~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Featured: Conquest

Fire Emblem Awakening

Nintendo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~3 years later

King Walhart and his Kingdom of Daein has been eerily quiet the past few years since their last attack on us. It is like they are planning something, but why give us this much time for preparation? Or is this time not for us, but for them? The Demon Lord must know where I am now, so why is he deceiving King Walhart and his army to doing his bidding? Is there a superior goal he is trying to achieve?

Am I not his only target?

Why did Donnie save me then? What is his purpose in all of this?

Is he hiding his true purpose or is he trying to protect me?

"He has to know what is coming..." I whisper to just myself. I shudder just thinking about what happens to me if he really is here to protect me. Why am I so important to you, Donnie? Who are you?

The sounds of clunking wooden weapons arouse me from my deep thoughts and reminds me where I am. Oscar and Boyd are practicing out in the field in front of me. Oscar is getting dangerously good with his sparring skills. His rank is now C and his brand new steel lance is sitting on the sidelines with Boyd's iron axe.

Boyd is improving as well. Every now and then, Boyd wins a match against his brother and his sassy grin spreads across his face. Oscar is very proud when Boyd beats him. I have only seen his smile increase only when Boyd wins against him.

Ike is with Lance out there as well, playing around with one another and Merric is watching them. Lance is now old enough to learn to spar with a wooden blade.

Maybe soon, Ike and I will give you your first lesson, Lance.

When I turn to look at Merric, he is now watching me with a distant stare, his hood shadowing his face. There is a subtle sadness in his eyes. Probably what I was just doing to him.

Is he worrying that I constantly do this? That I constantly worry myself about Donnie, go for long periods of time not talking and staring out into nothing?

He finally realizes I am now legitimately looking at him now. His face brightens a little with a smile and the sadness dissipates from his eyes, replacing it with joy. He gets up and begins to approach me. Is he upset with me and patiently waits for me to notice him? And hide his emotions from me? Like how I used to be?

I watch him approach me cautiously. He only increases his pace when I smile back at him. You take after me, Merric. That is extremely obvious to me now.

I get up, kneel and hold out my arms to him. He leans into me and wraps his arms around my neck, "I love you, mama,"

And you are worrying about me. I am sorry, Merric.

I give him a big hug, lift him up, hold him against me and look him over. His bright green eyes sparkle as he happily looks back at me. I pull his hood down and his vivid, light, golden bangs fall around the right side of his face, stopping at his chin, while shorter ones hug his left side.

I kiss his forehead, "I love you too. You have grown up so fast,"

His smile widens.

"You have already gotten stronger than me too,"

His eyes pane down to my side where Falchion rests. Waves of curiosity and wonder fill his eyes as he looks over the enchanted blade. The last time I let him hold that blade was when we were visiting mother and father 5 years ago. The day we learned he is chosen by Falchion.

It would be best to begin training him with the blade, to prepare him with us so he can become part of our family. He is very skilled now with the magic, so he should be ready for Falchion.

"Are you ready to practice with Falchion, boy?"

He slides his eyes back up to mine and the brightest smile I have ever seen him give me forms across his face. Then immediately it changes back into his happy but serious look he usually gives me when he begins to focus on something.

He nods, "Yes,"

I nod towards Falchion on my right hip, "Alright, grab him then and let us begin," I release him and he gently lands on his feet, reaches out and grasps the hilt in his hand.

When he pulls him out of his resting place, Falchion responds by obeying his orders as Merric immediately tells him to hover by his side. Merric watches Falchion hover there with his eyes darkened and the orb surrounding his right hand.

Impressed, I turn my eyes to my left, lift my left hand and lightly allow emotion to flow through my arm. I concentrate on a wooden blade on the ground and it floats over to me surrounded in dark magic light. It gently falls into my hand and I wrap my fingers around it, dissipating my magic right away as I turn back to Merric.

But can you keep it up? Falchion does not mess around, boy. Show me what you've got.

