Chapter Text
Corrin’s head reeled. She was lost in her thoughts. The group walked through the night based on an approximation of where Selena assumed Chrom would be based on how long ago Robin had joined them. Chrom, she remembered, was the blue-haired man she had met when she was here before. Even then, that was assuming that time worked the same between the two worlds, something that was a lofty leap given that even within her own universe, time had pockets that didn’t work the same.
That was another thing that sent her head spinning. She knew this land—Ylisse, as Selena had explained—was separate from her own somehow. What she didn’t expect was that it was another universe entirely. A universe where her home—which even Selena, Laslow, and Odin have lived in—was mythical.
The worst thing of all, though, was Grima. Learning about Grima, what he was and what he did. Corrin had vaguely pieced together through seeing them in combat that Selena, Laslow, and Odin had seen their share of violence and conflict before, but the exact details were horrifying. Tales of death and destruction on a level that seemed impossible to her were everyday life for the trio.
And Robin was the vessel that was used to carry it out.
The very thought of it made Corrin want to cry, but she promised herself she wouldn’t. Not in front of her children, and not while her wife was at stake. She’d let herself cry when it was over. Or, at least, when no one was around to catch her. She had to be strong, she told herself.
“You wanna switch?” Laslow’s voice broke her from her thoughts. He gestured down to her arms, in which she cradled Robin’s still-unconscious body. She had taken over for Odin after, she had to guess, three or four hours. By now, it must have been twice that. Part of her was surprised Morgan was keeping up as well as he was, carrying Kana once again. Her younger son had fallen asleep, though Corrin couldn’t blame him.
“No, I can still carry her,” Corrin assured him. As if to reiterate, she shifted Robin’s position higher, as though an extra display of physical strength would be a reassurance. A part of her wondered if that counted as showing off, but a larger part of her knew she was just doing what she had to in order to hold herself together. Giving a quick nod, she continued, “Thank you, though. Genuinely.”
Corrin figured the sun would rise soon. She considered switching off then but if they were at all lucky, they may find Chrom’s camp sooner. That was still a huge if. They hadn’t seen hide nor hair of anyone, let alone the group they were searching for. The Shepherds, as Selena had referred to them. Corrin wondered if they were at all like the army she’d led before, during the war between Hoishio and Nohr.
“Do you want to talk about this, at least?” Laslow asked softly. He took stride beside Corrin, watching as she glanced back at Morgan. She took a long inhale and breathed it out slowly as she turned back to face Laslow. He offered her a polite smile, as if welcoming her to speak her mind.
“Why didn’t we go back to the… the part, or the version, of Ylisse the three of you were from?” Corrin asked after a moment’s hesitation. She knew it wouldn’t be what Laslow was referring to, but she didn’t know if she was ready to open up about her feelings just yet. Talking about something else would provide a distraction, at least.
“Ah,” Laslow nodded. He seemed to understand where she was coming from, something Corrin found herself slightly surprised by. She wondered for a moment if he was just naturally good at reading people, or if she was wearing her emotions on her sleeve. He continued, “Before, when we fought Grima, we found that the only way to kill him for good was to have his own vessel kill him. To have Robin kill him. Since he’s already dead where we come from, that wouldn’t be feasible.”
“So, bring my Robin- er, this Robin… Bringing her back to her own timeline or world or… whatever this is… We need her to kill this Grima?” Corrin concluded, her eyes again falling to the woman sleeping in her arms. It almost sounded too simple. There had to be some kind of catch.
“I mean, yeah. That’s pretty much it. It’s just a lot harder than it sounds,” Laslow confirmed, shrugging his shoulders ever so slightly. Corrin could see something hidden, buried behind his eyes, but she didn’t press further. If she wasn’t going to open up yet, she couldn’t expect anyone else to, either. After a sharp exhale through his nose, he added, “Alternatively, Chrom or Lucina could probably do it, but that won’t get rid of Grima for good. It has to be his vessel.”
“And Robin will go back to normal after that?” Corrin asked, hopeful. If there was any chance at all that she could have her life go back to normal, she would take it. She didn’t care how hard it was. Really, she expected it. She had seen, supposedly, only a fraction of Grima’s power and even that had been a struggle. Anything would be better than nothing at all.
