lucina into a long, pale blue skirt and a loose blouse. It was a pleasant outfit, loose and airy in the hot summer sun, and inconspicuous enough that the princess could spend a day out with her sweetheart without attracting any unwanted attention.

"What's on the agenda for the day?" Cynthia asked, trying and failing to comb Lucina's hair back.

Lucina shook her head.

"He told me to meet him in the back gardens, and that he had the whole day planned out, but I couldn't get a thing out of him beyond that." She looked at her fingers knotted together in her lap and felt a fresh wave of jittery nerves. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little uneasy." She admitted quietly to her friends. Cynthia gave up, deciding to leave Lucina's hair to fall loosely over her shoulders and down her back.

"What's there to be uneasy about? Isn't it just Inigo?" Severa said. Her voice sounded like she was sneering, but Lucina knew her better than that. Her brusque manner was unintended- Severa was simply a straightforward person.

"I suppose…" Lucina said, but the sentiment did not aid in clearing up her nerves. Cynthia planted a hand on her shoulder, a little too roughly. Lucina flinched from her surprise.

"I know how you feel. If someone I liked asked me out on a date, I'd be nervous, no matter how comfortable I felt with them." She kept it vague, but the wistful expression on her face told Lucina that there was no doubt a specific person in Cynthia's mind as she said the words. "But I think that's part of the whole shebang. The nerves, the butterflies… they're not bad! It just means you really like him, is all!"

Lucina nodded, smiling just slightly.

"I do." She admitted. "I really, really love him."

Both girls stared at Lucina for a moment before Severa turned to the side and began making gagging noises. Affronted, Lucina stood to her feet, adjusting her skirts.

"I think it's about time I left, he's no doubt waiting for me." She said. Cynthia grinned, shooting her a dual thumbs up.

"Good luck princess!" Cynthia exclaimed. Then she dropped her voice. "And you don't have to worry. You've got a great day ahead!"

Inigo's posture was tense as he stood amongst the flowerbeds. His spine was stiff and straight. He stood to attention, like he were awaiting orders from his captain. Lucina took a moment, while he hadn't noticed her, to appreciate the nerves written into every line of his body. It appeared she wasn't the only one who was nervous, and it comforted to know that he was in the same boat as her. They could do this. They had braved the storm, had braved many storms, together, and they could brave the storms to come. His hair glinted silver in the bright sunlight, he was tall and his shoulders broad, and the hesitant smile on his face was sweet and warm.

She stepped into his line of sight and he turned to face her, the tenseness in his posture melting away as he graced her with a bright, warm smile that made her heart skip a beat. He walked towards her, and wrapped his arms around her. She started, having not expected such a forward act of affection from him.

"Sorry." He said. "I was just happy to see you."

Slowly, she raised her arms up around him and hugged him in return.

"Thank you." She responded. He stepped back, dropping his arms, and beamed at her. He then held out his arm, which she accepted, tucking her fingers into the crook of his elbow.

"How are you feeling?" He asked her, as they walked. "Will you be alright to walk around today?"

Lucina nodded.

"I was starting to feel quite suffocated, cooped up in the infirmary- stretching my legs will be good, I think." She told him. His face was grim for a moment, staring straight ahead, before he looked down to meet her gaze.

"That makes two times, you know." He said. His voice was casual, but his posture had gone stiff once more. She could feel tension lock in his arm where she gripped it. "Two times you've put yourself in danger to protect me."

She chose not to respond for a moment, pausing to examine a flower bed rich in a sharply scented, pale purple flower that hugged close to the ground.

He crouched down beside her, reaching out to gently run his hands across the soft petals. Then he wrapped his fingers around the stem of one, carefully snapping it. He turned to Lucina and tucked it just behind her ear, and resting his hand against her cheek.

"You'd probably say no if I asked you not to do it again, wouldn't you?" He asked. She met his gaze steadily and smile, though it was no doubt stiff and stern.

"I would." She confirmed. "No matter how many times it happens, I'll gladly die before I allow harm to come to you."

He went stiff, his smile strained.

"Then I guess I'll have to make sure to stay out of harm's way." He said. "Once this war is over, I'm going to pick the safest job I can think of."

She tilted her head to the side.

"Most jobs have their dangers." She responded. He nodded, smiling. The corners of his eyes twinkled, and one corner of his mouth tilted up more than the other.

"They do." He responded. "Maybe Robin will hire me to do all her paperwork. That seems like a rather safe job."

"You might get a paper cut." Lucina responded jokingly. Inigo laughed.

"And I'd have to work near your father. On second thoughts, that's probably more dangerous than my current occupation." He said. "I guess I'll have to stick to being a dancer."

They stood, and continued their stroll.

