Archive of Our Own

Tiki let out a yawn as she stretched in bed, the early morning light falling across her bare skin. Sitting up, her green hair fell across her face, across her bare breasts as she rubbed her tired eyes. Her pointed ears twitched, as she felt the soft intake of breath from her lover, still fast asleep by her side.

Lover.

That’s not a title she’d had before, though she’d certainly had a few others.

But lover, more than that, wife, those were new to her. She’d never let herself get that close to anyone. Though somehow, her wife had managed to steal a treasure worth more than a king’s fortune.

Her heart.

Silver hair framed her Robin’s delightful face, Tiki nestling back into the tactician's grip and kissing her forehead. She’d had a few lovers over the eons, but none of them had quite managed to steal her heart in the way that the amnesiac Plegian had.

Tiki snorted, oh the irony. Her hands gently running themselves down Robin’s side, the Voice of Naga wondered what Grima must have thought about her taking ‘his’ daughter as her lover. Not that he could raise a fuss about it, considering he was, y’know, dead and all that.

Robin suddenly let out a whimper in her sleep, shifting in the Manakete’s arms. Tiki’s eyes widened, even as she heard her wife start to say: “No… No, I’m not like you, I’m never going to be like you!”

Robin had started tossing and turning, nearly thrashing in her sleep, clearly in the depths of some horrible nightmare. Tiki made a sad sort of sound, holding her close and frowned. It wasn’t the first time she’d caught the woman in some horrible dream.

Not that the Manakete could honestly blame her, really. Not after Grima. Seeing the minor continent-sized dragon flying over Ylisse, Tiki hadn’t really slept easily herself until the dragon was finally dead.

And she’d nearly lost the love of her life in the process. Just charging through Grima’s worshippers had nearly taken the lives of several of the Shepherds. Let alone fighting Grima’s dark avatar.

It had looked like Robin, even spoke with Robin’s voice, but the Fell Dragon had not been her Robin. 

“Don’t… get away from her!” her wife said in her sleep, Tiki not sure what she was seeing. Nor did she want to ever even know.

Running a hand through the girl’s supernaturally silver hair, Tiki said, soothingly: “Shhhh, it’s alright. Shhh, it's ok, it's ok. He’s gone, you’re free of him. He won’t ever touch you again…”

Grima, the Fell Dragon, the embodiment of destruction, madness and the shadows that lurked in humanity’s soul was dead.

Robin, hearing her wife’s voice, started to settle. She relaxed in Tiki’s arms, her breathing slowing. “That's right he’s just a shadow of the past now… Just that, just a shadow.”

Tiki felt her voice trail off, reminded of her age. 3000 years and counting by now, and she didn’t look a day over 1000. She’d still look like a young 20 something year old even when her wife wore the face of an old woman.

Eternal youth.

Not for the first time, she wondered why people said immortality was a blessing.

Pressing a kiss to her wife’s forehead, Tiki held her in her arms. She had a house in the kingdom of Ylisse, with friends, even family. All of those things for the first time in several thousand years.

“I wish you could see me now, Ban-Ban…” Tiki said aloud. “You said, before you… left me, that I should find happiness for myself.”

She had found that, but the one thing she knew after 3000 years was that happiness never lasted. Feeling every bit her age, the woman rose out of bed. She didn’t walk, rather she glided across the floor to her closet.

“...how many faces,” she wondered aloud, looking at herself in the mirror and for a moment she saw the faces of her old friends. “Are they just shadows of the past now?”

“Caeda… Elice… even you, Mar-Mar,” she said, remembering the faces, if not always the names. “I don’t remember everyone, my memory is starting to…”

She knew it’d happen eventually, that she’d start forgetting people. She wasn’t ancient, not by dragon standards at any rate. But eventually names started to fade, the older she got. Eventually, she’d forget even her precious Mar-Mar’s name, the legendary hero king becoming just another memory in an ocean of them.

“Well,” Tiki said, looking back to her wife. “I guess I’ll enjoy this while it lasts. Beauty is fleeting, after all.”

But what if it didn’t have to be, she wondered. Could she do that? Ask Robin to live that kind of life?

No, she knew she’d never win that argument. Her wife loved the Shepherds, she could never bear to part with them.

In any event, without Grima’s power, Tiki doubted Robin could even live that long of a life. The last of Grima’s magic had died when the Fell Dragon himself had.

It was for the best, the Manakete knew. That sort of magic was as dark, as evil as its origin. It was for the better that those spells were lost to history.