“Should be. At least, as long as she’s not too far gone,” Laslow admitted hesitantly. It was a thought that had crossed not only his mind, but Corrin’s as well. Corrin prayed that it wasn’t the case, and even if just for her sake, Laslow did too. Trying to ease the topic a bit, he added, “She’s probably going to be okay for a bit. It took a long time before, where we came from. She’s probably just at the start of it.”
“That’s comforting,” Corrin sighed, trying to convince herself that it was. How could it be, really? The implication that was far better left unsaid was that things would get worse before they got better. Even then, that was if they got better. What if Robin never improved? The thought of it terrified Corrin beyond belief. She must have been wearing her emotions and thoughts visibly, because Laslow piped up again.
“She’s going to be okay. I promise,” he assured her quietly. His certainty gave Corrin some level of confidence. He didn’t smile this time, but somehow, this reassured Corrin even more. Perhaps it was simply knowing he was taking this seriously. Part of her wanted to apologize to him, feeling some level of responsibility for him being in this situation again.
Laslow seemed to be handling things well, though. Whether it was through strength, experience, or simply faking it, he was surprisingly composed. There was definitely strength to be admired. Still, Corrin could only imagine how he, not to mention Selena and Odin, were feeling inside. The trauma that must have been festering inside them was something Corrin couldn’t even begin to understand yet. She made a mental note to talk to them all individually soon. She wouldn’t be able to fix their problems, she knew that, but if she could at the very least offer a supportive listening ear, it may still be enough help to keep them together.
“Aha! Over there!” Odin bellowed, calling the attention of everyone in the group save for Kana, who remained asleep. At the very least, he had seemed to return to his boisterous and theatrical, if not hammy, attitude. Little by little, Corrin’s hope was growing back. If the three veterans could return to how they normally acted, then that means they had some optimism too, Corrin figured. That, by extension, made her optimistic.
Though, perhaps it would be more accurate to call her idealistic. Corrin had been labeled many during the war and the short time that had passed since. It wasn’t uncommon for people to have voiced their concerns for her shining, radiant hopefulness. According to many, the mindset she had was childish, foolish, naive, or any combination thereof. She couldn’t blame them for it. Even she had to admit that it felt naive at times. Still, she would rather be a naive optimist who was, at times, wrong than she would a cynical pessimist who ended up right. Her hope, right or wrong, gave her strength. That was something she desperately needed at present.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, behold! A light!” Odin shouted to the group despite their close proximity. A large smile adorned his face as he turned to look at everyone else. His confident grin suggested that good news was in store. Surely enough, his next words confirmed it. “As surely as the day becomes the night and the night turns to day, a glorious hero of legend has led his weary group to sure victory!”
Corrin almost let out a chuckle at the boast. His theatrics truly were something special, she had to admit. If not for the dire situation, she may even have indulged in the humor of it. Moreso, however, the announcement eased some of their fears. While they couldn’t be sure that the light belonged to Chrom and his army, it was a good start at least. Even if it wasn’t, perhaps they could be given a few horses for faster and easier transport. Idealistic, perhaps, but she couldn’t bear to think of the alternative.
In truth, Corrin knew the most likely scenario was that it was a group of mercenaries, bandits, ruffians, or other assorted hooligans. People that would be less likely to help. It was a sad reality of life, a reality in which she didn’t often like to indulge. She liked to be optimistic. She liked to believe in being and doing good. That extended to her ideas of other people, as well. She had faith that people were good by default. If something had made them bad, they could be helped back onto a path of goodness. Right now, though, that was creature comfort at best.
With a glance down at her wife, still resting in her arms, Corrin began to move forward. By now, the extra eyes were gone, something for which she considered herself lucky, but even in the dark of night, she could still see the red stains down her face from when they opened. She had tried to wipe them away already, but it was as if they were under the skin. A glance back to Morgan and Kana showed no signs of her younger son stirring. Morgan seemed to be tiring out from carrying his brother, though Corrin couldn’t blame him. They’d been walking for hours now. She considered asking Laslow to carry Kana, since he’d offered already to help with Robin, but decided not to push her luck. If worst came to worst, she’d carry both.