"I have a story to tell you." He said, after a few moments of comfortable silence. She turned to him with interest. They were nearing the castle gates, and soon they would begin the walk to the castle town. "It starts with a young, dashing man, and how his best friend started to avoid him."
Lucina stiffened, glancing up at him, with wide eyes. He grinned down at her, holding up a finger to his lips.

"Don't interrupt. I can see you're considering it." He told her. "Now where was I? Ah yes, the dashing young man was very confused. Was his friend mad at him? She wouldn't speak to him, apart from what she considered business. She would train all her other soldiers to a ridiculously intense degree, and yet barely acknowledge her friend."

They passed through the gate, and the borders of the town traced the hillside in the distance. The walk to the castle town was a pleasant and easy one that Lucina loved to make.

"One day his other friends approached him with a problem." He said. "They said that the girl was being too harsh. She was making them train for a ridiculous amount of hours. She wouldn't listen to their protests. She was stressed and hard to be around. They begged him to do something."

Lucina glanced away, slightly embarrassed when she recalled her behaviour. Time recovering in the hospital had allowed her to mull over her behaviour, which was what had driven her friends to such drastic measures. Suddenly the words they had been pleading with her had become abundantly clear, though she had made every effort to ignore them before. She had been taking her stress and grief out on them. She had had time to consider their words and speak with Inigo and had eventually arrived at the resolution not to fall back into bad habits. She would continue to aid her friends in their training, but at their own paces, at their own set times. They were adults, perfectly capable of deciding how long they needed to train and what areas they needed to train in.

Inigo continued his story.

"Eventually his friends came up with a ridiculous plan. If the dashing young man were to court his best friend, then perhaps she would be so distracted by her love, she would no longer harass them to train in preparation for war." He continued. "Of course, he found the idea ridiculous, but his friends insisted, and eventually he caved to their requests."

He shot Lucina a curious look out of the corner of his eye before he continued.

"Maybe a small part of him was hoping his friend would just talk to him again. I don't know. It didn't take long for him to regret agreeing to the plan, though." He said. "She was just so kind and selfless, and she literally took an arrow for him." He wrapped his fingers around hers as they walked. "No doubt it was the stupidest decision he ever made, to agree to play with her emotions like that. Even if he did it passively, it was inexcusable."

"But the thing is," He continued. "Over time, he started to realise something. I don't know how he missed it before, but he realised that not only was his friend beautiful and kind, she was clever and funny, and sweet, and easily the most amazing woman on this planet, and believe me, there are a lot of amazing women on this planet- some would argue that every woman is quite amazing, they all hold this amazing charm-"

"Inigo." Lucina interrupted, unimpressed. "The story."

He flushed, and chuckled, a little scolded.

"Right." He said, clearing his throat. "Anyway, he realised he was in love with the girl. He wasn't sure when it had happened- maybe he had loved her since he was a little boy? Maybe he only fell in love with her recently? It was impossible to tell. But he loved her with all his heart."

"And then she found out about the plan he had agreed to, and she was hurt. He was hurt too, and deeply regretful. But eventually they were able to talk things out, and here we are today." He stopped walking, turning to face her and holding both her hands loosely in his. "Lucina." He said seriously. "I wanted you to hear my side of things, directly from me, even though I think Morgan may have already told you. I won't try to excuse or defend my actions, but I will promise you, that from now on, I won't ever be insincere towards you. Every day, for as long as I live, I will love you. I promise you that." He said, his gaze holding hers. Lucina felt her cheeks burn at his admission, and the warmth in his gaze made something in her heart stretch.

"I'll make a promise to you too, then." She said. "I won't ever doubt you again. I know you love me, and I love you too." He smiled then, a heart-achingly joyous smile, and he gripped her hands in hers.

"Ok, then, let's carry on with the day, shall we?" He asked. "I hear there's a puppet show in town, and if I remember correctly, you're quite fond of those."

"As long as the puppets aren't secretly Owain and Morgan again." Lucina responded, to confirm his words. She didn't pick up on the flash of panic in his eyes at her statement.

She should have known better.

"No, the queen is the real hero of the story!" A goofy, brightly dress puppet argued, facing its friend and flailing its little arms about in the odd many that puppets often do. "She was working behind the scenes the whole time to allow the king to claim victory."

"But it was the king's heroic acts that allowed the kingdom to emerge victorious! Her plans would have never worked if it weren't for the king's braveness and skill with a sword!" The other puppet argued in a falsely high-pitched voice. Probably a poor attempt to disguise the owner's identity.

"Inigo." Lucina said, her voice stiff. He chuckled nervously. "Why do they insist of making fools of themselves like this?"

"In my defence," Inigo responded quickly. "It was their idea."

She shot him a look.

"We're not going to run into a Plegian fortune teller and a magician that is clearly Laurent, are we?" She asked.