Pulling on her dress, and then her boots, Tiki shook her head. She was getting lost in her thoughts again, as she tended to do. Kissing her wife’s forehead again, she said: “I think I’ll go for a walk, get some fresh air.”

Quickly writing down a note to her wife, the Voice of Naga stepped outside and greeted the afternoon sun.

-----

As Tiki walked, she smiled, seeing daily life go about in the Halidom. 

After years of fighting, and mad tyrants, it seemed like peace had finally returned to Archanea. Well, it was called Ylisse nowadays, but Tiki would always remember it by its previous name.

This was why she fought, for times like these and hopefully it’d stay like this for a couple more decades. It seemed, after Grima’s death, everyone seemed more at ease without the mad dragon whispering in their ears. Certainly, bandits still stalked the roads, but there had been no signs of men like Walhart or Gangrel.

She’d heard rumors that Gangrel still survived, but only just that. Rumors. His kingdom had rejected him, and everyone knew of the mad king’s insanity. Nobody would ever willingly follow him into battle ever again.

“Come one, come all!” a familiar voice called. “I’ve got all sorts of wonders lined up, just come on over to the Amazing Anna’s Emporium!”

Tiki stared at her, it seemed the more things changed the more things some stayed the same. And that included this seemingly immortal saleswoman. The girl had a way of repeatedly confounding Tiki.

“She claims not to be the same girl I knew all those years ago, and yet she looks exactly like her. There’s family resemblance and then there’s Anna,” the Manakete mused to herself. “...no, best not to think about it. You don’t need a headache this early in the day.”

Definitely not think about it, especially when somehow that girl had sisters across the Outrealms. If there were universal constants, it was that every realm seemed to have an Anna.

She had more important things on her mind, such as the very real fact that she’d outlive her beloved wife by eons.

Anna waved her over, with that slightly greedy smile on her face as ever. She’d been in the Shepherds, of course, but that didn’t mean Tiki trusted her one bit. The only real love the redhead had was that of gold coin.

Donating to The Widows of Gangrel, or the People for the Ethical Treatment of Wyverns! If Anna had thought that Tiki had bought any of those lies for even a second, she must have been more foolish than the Manakete thought she was.

Not that Tiki intended on eating her really, it’d only been an idle threat. Humans tasted terrible.

“Tiki!” Anna said, in a chirpy tone. “You look like you could use a friendly face! And how about that of an old friend?”

Tiki raised an eyebrow, she wasn’t sure that’s what she’d call Anna really.

“I won’t even charge you for my time!”

Tiki sighed and walked over towards the saleswoman and forced her cheeriest smile on her face. “Hello Anna, how are you today?”

“You seem down so why not buy something? You know what they say buying something is the way to lighten your purse strings and your heart?” the Trickster beamed with a cheesy grin. “So what about some good old-fashioned retail therapy!”

Tiki stared, still stunned at how brazen Anna was even if she knew she should have been used to it by now. “I… uhh err sure?”’

“So what has my 4th favorite sapphic dragon down right now?” Anna grinned, leaning forwards with a look in her eyes. “Let me know and I can sell you the solution!”

She chuckled.

“After all, I sell absolutely everything,” Anna said. “And if I don't sell it, then I’ll be sure to get it!”

“4th favorite, so how many…?” Tiki trailed off, blinking before shaking her head. “Actually, you know what, never mind. I don't want to know. Also, I’m fine! Really!”

Even Tiki knew how unconvincing she must have sounded. She was far too quick to lie, and in all of her centuries of living it had become one of those things she was absolutely terrible at.

“Uh huh sure and I donate all my money to the local nunnery,” Anna said, in perfect deadpan. “Now tell me what's got ya down?”

“Is this going to become one of those things I have to pay you for?”

“Depends on what it is,” Anna chuckled. “Perhaps you need a gift for the wife after forgetting an important date! I recently just got a book on tactics written by a famous tactician from another world. Her name’s Byleth, and I'm sure your wife would love it,” she motioned behind her to a rather thick text book titled ‘Winning The War For My Flame Emperor’.

Tiki would admit she was briefly tempted, though it wouldn’t really solve her main problem.

“Or if you’re into more bizarre things, I picked this mask up on a trip to another realm,” Anna said, gesturing to a stone mask with an evil look about it. “I don’t know what it is, or who made it, or how many curses it’s got on it but it makes a great conversation point!”