Like Merric read my mind, he steps back and tries to command Falchion to swing in my direction. From the very beginning of the move, Merric's face twists into surprise and confusion when Falchion suddenly falls from the air and lands softly in the grass between us with a thud. The confusion clouding his eyes changes to determination and focus when he looks down at the blade as he narrows his eyes onto it. Watching Merric is always mesmerizing. How fast he learns and figures some things out is quite impressive.

"Focus your energy through the blade, boy," He studies the blade some more, "Feel the connection you have with him. Now pick him up and try again,"

"I cannot figure out how he works, ma,"

I chuckle and smile down at him as he looks up at me with a strong vibe of determination wafting off of him, his eyes are still narrowed, "When you feel the connection with the blade, only then you can control him with your emotions and thoughts,"

"Feel him?"

I nod, "Yes,"

Merric looks back down and focuses on Falchion resting at his feet once more, "Pick him up and try again, boy,"

Why does he look tentative?

"He feels different, ma," I study his face when he turns to look up at me again. I notice he slightly clenches and unclenches his right hand where Falchion just was a few moments ago, "Different than the magic feels,"

Oh, he is getting used to the feeling first.

I nod again, "You are doing it right then. Pick him up and try again,"

He quickly nods and kneels down to pick up Falchion. The blade erupts into life once again when he grasps the hilt and lifts it up next to him. I watch the surprised emotion flash through his eyes as this happens again before he quickly masks it with determination. Without hesitation this time, he tries swinging it again. I lift up the wooden blade, encompass it with some dark energy to protect it from Falchion's energy and swiftly block Merric's swing. To my surprise, he does not stop and swings again right after the first one. He is almost swinging it wildly. I watch him closely and wait to see if he tones down his swings as I block each one.

But he does not. Is he losing control?

I watch his face as it twists into surprise once again, now he looks almost a bit timid. I forcefully block each blow and concentrate on him, "Merric, calm your emotions," I say between grunts and blocks. Each one is swift and with a lot of force which takes a lot of energy to block.

It is becoming too much for him!

"Merric, drop the blade! Drop it now!"

"I—I'm trying, ma!"

For the first time since he has started, I see worry flash through his eyes as he swings Falchion one more time. Falchion falls from his control and flies several feet away from him. My eyes widen, I feel my breath suck up into my lungs and my heart skip a beat. My stomach drops to the floor quick like a rock. I slightly panic as I watch Falchion fly towards Lance...

I scream his name, "Lance!"

I swiftly lift my right hand and bock Falchion from hitting my son with a dark energy shield. It forcefully bangs up against my shield before falling down to the ground with another thud. The shield vibrates, flashes white where Falchion stroke it and it breaks. A grunt leaves my throat as my shield breaks, forgetting Falchion can easily overpower them. I should have fortified it to prepare it for Falchion's energy. Thankfully, Lance is backing up as soon as he sees it.

Lance looks terrified at his brother with wide eyes as he backs away from the blade on the ground towards his father behind him. He backs up against Ike and jumps slightly from the impact as Ike kneels down to steady his shaking hands.

"No... I'm sorry, Lance! I—I did not mean it!" Merric exclaims as he lifts his hands up to his mouth, hiding his trembling lip. Lance sheds a couple of tears before studying Merric's face and realizing just how scared Merric now looks. Merric tries to hold back fear from spilling through his eyes but it overpowers him and some tears begin falling down his face.

"I—I'm so sorry, brother..." Merric repeats again, and his voice trails off.

Ike catches my gaze for a moment. The question 'What happened?' is written all over his face with concern and worry. He scoops up Lance in his arms and crosses the field over to me. I turn my eyes down to look at Merric, rush over to him and bury him into an embrace.

When Ike reaches us, he kneels next to me while Lance buries his face into his father's shoulder. I do not feel Merric do anything but his body is trembling mildly within my grasp, "It's okay, Merric. Calm your emotions," I say calmly and gently, while waiting patiently for Merric to regain control over them.

