Chapter 7: Act 2- Bonds Across Time; Familiar Shadows
The first sign that something was wrong came from Robin's ravens. The tactician's scouting birds returned in a panic, their normally orderly flight pattern erratic. Severa recognized her father's troubled expression immediately.
"Those aren't normal Risen ahead," Robin declared, his coat billowing in the mountain wind. "They're... different."
Odyn stepped forward, orange eyes narrowing as he observed the valley below. Through the mist, shambling figures moved with an unnaturally fluid grace. His breath caught in his throat as one leaped – far higher than any Risen should be capable of.
"By the gods," he whispered, causing Lucina to grip Falchion tighter. "These movements... they're using techniques from my homeland. Dark elf combat arts that died with my people centuries ago."
"How is that possible?" Chrom demanded, but was interrupted by a distant scream that cut through the fog – followed by the distinctive sound of pegasus wings.
"Cynthia!" Severa shouted, recognizing her friend's voice instantly. "She's in trouble!"
The valley erupted into chaos as dozens of mutated Risen emerged from the mist. Their movements were a horrific fusion of undead jerking and the fluid grace of dark elven martial arts. At their center, a young pegasus knight with dual-toned hair fought desperately to keep airborne, her mount's wing clearly injured.
"Form up!" Robin commanded, falling easily into his tactician's role. "Severa, Frederick – take the left flank. Chrom, with me on the right. Sybyrh, provide magical cover!"
"Odyn," Lucina started, but he was already moving in perfect sync with her, years of protection and partnership – across two timelines – evident in their coordination.
"I know, love," he said with a quick smile. "Let's save your friend."
They charged forward as one unit. Sybyrh's magic crackled through the air, her spells carrying a distinctive dark elven flair that made several Shepherds double-take – still unused to seeing Lucina's mother different from their timeline. Her orange eyes, so like Odyn's, blazed with protective fury as she covered her daughter's advance.
Lucina and Odyn carved through the Risen with devastating efficiency. His blade work incorporated the very same techniques the Risen were using, but with centuries of mastery behind them. Where the undead moved with stolen grace, Odyn's movements were natural, flowing – and deadly.
"That's my bodyguard!" Cynthia cheered from above, managing to take out two Risen with a desperate diving attack. "Well, Lucina's bodyguard now, I guess! More like boyfriend really—EEKS!" She barely dodged a Risen's unnaturally high jump.
"Less talking, more fighting!" Severa shouted, but couldn't hide her grin as she observed Lucina and Odyn fighting in perfect harmony. "Though I have to admit, they do make a cute couple."
Frederick and Sumia finally broke through to their future daughter, with Sumia's pegasus providing cover while Frederick helped stabilize Cynthia's mount. The reunion was brief but emotional, with Frederick's usual stoicism cracking at the sight of his daughter safe.
After the battle, as the Shepherds made camp, Cynthia couldn't contain her excitement despite her injuries. "Okay, but seriously Lucina – you and Odyn? Last I remember you were like this tall," she held her hand at waist height, "and following him around the castle like a lost puppy! And now look at you two!"
Lucina blushed furiously while Odyn coughed politely, suddenly very interested in maintaining his sword.
"Oh please," Severa rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "We all saw this coming. Well, maybe not with Lady Sybyrh in the picture – no offense, but that was a surprise."
The dark elf queen simply smiled, her arm linked with Chrom's. "Life has a way of surprising us all, doesn't it? Though I must admit, seeing my daughter's childhood protector become something more... it's rather poetic."
"WEDDING!" Cynthia suddenly declared, making both Lucina and Odyn jump. "We absolutely need a wedding soon. Come on, Severa, back me up here!"
"For once, I actually agree with Miss Justice Cabal over here," Severa smirked. "What do you say, Father? Think you could plan some tactical seating arrangements for a ceremony?"
Robin laughed, but his expression grew serious as he drew Chrom and Odyn aside. "Those Risen... their abilities weren't random. Someone gave them that knowledge, those skills. The question is who – and why?"
Odyn nodded grimly, his orange eyes reflecting the campfire. "My people's arts were lost for a reason. Someone's playing with powers they don't understand."
As the night drew on, Lucina found herself between her mother and her love, watching Cynthia regale the Shepherds with increasingly dramatic retellings of the battle. Despite the questions raised by the strange Risen, she felt hope burning brighter than ever.
They were changing the future, one battle, one bond at a time. And maybe, just maybe, Cynthia and Severa were right about that wedding.
Echoes of Tomorrow
The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Ylissean plains as Lucina stood atop a grassy hill, her hand instinctively resting on Falchion's hilt. Beside her, Odyn scanned the horizon with keen orange eyes, his dark elven features sharper with concern. The wind played with his blue hair as he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Another dead end," Lucina sighed, her brand-marked eye catching the light. "Where could the others be?"
"We'll find them," Odyn assured her, his voice carrying the weight of both guardian and partner. "Your friends are strong, just as you are."
Behind them, Chrom and Sybyrh approached with Frederick, Severa, and Cynthia in tow. The two future children had proven invaluable since joining their ranks, though Severa's sharp tongue and Cynthia's enthusiastic heroics sometimes caused Frederick no small amount of stress.
"The villagers spoke of strange occurrences near the eastern mountains," Chrom reported, exchanging a meaningful look with his wife. Sybyrh's golden highlights caught the sun as she nodded, her dark elven heritage marking her as distinct as her daughter's protector.
"Dark magic," Sybyrh confirmed, orange eyes narrowing. "Similar to what we encountered when..."
She trailed off, but everyone knew she meant Robin's struggle with Grima's influence. Severa's shoulders tensed at the mention of her father's fate.
"Then we go east," Lucina declared, drawing strength from Odyn's presence. Their love had bloomed unexpectedly in this timeline – a second chance at what war had stolen in her future. Now, standing between two times, she fought not just for her father's life, but for all the bonds they'd forged.
Cynthia mounted her pegasus, lance gleaming. "I'll scout ahead! Justice waits for no one!"
"Cynthia, wait—" Frederick started, but his future daughter was already airborne, leaving him to sigh in familiar exasperation.
As the Shepherds prepared to march, Odyn caught Lucina's hand. "Whatever we face," he promised, "we face it together."
Lucina smiled, remembering the guardian who'd died protecting her as a child in her timeline, and seeing the man who now stood beside her as an equal. "Together," she agreed, "we'll change fate itself."
The path ahead would test them all – but with bonds forged across time itself, they marched forward to challenge destiny once again.
To be continued in Chapter 8: Act 2- Scion of a Hero; The entrance of Owain!