Tiki decided very quickly that the mask was a thing of evil and should probably be burned to a crisp.

“...no, nothing like that, as tempting as both are,” Tiki said. “It wouldn’t solve my problem.”

Anna nodded in understanding, before snapping her fingers with a delighted, knowing grin on her face.

“Trouble in the bed room with the wifey cus I’ve got a collection of toys to spice things up or if you need help setting the mood I have the latest CD from Azura or oooh hold on-”

Tiki blushed, in her time nobody ever talked about that kind of thing. What was a CD anyways? She slumped her shoulders, before sighing. She might as well come out with it, it couldn’t hurt right?

“I’ve just been thinking,” the Manakete admitted.

“Oooh, that’s dangerous,” Anna joked. “I thought it was your wife who was the smart one. I thought you just threw flames everywhere and walked around like a model. But if you buy an office lady’s uniform and a pair of glasses we can probably fake it!”

Tiki glared, quite unamused and rather annoyed actually. She growled, saying: “Need I remind you of my prior suggestion of you taking a career in food services?”

Anna chattered away, unfazed, saying: “Hmmm, I don’t think I have any wrinkle cream that gives wrinkles. I’m greedy, not a charlatan. Professionals have standards, after all!”

Tiki couldn’t help it, stifling back a laugh before her face fell again.

“But it's more than that, I’ve been thinking I don't want to outlive her. I don't want to forget her,” Tiki said, fighting back tears. “I’m supposed to continue on, remember the people I’ve lost. Not… I suppose it’s different when you’re actually married to someone. I’m supposed to be a wise dragon. But I’m more than that, I'm a woman with feelings and the pain of loss… It never gets easier.”

She knew she was rambling by this point, she knew she’d drawn a bit of a crowd. For someone who was supposed to have a solution for everything, for someone who was supposed to represent her own mother when it came to mortal affairs, Tiki right now felt very inescapably crushingly human. 

Fighting back more tears, the Voice of Naga wondered what the point of continuing on was at times if she knew she’d have to feel that pain again and again.

“...and I can’t just isolate myself, people rely on me and they need me and I…” 

Truthfully, when she thought about it, she didn’t really know what she was supposed to do. She crossed her arms, hugging herself and knew she didn’t look at all like the wise religious figure she was supposed to be. Right now, she felt less like a daughter of the Divine Dragon and more very tired of hiding her pain.

“...I’m sorry mom,” she whispered. “I just… maybe I am a failure of a daughter. Sorry to disappoint, Ban-Ban. I’ve found that happiness you spoke of, I’m just not sure how to hold onto it right now…”

Anna looked around, before flipping the ‘open’ sign around. Looking at the gathering crowd, the redhead snapped: “Hey, buzz off. Shop’s closed!”

Losing her usual huckster voice, she pulled Tiki inside the shop and into a gentle hug.

“Hey, it’s alright, you’re still allowed to be, pardon the phrase, human,” the woman said. “Loss is a universal language, even you’re allowed to feel grief. I can’t sell you everything, contrary to what I said before, but I can offer advice. Consider this a favor from a fellow Shepard.”

Tiki, however hesitantly, returned the embrace.

After  a few minutes of letting Tiki calm down, the woman pulled back before resting her hands under her head. With a knowing look, she said: “So I think the thing you need to ask yourself is do you want to keep living forever?”

Tiki stared at her, drawling: “I thought I made it clear I don't? Unless I was close to crying for another reason.”

“Then don't. Give it all up! Live as a mortal, lots of others seem to enjoy it. I’m sure you can too,”  Anna stated rather matter of factly. 

“...is it really that simple?”

“Well, I imagine not,” Anna said. “I can’t tell you everything, I’m not a genius. I’m just a simple saleswoman after all.”

“...right, do I have to pay you for…”

“My advice? No, like I said this was just a favor. Even if I had exactly what you needed, and I’m not saying I did,” Anna said. “It’s just good business sense, to invite the customer to come back again sometime.”

Tiki snorted.

“Never change.”

“Speaking of change…” Anna said, her usual voice returning. “My coin purse is getting a little bit empty, you wouldn’t happen to have any gold you’d want to part with would you?”

Tiki looked at the book from before and sighed.

“...so what’s a CD again, and how much does it cost?”

-----

Tiki felt a little bit lighter, a weight lifted off her shoulders. It had sounded so simple when Anna had said it. 

Living life as a mortal.

That was a novel idea.