As they neared the edge of the camp, Selena halted everyone. The very act was enough to put Corrin on edge, causing her to begin scanning her surroundings. She didn’t have experience with Ylisse, but Selena did, so if she presumed something was wrong, Corrin had to accept it as absolute. She crouched to a lowered position, using one of her legs to help support Robin. She expected Selena would explain why they’d stopped, but it wasn’t a bad idea to be alert, herself.
“That’s definitely not a Shepherds encampment,” Selena noted to the group. Laslow and Odin, Corrin had figured, likely caught onto that as well. Morgan seemed far more tense than Corrin herself, though she could hardly blame her son. He was still a teenager, and a young one at that. On top of that, he was thrust into a situation Corrin would say was worse than anything they’d faced before. Considering the stress he was under, he was handling it surprisingly well. Selena spoke again, “Looks like it could be bandits, or mercenaries. Can’t say for sure. Mercenaries would be a better option, since they’re not necessarily bad.”
“Let’s hope it’s a mercenary camp then,” Corrin replied. If it turned out to be bandits, there was no doubt the group would have to fight, and in their tired state, that could prove dangerous. They could certainly win the fight, but it would be much tougher than it normally would. Plus, with Morgan and Kana here, Corrin would certainly have preferred to avoid combat if at all possible. They’d already seen more than their share of violence. Ideally, they wouldn’t see any more, though even Corrin had to admit that seemed unlikely, especially given the current circumstances.
Corrin’s attention turned back towards the camp, just in time to pick out an arrow that had been fired far more silently than she would’ve liked. It seemed to be directed at Selena, but with her hands full, she wouldn’t be able to get her out of the way in time. Though, since Corrin was already on the ground herself, she had easier access to use her legs. She stuck her right leg out, hooked it around Selena’s left, and pulled it back. It would trip her, yes, but it also took her out of the arrow’s range.
Selena caught herself just before she hit the ground, using her arms to catch herself. She was about to open her mouth and shout something in anger when she noticed the arrow whiz by where she just was. It was clear now that whoever was at the camp was attacking first. Whether it was because they were out for blood, or because they thought Corrin’s group would attack, she couldn’t say. At best, Corrin might be able to talk them down if she could get to their leader. If she were carrying Robin, though, that wouldn’t be exactly feasible. She backed up to Morgan and laid Robin down next to him.
“Morgan, I need you to stay here,” Corrin instructed. She knew he could handle himself in battle, at least, but with Kana asleep and Robin still out for who knew how long, they couldn’t be left vulnerable. Of course, it also worked double duty to keep Morgan away from serious combat here. With everything that was happening, Corrin wasn’t exactly in the mood to risk the lives of her children.
“Mama, I can help in the fight,” her son countered. She figured that he would. As young as he was, he still was protective and more than willing to fight if it meant aiding those he cared about. It was an admirable trait, to be sure, something that made Corrin proud to no end. He was most certainly taking after his mothers when it came to heroism. Still, she didn't want him to get him hurt at all. Luckily, she knew exactly how to work with it and play it as a strength of his.
“I know, that’s why I’m asking you to stay here,” Corrin nodded, gesturing to the tome he kept with him. He wasn’t at the same level as Robin yet, in magic or tactics, but he was by no means a slouch, either. Corrin continued, “Kana’s asleep, and we don’t know when mom will wake up. That means we have two people currently unable to fend for themselves. I need you to stay here and protect them from harm, okay?”
Morgan nodded. Having this be a set task for him, one that involved protecting someone, made it easier for him to agree to stay behind. Instead of it being a show of weakness, it was a show of strength for him. He was tasked with being the one to defend them and keep them safe. Even if no one came to attack, it was still an implication of trust and courage, as far as he was concerned. That was enough for Corrin to be able to rest easily—or at least, as easily as she could given the situation—that he would stay away from the camp until there was a certainty of safety.