I look up and meet Ike's gaze that I now realize has been stuck on me since he crossed the field to approach me, "I'm sorry..." Merric mumbles again before proceeding to bury his face into my shoulder. I softly place my hand over the side of his face, trying to calm his shuddering.

"He was trying to control Falchion," I begin in a whisper. Ike's face twists into understanding.

Is he thinking about the story I told him a long time ago?

"I see..." Ike's deep voice responds as he turns his eyes away from mine down to the top of Merric's head, "You will get it, boy,"

Ike pauses, like he is searching for the correct words to say, "Your mother lost control from those same emotions,"

Yes, he is...

Merric peeks at his father, exposing himself from hiding in my shoulder, "She did?"

Ike nods slowly, "She did,"

Lance proceeds to expose his face as well. He looks calm now and I see something fill his purple eyes as he looks into his brother's gaze, "You can do it, Merric," Lance tells him softly.

I turn down and see a small smile appear on Merric's lips as he gazes into Lance's eyes. Determination washes away his fear in his emerald eyes immediately as he turns to look up at me, narrowing them, "I'm ready to try again, mama,"

"Okay, go get it then, boy,"

As I watch Merric tear away from my grasp to go pick up Falchion, I notice Donnie and Ronnie are standing nearby watching. When Donnie catches my gaze on his, he nods to me before I turn back to my son, who is now waiting for me.

I expected them to be watching. They were probably watching from the start.

I turn to Ike and he smiles. I smile back and kiss the top of Lance's head before standing up to face Merric.

He slowly commands Falchion to float next to him. Ike takes Lance and stands behind me to watch. I bring the wooden blade back up to ready position and wait for Merric to be ready. Merric studies my face for a bit before taking a step forward and swinging Falchion towards me. I lift the wooden blade and begin blocking his moves. So far, he is doing better, but the swings are still quite forceful and one right behind the other.

Before I open my mouth to say something, Merric's focus level deepens and I see Falchion respond to him. Falchion's energy spikes and it erupts with dark magic encompassing it, matching Merric's eyes and his hand.

"Good," I say softly. His swings become better controlled as I notice him calming his strong emotions and staying focused on the connection he has with Falchion, "Stay focused on your connection with Falchion,"

After a few more swings, he stops swinging and lowers Falchion to his side. He drops his dark magic energy and Falchion falls into his hand as it powers down, returning to its resting state. Merric glances to his father then to me, and a small smile spreads across his face. I place my right hand on my hip and smile back at my son. He handled Falchion very well for his first real time.

"I am proud of you, Merric," Ike says from behind me.

"Yay! You did it, Merric!" Lance says happily.

Merric's smile increases as he approaches me and hands me back Falchion. The blade responds to my touch as I grasp him and slide him back into his sheath. Merric wraps his arms around my waist, surprising me, and giving me a hug. I wrap my arms around him too and lift him up from his feet, holding him close to me. He holds onto me from my neck as I strengthen my grip on him. I feel more arms wrap around us and I know it is Ike and Lance.

I kiss him on the head, "You did it, Merric. I am so proud," I say in a whisper, "You did great," I keep my voice low and soft.

"Lance, do you want to try?" I hear Ike ask.

I spin around with Merric and hand Lance the wooden blade, "Go ahead and train with your father, boy," I smile at him, "I will join you shortly,"

Lance nods shyly, "Okay, I will try,"

I watch Lance turn around and enter the field. Merric turns his head and watches his brother and father enter the field for a moment before looking up at me from leaning against my shoulder.

"Let's train my baby brother. I know he is going to be great just like pa," Merric says softly but sweetly and he turns to look back over at them, leaning the side of his face back onto my shoulder. A smile creeps up on my face as I kiss his head once more before looking up to watch Ike and Lance.

That's my boys.

Some more family bonding and training time. Thoughts?

Did anything surprise or concern you? Please let me know!