True, everyone else seemed to get along fine without an extended lifespan.

And honestly, Tiki would be happy to finally stop outliving people she cared for.

Nowi was one of the last Manakete left, and her adoptive daughter chose to deal with her immortality by being happy all the time. Never letting herself feel sad even for a moment.

Tiki envied her, she wished she had the ability to be as sunny as her darling daughter.

But by human standards, she was ancient even if by a dragon’s personal standards she was still incredibly young.

But for a dragon, youth was incredibly different compared to a human’s. Nowi, despite nearing over a thousand years old, looked 13 at best, something the strange looks sent her way reminded Tiki every time they were out in public. Without her pointed ears, Nowi looked like a human child in a frighteningly skimpy costume.

Something, Tiki was given to understand, was unacceptable in polite society. Granted, no regular child could turn into a dragon and swallow a man whole but Tiki understood why people might be somewhat concerned for her daughter’s welfare.

Not that Tiki would advise eating humans, they had way too many calories and tasted even worse!

“Robin, I’m back!” Tiki said, pulling off her boots and feeling the cool hardwood floor beneath her toes. True, she could wear boots all of the time but it’s not like she actually needed them. Her skin was far tougher than her wife’s. She just didn’t like being a conversation point, that was all.

Even if, because of her position, that was somewhat inescapable. Oh, to be born a human, Tiki mused. It’d solve so many of her problems!

Sometimes being a hierophant had its downsides, even if people listened to her every word.

“Just in time,” her wife said, kissing her on the lips and feeding her a piece of toast. “I was just about to try and wake up Nowi. Emphasis on the word ‘try’.”

“And I thought I was a sleepyhead at times!” Tiki giggled. “But somehow, impossibly, Nowi sleeps in more than me!”

“And in the oddest places,” Robin said, with a wry smile. “I swear Chrom was several seconds away from a heart attack at times, always worrying where we’d find Nowi sleeping next! Or that we’d accidentally leave her behind!”

“Well, she is only a thousand,” Tiki said, before biting into her toast. “Children do need the extra energy!”

“Yes, only a thousand!” Robin replied. “Only!”

As her wife, still in a nightgown, walked off towards Nowi’s bedroom/den Tiki followed after her.

“Oh, Robin, I…”

“Yes?”

The words died in her throat, how did you even begin to explain you wanted to make the biggest sacrifice a near immortal could make?

“...I wish I’d slept like Nowi did,” Robin admitted, her twin tails framing the sides of her face. “I… I had a rough sleep.”

“I know,” Tiki said, gently wrapping her arms around her stomach from behind. Her head rested on her bare shoulder, her breath ticking the side of the woman’s neck. “I heard you in your sleep, you… you were having a dream about him again, weren’t you?”

“Him?”

“Please, don’t play dumb with me, love,” Tiki said. “You’re nowhere near cute enough to get away with it. You were dreaming about Grima again, weren’t you?”

Her wife’s silence was all the answer she needed, really.

“...I wish I could get him out of my head,” Robin admitted, after several more moments of silence. “But…”

“I know how it feels,” Tiki said. “Even as old as I am, there’s some things that I wish I could forget. Grima’s not the first monster I’ve seen try to rule the world, he’s not even the first to claim godhood.”

“...though I imagine he’s the first with a legitimate claim to it,” Robin said even as Tiki kissed her forehead as she hugged her close. “...I… I saw him in my dreams, Nowi… she was impaled on his finger. Bleeding out, in front of-”

“And she’s in the upstairs bedroom, fast asleep, probably dreaming of plates of grilled bear meat,” Tiki said. “Inexplicable as her loving the taste of them is, Ylisse’s bears are probably endangered by now. What with how many the Shepherds went through a week.”

“Mhmm, don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.”

“I have tried it,” Tiki said. “Remember? I still prefer a whole cow.”

“Well, if any farmers suddenly mention their herds are suddenly missing a few heifers,” Robin said with a teasing smile. “I’ll know why. Don’t worry, I won’t say a thing to Chrom.”

The two kissed before pulling away.

“Mhmmm, lying about a crime,” Tiki teased, flicking her forehead playfully. “That’s aiding and abetting. I didn’t know you were willing to break the law for me. Can I count on you busting me out of prison?”

“Can I count on you being arrested?” Robin replied.

“Mhmmm, I dunno. I can pull off a lot, but I'm not sure even I can pull off prison garb and a ball and chain,” Tiki returned.