Returning to the trio, Corrin readied Yato. She had hoped not to fight, but she would be a fool to not even anticipate it. She always believed it was better to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Now a quartet, they approached the camp quickly. Immediately, they were confronted by the archer who had shot at them before, but Odin managed to make quick work of him. Frankly, Corrin was amazed by how differently they seemed to fight here. It was a far more quick, and ruthless, style of fighting. They always seemed far more willing to hold back home. Or rather, her home, at least.
The trio she was with came from Ylisse. This was their home. For all she knew, this could be how combat was fought not only here, but most other places as well. She didn’t exactly have time to dwell on it as one of the people at the camp lunged at her with an axe. A quick dodge was all she needed to counterattack, which she did in an effort not to kill. She would fight, yes, but she didn’t intend to take a life if she could help it. Focusing on her agility here over her strength, her goal was to get to the leader as quickly as she could.
Robin would have been an excellent help with the entire encounter, she had to admit. Still Robin was out of the picture for the foreseeable future. The determination to save her wife fueled Corrin to push herself harder, adrenaline pumping through her and driving her forward. She wanted to finish this as quickly as she could. That would require studying her enemies, of course, and determining which one seemed to be in charge. In her tired state, splitting her focus like that was difficult, even more evidence that Robin’s aid would’ve been excellent.
Towards the farthest end of the camp from where they had started, Corrin picked out what seemed to be the commander of whatever this group counted as. That gave her a completed step in her goal. As she started making her way there, she was stopped by a lance attack that she just barely managed to avoid. Perhaps if she weren’t so tired, she could have noticed it while scanning.
With axes and other swords, Corrin could fight without worry, even in her tired state. With a lance, she was at a disadvantage. The attack would have a longer reach, making it harder for her to get in. She was, of course, skilled. In her top shape, she could do it without issue. Unfortunately, due to running off of the hours of walking, and generally being awake, Corrin wasn’t in her top shape. She could still likely take the foe down, but not without injuring herself in the process. Her opponent readied another attack, but before there was any strike, the attack was cut short by someone new entering the fray. She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw who it was.
“ Soleil ?” Corrin asked with incredulity. She knew Soleil, of course. She was Laslow’s daughter. They’d fought alongside each other in a fair few battles during the war. Still, Soleil hadn’t been there when Corrin and her group had crossed over to Ylisse. They hadn’t seen anyone for hours beforehand either. She imagined she’d get an answer before the night was through, though, or the next day at the very most. The younger girl rested an axe on her shoulder, turned to Corrin, and with a wink, greeted her.
“Heya, Corrin!” Soleil replied with a cheery tone and a flash of her smile. That was a trait Corrin had noticed not just towards herself, but to others as well. Soleil was a flirt through and through, which Corrin imagined she took from her father in some capacity. The question of if it were nature or nurture came up in conversation with Robin a few times, but generally the two laughed it off without serious thought. Soleil continued, “Ophelia and I thought you could use some help!”
With that, Soleil turned back to the lance-wielder and swung her axe. Corrin was left with the acknowledgement that Ophelia—Odin’s daughter— also came to Ylisse. It started to paint a clearer picture of why they were here. Corrin had to assume, for now at least, that they were following their fathers. It was as good of a reason as any other to make this trip. Whether it was from curiosity or something else, that was another story.
Filing the information in the back of her head for now, Corrin resumed her mission to get to the leader of this merry little band. She was certain that the parents of the two girls would have their say about their respective daughters following them, and that it would sort itself out. She had to make a priority out of resolving this as quickly as possible. With newfound certainty, she charged to where the leader would be stationed.
Upon reaching him, Corrin realized she should have been prepared for another surprise. He was already engaged in a fight, with none other than Chrom, the Ylissian prince she had met just before she met Robin, and exactly the man they were here to find. He was engaged already in a sword fight with the leader of this group. It certainly looked as though Chrom had the upper hand, but Corrin decided to step in and help regardless. If what she’d been told about Chrom was true, then he certainly had noble reasons to fight.