"I'm Feroxian, actually." Said the fortune teller in question, approaching them from behind. "Just kidding. Actually I could be Feroxian… not sure where my dad's from."

Lucina rolled her eyes, turning to Cynthia. She grinned, clearly not dressed in a ridiculous outfit. Instead, she wore a simple dress.

"Inigo suggested we all spend a day out on town together, to celebrate your speedy recovery, as well as to celebrate the fact that we're all reunited! The gang is back together!" Cynthia cheered. Lucina glanced over her shoulder to find the other shepherds aggregating. They waved at Lucina. She turned to Inigo, and he grinned the crooked grin that always made her heartbeat feel irregular.

"I'd love to have you to myself the whole day," He said, coming up to wrap an arm around her waist and pull her close against him. "But I feel that you'll enjoy the day like this far more."

For a moment, she was surprised and did not respond, but then she felt something warm and gentle stretch in her chest. She was happy. She glanced out at all her friends, who had already broken into chatter together- Morgan and Owain carried on their arguments, and had not abandoned their puppets. They waved their hand puppets aggressively at one another. Severa rolled her eyes and made some remark, but Lucina could see the fond smile on her face. They were all laughing and chatting together.

This was what she had wanted, when she came to the future. More than anything else. She could not bring back the parents that had been lost in the war, and even saving them in the past would not undo their deaths in the future, at least not the pain it had caused. She couldn't protect them from the dangers they faced, could not banish the long and treacherous journey they had faced. But here they were, reunited, smiling, joyous. For the first time, she did not force down the hope that brewed in her chest as they stood, gathered together. She had been so terrified of what the future held that she had though things like happiness and hope a luxury that would only bring her weakness.

Yet she had never felt more invincible. Was this what Inigo had meant, when he told her to smile? Perhaps he had been referring to how much more powerful it was to fight with hope rather than terror.

She smiled up at him, and he looked slightly surprise before smiling warmly back.

"Thank you." She said, slowly. He winked at her, his smile crooked.

"Anytime, my love." She flushed and looked away.

They settled on having a picnic on the edge of the town where a long expanse of grass stretched just before the entrance to the gate. The joy and merriment spread and she found herself enjoying the afternoon- it was well into the evening before anyone even attempted to leave, but Gerome was quickly forced to stay by Cynthia. Still slightly weak, having not had the chance to gain her strength back after being bedridden for long, Lucina had settled down on the grass, opting to enjoy the atmosphere rather than actively participate in the game they were currently playing, an odd valmese game that Gerome had taught Cynthia when they were children. Inigo was currently losing, and he shot Lucina a grimace over his shoulder that made her giggle.

She started when she felt a weight settled next to her, and turned to find Kjelle, armour free and sitting cross-legged beside her. Something not quite a smile stretched across her face in the orange light of the evening. She met Lucina's gaze steadily. Lucina was surprised- Kjelle had been distant since rejoining the Shepherds. Not that Lucina blamed her, after what had happened.

"I'm thinking of going to visit Justine." Kjelle told her. "She wrote to me recently."

Lucina swallowed, an unpleasant weight forming in her throat. She stared straight ahead, knotting her fingers in the grass and tugging, feeling the blades snap.

"Is that so?" She asked, struggling to keep her voice even. In the peripheral of her vision, she saw Kjelle nod.

"I was really angry at you, you know." Kjelle admitted slowly. "You're the strongest person I've ever met, and yet you couldn't save him."

Lucina glanced down, her knees pressed together and pulled into her chest.

"I know." She responded quietly.

"But, that's not fair. I was just hiding from my own weakness. I was on that team too, and I couldn't save him." Kjelle said, after a while. ""

"You weren't." Lucina said quietly. She sighed, and looked up, meeting Kjelle's gaze. "I let you down. I'm supposed to protect the halidom's people, and I couldn't."

Kjelle nodded, and directed her gaze towards the other shepherds, whose game was steadily getting noisier and noisier.

"I know that feeling." Kjelle said. She stretched her arm out ahead of her, before clenching her hand in a fast. "I want to be strong. And stop anyone from ever getting hurt."

She glanced at Lucina.

"You're not as strong as I thought you were." She told Lucina. "And that's ok, you know? You just have to keep getting stronger."

Lucina smiled wistfully and straightened her head.

"Yeah, I guess." She said. Kjelle got to her feet, dusting off the back of her trousers.

"Justine wanted me to tell you that she doesn't blame you. And she wanted to thank you. For all you did to save him." Kjelle said, not facing Lucina. She then wandered back towards the game. Lucina watched, her tongue thick, unable to say anything.