“Oh, the Voice of Naga, locked up for theft and murder,” Robin said, still in her arms and yet to break away. “What would everyone say? That’s hardly holy behavior at all, the papers would have a field day!”

“Only if they catch me!” Tiki said. “I’m still faster than any pegasi!”

Robin laughed again, snuggling in under the taller woman’s chin.

“By the way, what was it you were trying to say?” she finally asked. “It sounded like you had something on your mind.”

“Only you, dear,” Tiki said before her face fell. “Well, I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to ruin the morning yet.”

“I’m pretty sure our daughter’s bad breath is going to do that anyways!”

Tiki snorted. “Yes, I do need to remind her to change that.”

Tiki sat down on the couch, humming an old tune to herself. She’d forgotten the name, it was older than even she was. It’d been something Ban-Ban had taught her, and it was older than he was so even he didn’t know the name. But some things refused to be forgotten.

“I’ll probably forget even his name one day…” Tiki thought, dabbing at her eyes.

Hearing Robin come down the stairs, she looked up at the love of her life. Nowi was right behind her, rubbing her eyes and clearly not even half awake. The -comparatively- younger Manakete wouldn’t be with them for a bit longer yet, dressed in a shirt and sleep pants.

“Robin I uh want to,” Tiki started before she stopped herself not yet ready to talk about what's been on her mind lately. “give you this!”

“Smooth, girl,” Tiki said, forcing back a facepalm. That had been about the worst save ever.

She shoved the book she got at Robin “I saw Anna selling stuff in  town and decided to get you a gift!” 

Tiki knew her wife wasn’t stupid, so she knew that excuse would work for about all of five minutes. Still, five minutes more she didn’t have to discuss the matter!

“Oh wow!” Robin said rapidly flipping through the pages “These are incredibly detailed maps. I’m not familiar with this Byleth but she’s incredibly intelligent, and keeps detailed notes.”

“Hmmm, I wonder who that reminds me of?” Tiki said, with a gentle, musical little laugh. “I guess it’s true, smart is the new sexy. Should I be jealous?”

“Mhmmmmm, no, I know you hoard me more than gold,” Robin said. “Still, this is a wonderfully thoughtful gift, thank you!”

“Only the best for you, love,” Tiki said, before pulling out a thin case with a light-blue haired songstress on it. “Anna also said to take this, she called it a CD.”

“What’s a CD?” Robin said, tilting their head.

“Is it edible?” Nowi asked, standing on her tippy-toes to look over their mom’s shoulder.

“Anna said it plays music, apparently Azura’s a talented singer in her world,” Tiki said. “I wouldn’t know, I’m several hundred years behind in what’s popular.”

“I’ve heard Gaius playing a few songs, along with Inigo. They always tried to shoo me out of the room whenever I asked about what songs they were playing though,” Nowi said. “They said they were never for innocent ears. I’m a thousand years old for crying out loud!”

She huffed, and crossed her arms, indignant.

“Uh so how do we play the music?” Robin asked, staring in bewilderment.

“Anna said we need a CD player and that she’d have one the next time she dropped by,” 

“So why buy the CD now and not then?” Robin asked.

Tiki sighed and buried her face in both hands. “Because that woman is very persuasive with her sales tactics. In 3000 years of life I've never met someone who could sell a product so easily. That woman could sell a Pegasus Knight a target for their mount.” 

Robin snorted. “And then sell you the javelin to throw!”

-----

Tiki was kicking herself, she still hadn’t worked up the nerve to say exactly what she wanted to her wife. She scowled, there were supposed to be no secrets in a relationship and yet…

It should have been an easy thing to say, that she didn’t want to…

And every time she worked up the nerve, the words died in her throat. Looking towards her wife, playing chess with Nowi, she sucked in a breath. 

I want to give up my immortality.

Six simple words, they should have been easy to say.

So she said them.

At least, that’s how she said them in her mind.

What she’d actually said was something else.

“I DON'T WANT TO LIVE ANYMORE!”

Robin and Nowi looked upwards in horror and Tiki cringed. Right, there were probably better ways to say that.

Less frightening ways, at least.

Okay, so she’d said it wrong.

At least she’d finally managed to spit it out, Tiki reasoned.

“...that is, I… I said it wrong, I… I’m tired of living and no, that’s not how I’m trying to put it,” Tiki sighed, biting her finger. “I… What I mean is I’m tired of my immortality. I’m tired of losing people, outliving…”

She sniffled as the dam started to break.