During a moment where the blades were locked, Corrin took an opportunity to leap forward and stab with Yato, piercing it through the apparent common enemy she and Chrom shared. She didn’t aim to kill, but it would most certainly wound him enough to stop him from fighting at all. Afterwards, she pulled the sword back out, holding it at a ready stance while the man fell to his knees, then onto his back. Chrom turned to face the person who had aided him, and though surprise overcame him momentarily, he managed to regain his composure just as quickly.
“Corrin?” It was more of a confirmation than a question, though the rising intonation was unmistakable. She turned to face him, confident at the very least that he was sharper than she was right now, making it safer to do so. She couldn’t say she was surprised that he recognized her. He had most certainly seemed the type to remember a face when they’d first met. Especially if said person claimed to be from an apparently mythical kingdom. She could see him pause for a moment before deciding to ask, “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you, actually,” Corrin admitted honestly. She could have asked him the same question, but had decided now wasn’t exactly the time for such a thing. Between the busyness of battle and the shock of seeing her again, she had assumed it wasn’t the time to ask him anything. She figured that was doubly true if she was going to search him out and ask for help.
“I see. I suppose I have you to thank for the chaos here?” Chrom asked, though it certainly did not come across as unwelcome. Perhaps her timing had been godsent for the prince. If that were true, perhaps it would be an even better start than she’d hoped. Perhaps it was, in that sense, worth the misfortune that had initially presented itself when they’d been just outside the camp.
“Yeah. We—my group and I—we hoped that whoever was camping here wouldn’t be hostile. They weren’t, we found out when an arrow was shot at one of us before we’d even arrived,” Corrin explained honestly. She certainly had no reason to lie, especially not if she wanted help. Chrom has also commanded a certain level of trust, and Corrin was a generally trusting person, even if it was to her detriment.
“You have the thanks of the Shepherds, in that case. The distraction gave us a chance to attack,” Chrom replied. Corrin had picked up that he was a trusting person as well. They were similar in this way, and for that, Corrin was grateful. She got the feeling that trust would play a key role in whatever was to come next. Chrom continued, “It’s a good thing you didn’t get too close without being ready. They’re a band of slavers that recently kidnapped some nearby villagers.”
“I see. It certainly seems it was good fortune that we didn’t, then,” Corrin nodded in agreement. It seemed as though everything was calming down, and Corrin relished the chance to catch her breath. Even though the encampment wasn’t the Shepherds’, it had led to Corrin meeting Chrom again nevertheless. In response to Corrin’s reply, Chrom spoke again.
“You have my thanks for the assist as well, Corrin,” he spoke earnestly. He reached his hand out to her, which Corrin took and shook firmly. She was glad to be of any use in the situation, even if she didn’t particularly do much. As the two let go of each others’ hands, Chrom looked around and scanned the battlefield. Once certain that there was no lingering threat, he turned to Corrin again and asked, “I don’t suppose you could say why you were looking for me.”
“Of course,” Corrin replied, feeling some level of relief that re-introductions had passed and she could return to the primary issue troubling her. With a small sigh and a nod, she explained, “There’s something that I need your help with. I have some friends, from here I suppose, that told me you’d be who I needed.”
Chrom opened his mouth to respond, but the rapid approach of footsteps stopped any reply he was about to form. He drew his sword and held it at a ready stance, pointed in the direction of the noise. Corrin turned too, and immediately recognized Morgan as the one who was approaching the moment his cloak and dark hair came into view.
“Mama!” her older son called to her, in and of itself lowering Chrom’s apprehension. As he approached, Corrin immediately pulled him into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, feeling slightly more confident, now that the battle was over, that it’d be safer for him. After a second that felt far too short, she pulled away and placed her hands on her son’s shoulders.
“What’s going on, Morgan?” Corrin asked without hesitation. Her conversation with Chrom was important, but nothing was more so than her family. She would hope the sentiment was the same for Chrom, given that his own sister traveled with him. There had to be a level of understanding for such a situation. After taking a moment to catch his breath, Morgan replied far more frantically than Corrin would have hoped for.
“Mom’s awake!” Morgan cried, and in an instant, all of Corrin’s priorities shifted.