"That looked like a serious conversation." Inigo said, settling beside her. Surprised, Lucina glanced at him. He smiled guiltily. "I got eliminated." She glanced over to where the game was still happening just in time to see Cynthia get eliminated, while Morgan cackled boisterously at yet another victory. Lucina pressed her lips together, almost smiling, but not quite. She felt like a heavy weight in her chest had eased just the slightest bit.

"Shall we leave the others to their games?" Inigo suggested. "I have something to show you."

He helped her to her feet, smiling widely, before leading her further into the bank of woods. She glanced over her shoulder, and Morgan caught her eye, before winking and shooting her a thumbs up. She rolled her eyes and turned to follow Inigo into the trees.

"It's not far." He said aloud, his tone contemplative. "If I remember correctly, it was only a little ways downstream."

He reached forward to part some overhanging branches, peering into the clearing behind. He turned with a wide grin. "This is the place. And we're just in time."

Lucina had seen a lot of ugliness in her life. Broken, lifeless bodies, skies stained as crimson as blood. She had stared into the eyes of the very being that wreaked destruction into her home. Such things sapped an appreciation of beauty from her- every beautiful thing in this timeline was overwritten in her mind with the carnage that was to come upon it should she fail in her mission. She did not put stock in things so fragile as beauty.

Still, her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her. The sun had set during their walk- the first hints of moonlight tinged the edges of leaves silver and danced along the small creek that trailed through the clearing in flashes of molten, liquid light.

A single source of light, like a tiny star she could reach out and catch, blinked to life, slowly floating down towards the creek. Others soon joined into until the clearing was alive with dancing starlight, small pinpoints of warmth that fluttered and floated around her.

"My mother used to take me here when I was small." Inigo admitted. "Or perhaps she will take me here when I'm older. They're fireflies."

Reverently, Lucina stepped into the clearing, glancing around.

"What do you think?" He asked. She turned to face him, her eyes bright, but when her eyes landed on him, something made the smile slip from her face. The contours of his face were traced by silver moonlight- the small glowing bugs made the white of his hair gleam and dance. His eyes were warm and soft, and he smiled that gentle, dashing smile, the one that had stuck in her heart and refused to leave since the day she met him.

He must have seen something on her face, because uncertainty crossed it.

"Do you not like it?" He asked. "I know you don't like bugs, but these…"

"Inigo." She interrupted, and he looked concerned.

"Is everything alright? I know you're stressed because Validar has demanded the fire emblem and you've only just recovered enough to leave the hospital, but…"

She shook her head to cut him off. This was not the time to dwell on the uncertainty ahead of them.

"Do you remember, how I would get so upset whenever you suggested I smile?" She asked. He blinked a few times, before a fond smile tipped his lips.

"Of course. I record everything a woman says to me, insults and all." He told her cheekily, and she stepped towards him.

"It was because… I thought I couldn't afford joy during times such as these." She admitted, reaching for his hands and cupping them gently in her own, drawing them towards her. "You… make me so happy. Too happy. But… I think I know now."

"Know what?" He asked softly.

"What you mean. When you told me to smile. About the power it has. I… don't think I could survive without it. Now that I know what that joy feels like." She glanced up into his eyes, and found an intensity in his expression she hadn't expected to see there. "Will you stay with me? Be the sword at my side?"

His answer was a kiss. Gentle but firm. He pulled back, and smiled, before gently kissing her once more.

A throat cleared between them, and they sprang apart. They turned to find Morgan standing very solemnly, with Owain on one side looking disgusted and a starstruck Cynthia on the other.

"If you guys are done being gross, I have a very important matter to discuss with you." Morgan said. His hands were clasped in front of him, and his feet were planted shoulder-width apart. "It's about Kjelle… She's been acting far too strict lately."

Lucina blinked and exchanged a confused glance with Inigo.

Morgan shook his head, and behind him, Cynthia and Owain grimaced, looking incredibly concerned.

He turned to Owain solemnly, planting his hands firmly on his cousin's shoulders- He had to reach up a bit because of the height difference.

"Up to the task, Owain?"

Robin would later receive reports of terrified screams coming from that area from concerned villagers, who could mainly recall an incredibly distressed voice screaming and repeated, desperate apologies. At which, she shook her head, chuckling slightly at her son- surely he knew that something like that could only go wrong, right?

A/N: There we have it. I've never finished a fanfic before, so this is a really big moment for me. I really appreciate all of you who took the time to read and enjoy and even review this story- It's been really awesome and there were times when I thought this was the dumbest story in the world (which it sorta is but that was the POINT) so thank you! I hope this sufficiently wraps everything up in a neat enough bow that you think "ahhhh that was so nice!" and leave with a smile on you face.

Thank you again, for everything! See you next time it tickles my fancy to write a fic!

Oh, also, I did some art of that last little bit of the fireflies, if you want to see, it's on my tumblr the-protractor and then just copy this last little bit:

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