“...I just don’t want to have to outlive you…” Tiki said as she made herself smaller, tucking herself into her legs. “I’m sick of seeing everyone I care about grow old, and gray, while I stay looking like I’m 20 for centuries.”

“Oh mama…” Nowi said, hugging her. “Why didn’t you say anything? I’m a Manakete too, I know better than anyone about-”

“I’ve been trying,” Tiki said, in a small voice, rather embarrassed about it. “But… But, honestly, every time I’ve wanted to get the words out, I… They never come out how I want them to.”

“They don’t have to come out perfectly,” Nowi said. “You shouldn’t have kept this inside you. You’re not me, you don’t have to smile all the time, mama!”

Tiki knew she was right, she wasn’t her daughter.

“Don’t force yourself to be someone you’re not,” Nowi said. “I let myself be happy, because why should I be sad? For me, the whole world’s ahead of me, but you? Mama, you’ve lived for three thousand years, you’ve seen kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall. It’s alright to be sad some of the time, you don’t have to pretend you’re infallible.”

“Big words from a small girl,” Tiki said.

“Well, I have two very smart mommies,” Nowi beamed. “And because you’re so smart, you know I’m right, right?”

It was only natural, Tiki supposed, that she’d wound up adopting the other Manakete. Nowi was probably the last of her kind, or at least the only other Manakete that Tiki had run into in decades. Truthfully, Tiki knew her species was a dying race and could only stave off the inevitable for so much longer.

No matter how much she could make herself think otherwise, she had to face facts. Once, there were many of her kind, but now, three thousand years later?

Things had changed, sadly.

Some had died in battle.

Some had gone mad.

Some had simply vanished into the pages of history.

Her race would simply be a memory in a couple of thousand years, even as Nowi and Tiki got older. Alas, Manaketes had always had a slow birth rate, and there were so few people able to raise them.

The sad truth of matter was that their species had been dying a slow, lonely death for a long time now. Naga’s children didn’t have much of a place in the world anymore.

Robin joined in the hug, letting her wife nestle her head into the crook of her shoulder.

“Tell me what happened,” Ylisse’s Grandmaster soothed, leading her over to the couch. “This didn’t just happen, did it? No, I know you love, you’ve probably had this on your mind for a while.”

“Centuries,” Tiki said, and it was refreshing to get all of this out in the open at last. “If I had to guess.”

“Centuries,” Robin said. “Without anyone to talk to about it?”

“...who’s there to tell?” Tiki said. “I’ve had worshippers, not… not friends. Not in hundreds of years.”

“Well now you’ve got me, and I think I qualify as a little more than a friend, right?” Robin said, and Tiki couldn’t help herself. She let out another soft, musical laugh at her wife’s words.

“No wonder you’re the Shepherds’ star tactician!”

“Got it in one,” Robin said before brushing a strand of green hair out of her face. “It’s alright, we’re family. You don’t have to keep this all inside you, Tiki. Not anymore.”

“Like I said, it didn’t just start this morning. It’s been in the back of my mind for a long time,” Tiki said. “But… I guess it just hit me all at once, I suppose. That I’m happy, but soon… Well, 60 years for me is the blink of an eye. I just got to thinking about shadows of the past. How… How names slowly fade away. I can still remember a lot of my old friends, my old family. Some… Some of my memories are hazy though, and some… I’ve started forgetting people. That’s my curse, to live a long old life while the people I know and care about are consigned to the pages of history. A century for me is a day of the week in the long run. I… I…” 

Her voice wavered, and it was getting harder and harder to stop the tears from falling. She’d never been particularly weepy, she’d always tried to keep moving forwards but right now she didn’t particularly care about what she ‘had’ to feel. She didn’t care about being Naga’s Voice, not at the moment.

Robin gently stroked her back, holding her close. Tiki had never found a human quite like her, they definitely only came along about once every few centuries. 

For a moment, she wondered what her mother must have thought, crying in the arms of Grima’s spawn.

“Then when I was talking to Anna she asked why didn’t I find a way to become mortal and…” Tiki sighed, wiping her eyes. “She made it sound so easy, and… Damn it.”

Robin didn’t say a word, she just lended a listening ear. Maybe that was all she needed right now, Tiki mused.

Nowi, for her part, didn’t say a word either. Tiki was faintly aware of the look of horror on the smaller Manakete’s face and suddenly she felt a little sick as the realization crashed into her like a tidal wave.

