Chapter 8: Act 2- The Scion of a Hero; The Entrance of Owain!
The Hero's Entrance
"And then he jumped onto the tavern table, struck this ridiculous pose, and declared himself the 'Scion of Justice' before running off to fight bandits!" The village elder could barely contain his amusement as he recounted the tale to the Shepherds.
Lucina felt her face growing pale. Next to her, Severa and Cynthia exchanged knowing looks, barely containing their snickers.
"Did this... 'hero' happen to carry a sword named after himself?" Lucina asked weakly.
"Why yes! He called it 'Owain's Sword Hand' or something equally dramatic!"
Odyn glanced at his girlfriend with concern, noting her increasingly exasperated expression. "Lucina? You know this person?"
"Unfortunately," she muttered, then caught herself. "I mean... yes. If it's who I think it is, we need to hurry. My cousin has a talent for finding trouble that rivals his talent for naming things."
"Cousin?" Sybyrh asked, orange eyes twinkling with amusement as she glanced at Chrom. "That would make him..."
"Lissa's son," Chrom confirmed, looking both proud and slightly worried. "Though I have to admit, from what we're hearing, he seems to have inherited her... theatrical side."
"Oh, you have NO idea," Severa rolled her eyes. "Just wait until he starts naming everyone's special moves."
The group rushed toward the reported bandit activity, following the sound of extremely elaborate battle cries. As they crested a hill, they found exactly what Lucina had feared – and expected.
In the middle of a circle of increasingly confused bandits stood a young man with black hair, his stance reminiscent of Lon'qu's swordwork but with significantly more... flourish. He had one hand dramatically covering his face while the other twitched at his sword hilt.
"BEHOLD, villains!" he proclaimed, striking yet another pose. "You face Owain Dark, scion of justice and warrior of light! My sword hand twitches with righteous fury, eager to unleash the-- Uncle Chrom? Lucina?!"
The momentary break in character was all the bandits needed to close in, but they hadn't counted on Owain's actual fighting skills beneath all the theatrics. His blade work, when he finally drew his sword, showed the unmistakable precision of Lon'qu's training combined with Lissa's determined spirit.
"Formation Delta Seven!" Robin called out, and the Shepherds moved to support the young warrior.
"Ah! The legendary tactician himself! This must be my fated 'Reunion of Destiny' chapter!" Owain called out while expertly parrying a bandit's axe. "Though I admit some confusion at the presence of an unknown dark elf queen at Uncle Chrom's side-- SACRED STONES, what a dodge, your majesty!"
Sybyrh had just elegantly sidestepped a brigand's attack before blasting him with magic. "Why thank you, nephew. Though I believe proper introductions can wait until after the battle?"
"OF COURSE! Let us pen this epic chapter together! SACRED STONEEEES!"
Odyn watched in amazement as the young man somehow managed to maintain his dramatic monologue while fighting with deadly efficiency. "Is... is he always like this?"
"Always," Lucina, Severa, and Cynthia answered in unison.
"My sword hand hungers for-- oh, hello there! You must be Mother's 'special friend' she mentioned in her letter! Worry not, for I, Owain Dark, give my blessing to your courtship of my fair cousin! Though we must later discuss the proper naming of your combined special attacks!"
Lucina buried her face in her hands while Odyn blinked in surprise, actually missing a parry and having to be saved by Chrom.
"I... thank you?" the dark elf managed, desperately trying to focus on the battle rather than Owain's continuing narrative about the 'Darkness Dragon and the Sword Princess: A Love Story for the Ages.'
"Less talking, more fighting!" Severa snapped, though she was clearly fighting back a smile. "Gods, I forgot how entertaining he makes everything."
"Ah! The tsundere awakens! Truly this reunion was written in the stars!"
"I will END you, Owain!"
As the last bandit fell, Owain immediately launched into an elaborate victory pose, complete with what appeared to be rehearsed lighting effects courtesy of his mother's magical training. "And so concludes this chapter of justice! Though questions remain about this altered timeline, my heart sings to see my family again! Even if some appear... differently than expected!" He glanced meaningfully at Sybyrh.
Chrom stepped forward to embrace his nephew, while Lucina found herself smiling despite her embarrassment. Yes, Owain was exactly as she remembered – dramatic, passionate, and somehow both ridiculous and reliable at the same time.
"A most interesting addition to our company," Odyn whispered to her, squeezing her hand.
"Just wait until he starts naming your special moves," she whispered back. "And please, please don't encourage him."
Unfortunately, Cynthia had already bounced over to Owain, eyes shining. "Ooh! Can you help name some of my pegasus diving attacks? I've been working on this really cool one where I spin and--"
"NO!" shouted several Shepherds at once, but it was too late. Owain's eyes were already gleaming with creative possibility.
"Fear not, fellow warrior of justice! Together we shall craft titles worthy of legend! But first..." he turned to Lucina and Odyn with a disturbingly enthusiastic grin, "about those combination attacks for the future wedding..."
Lucina wondered if it was too late to go back to fighting Risen instead.
To be continued in Chapter 9: Act 2- Brother's Shadow