God, she’d probably sounded so selfish! 

“Oh Mother…” Tiki said, feeling like she wanted to throw up. “I didn’t think that… I… I don’t want to leave you alone, little one. I just…”

“It's fine, really you should be happy Mama,” Nowi said, with a clearly forced smile. “So if giving up your immortality is what would m-make you happy… Then that’s what y-you should d-do, right?”

Tiki pulled her close, and right now she felt like the worst mother in the world. Because if she chose to become a mortal, who’d raise her daughter?

Certainly not Robin, and it wasn’t like there was anyone she could hand Nowi off to for the next thousand years. No, leaving her daughter all alone was simply unacceptable. It was out of the question. 

So what the devil did she even do?

-----

Ah, hot springs. One of the few things older than she was.

“If I could,” Tiki mused aloud, soaking in the warm waters and scrubbing her daughter’s back. “I’d freeze this moment in time forever.”

“But that’d be staying stuck in the past, forever, wouldn’t it?” Nowi said, pointedly, looking up at her.

“I… yes, it would be,” Tiki said, with a nod. “I… I apologize, if that’s what you thought I wanted. To… to stay…”

“I know that’s not what you want, and I’m not saying it’s wrong for you to feel that way Mama,” Nowi said, feeling her hands on her. Resting on the rocks next to her, the younger dragon looked at her mom. “I know that one day I’m going to have to say goodbye to mom as well, and I’m aware of the cruel irony of it all. I’ll look 13 for the next hundred years even while mom…”

Nowi swallowed.

“People talk, I’ve heard them. That mom’s into… things, that she keeps me around the house for another reason,” the Manakete said. “It’s sick and wrong and those people should really mind their own business, and keep their mouths shut. I’m not just an innocent child, I haven’t been a child in centuries.”

“By our species standards, you still are,” Tiki said. 

“And I’ll be like this for the next thousand years,” Nowi said before looking away, with a sad far-off look in her eyes. “I try not to think about it. I guess what I’m really trying to say is…”

Nowi swam over and hugged her.

“Mama, if you find a way to give up your immorality, I want to join you,” -and here, Tiki gasped- “I don’t want to be left alone again. My parents, I know what Auntie Tharja said. That they’re far away, happy and I’m not dumb. She told me the truth, in a way she thought a child could understand.”

Nowi scowled, bitterly, a rare look for the otherwise cheery girl.

“I’m not a child, not in human years. I hate people treating me like one.”

“You do realize what you’re asking, what kind of sacrifice that-”

“You’re three thousand years old, and you’ve lived all of those years, never wanting to be alone again, Mama. I…” Nowi said. “I don’t want to be like you, all sad and lonely while the world passes us by.”

She nodded.

“So yes, I do understand what I’m saying. I’d willingly give up my…” Nowi trailed off. “Dragonstone.”

Tiki saw that look in her daughter’s eye, despite being physically a child she had those moments of genius that would do someone half her age proud.

“What? What is it?”

“We divide our power into dragonstones, let them drain our magic until we’re… Well, I suppose we’ll never be human, but we can age like humans. Live life like them,” Nowi said. “All I want is to be with Robin, with you, forever. I don’t care about guiding the next era, for once in my life I want to be selfish! I hate all of these expectations, I hate being said to be the next you.”

“I hate it too…” Tiki said. “I think you’re right, for once in our lives we’ve earned the right to be selfish.”

“And if anyone complains, then forget their opinions!” Nowi said, settling into the warm waters. “The rest of the world’s gotten on fine without our guidance anyways! Way I see it, the world hasn’t needed our help any more than it needed a Fell Dragon!”

For the first time all week, Tiki felt like her world was right again. She smiled, an honest warm smile.

“Sorry mother, but I know you’d want me to do what’s best for me as well. If that means giving up my immortality, then I’d gladly do it all over again. I don’t want to be humanity’s guide, I just want to be loved and love in turn. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

-----

Tiki yawned as she stretched out on the mat, the warm summer sun gently shining across her body. 

“Remind me to thank Anna,” the woman said, soaking up the sun’s rays as she laid back on the towel. 

“Which one?” 

Tiki looked over at her wife and chuckled.

“The one running this resort or the one who sold me the idea to give it all up for you and Nowi in the first place?”

“In the short term?” Robin said, rolling over onto her side and Tiki appreciatively drunk in her wife’s bikini-clad form. “The Anna running this resort. In the long term? Our Anna.”

Robin leaned in for a kiss which Tiki gladly gave her, a lingering, passionate gesture that made Tiki feel like she’d fallen in love all over again. Was it possible to even do that?

She certainly felt like she’d started her whole marriage all over again, at least at the moment. Tiki, the Voice of Naga, who’d given wisdom and advice for three thousand years was gone for good.

Tiki, loving wife, was all that remained. Responsibility could be so oppressive at times!

She had a life outside her divine duties, and she intended to live it from now on. If someone else wanted to be the voice of a goddess, she’d be all too happy to let them do that.

Some things were just too important to be put in second place.

Her wife, her life, they’d always come first in Tiki’s mind. She’d made a sacred vow, to her mother, that she’d love and cherish her wife for the rest of her life.

If her mother wanted to disagree with her on which was more important, then she could come right down to talk with her.

So far, Tiki hadn’t heard from her at all so she figured that was probably approval of her choices in life.

“You remember all of the fuss those fuddy-duddies in Ylisse’s government made when I said that I’d marry you?”

Robin threw back her head in a laugh.

“Oh, I remember. I think the whole country had to stop and take a breath when you said it,” the silver-haired woman said. “I don’t think they were quite ready for the Voice of Naga falling in love.”

“With another woman?” Tiki said, amused. “I’m an adult, I’m thousands of years older than any of them. I think I’m allowed to choose who I fall in love with.”

“I don’t think they were ready for you to fall in love in general.”

“Because I’m supposed to be ‘pure’ right?” Tiki said rather amused, knowing the way her wife looked at her. Another thing she had to thank Anna for, these swimsuits were incredibly flattering and the way her wife looked at her made her want to melt in a pile of happy goo. 

“Yeah, something like that. I really wasn’t listening to anyone but you at the time,” Robin said, laughing as well.

Tiki made a rather undignified snort, not really caring. “As you should, love. The only voice that should matter when it comes to being told what to do, is mine.”

Her snort turned into full on laughter.

“Besides, I haven’t been pure in years. I’m a woman, and if those old farts knew half of the things we did to one another they’d die of shock.”

“Well, it’s not exactly their business to know, is it?” Robin said, looking tenderly into her eyes. Oh yeah, Tiki knew she was loved just by the dopey look in the Grandmaster’s eyes. 

“Not at all, and if the hero of Ylisse can’t fall in love with whoever she chooses,” Tiki said, booping her wife on the nose. “Then there’s really no hope for the world at all, is there? I don’t know what I’ve done wrong if wrinkly old fools suddenly think they can tell a hero and the love of her life what they can do with themselves.”

“Not your job anymore, anyways,” Robin said, kissing her. “You’ve been around for three thousand years, you’re allowed to take an early retirement.”

“I don’t see my mom telling me that I can’t do it,” Tiki said, before gesturing all around her. “Do you see her?”

“Nope!”

“Good enough for me!”

Tiki sighed in delight as she spent a lazy day with her Robin. If this was what married life was supposed to be like, she had no complaints. Eventually, age would set in, like it did for humans, and she’d feel creaks and aches but the journey well spent was simply just that.

Of course she was going to die one day, and in a couple of decades she’d be buried with her wife. They’d have a state funeral, and maybe the law didn't recognize them as wives just yet. That was what Maribelle and her blessed stubbornness was for, the country needed more Magistrates like her. People who dragged Ylisse into the next century kicking and screaming.

Tiki would all too happily grab Ylisse by the scruff of its neck and drag it behind her if she had to. Her words still had weight, even if she wasn’t going to be her mother’s voice full time anymore.

Just so she made everything clear, if need be.

The former Voice of Naga was moving on with her life, instead of being stuck in one role for the next few centuries. Change came for everyone, after all.

Anyone who said she couldn’t change as well could just simply boil their heads.

“Mama, wanna build a sandcastle?”

“I’m coming, I’ll be along soon!” Tiki said, hearing her daughter’s voice come from up the beach. Grabbing her towel, Tiki ran towards the future.

Friend.

Mother.

Wife.

All acceptable titles for her, and ones she’d take happily over any of her many others.

“Is this what you said happiness was, Ban-Ban? You said I should hold onto it tight, never let go, and find something just for me. Well, I’m sorry if we end up having different definitions of the word. I just want you to know that for once, I know what happiness looks like for me. It may not have been what I envisioned centuries ago, but you know something? I think it suits me just fine and it might be even better than any fantasy.”




fin