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Featured: Mt. Blaze

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon

Copyright © Nintendo

Another favorite of mine from the game

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~2 years later

Older Lance laughs at me and I turn to look at him with a mixing spoon up in the air, "No Ma! That is not how you used to do it at all!"

I smirk and bring an ingredient close that I have never used before and he laughs even more, "Not like that either! Are you messing with me?"

My smirk increases as I actually gather the correct ingredients and a chuckle escapes me. Lance laughs harder at me, "You are! I knew it! Your juice is the best, Ma! I won't ever forget it!"

I smile at him and turn back to finish mixing the beverage. Lance has been accompanying me in the kitchen while I mix drinks and prepare some lunch. From everything that has been happening recently, I needed some time to myself to collect my thoughts. Usually where I would go when I need this is in the kitchen to make recipes my mother taught me when I was little. I miss the things I would do with my mother back in the Castle at home. We would be the ones who baked all the cakes, cookies and sweets for each and every party. We were also the ones who decorated every room and cared for every plant we displayed all around the Castle where we held those parties.

Smiles fill my face when Lance tells me all of the things he remembers, which are very recent things for me if you think about it. But for him, it has been years and years. This is still mind-blowing for me. To actually wrap my mind around my sons travelling back in time and both of them now in the same place as me and their younger selves is something strange to think about. It is something I never suspected at all, which is why I reacted the way that I did. I am glad they understood why I treated them like that. I was protecting my boys and my family because I was expecting the worst during this time of war.

The last thing I expected was to be saved by my future son.

I pour him a cup and hand it to him. He happily takes it and continues to watch me. After a few moments of mixing batter for one of my sugar cakes, Lance fills my ears with his thought, "That must be where Merric gets his ways from,"

I chuckle without looking away from my work, "Hmm?"

"You just get into your zone and are quiet for long periods of time. I am just noticing that Merric does a lot of things you do. It is kind of tremendous if you ask me,"

I chuckle again, "Yes, he does take a lot after me. As for you, Lance, you took a lot after your father. We can begin with your looks," I say as I glance toward him before looking back at my work.

He laughs, "Ah, this is true. It makes sense that I have his hair color and eye color but Merric's hair and eyes are quite different? It must be something I still do not understand?"

I must have never told Lance much about us. And he already told us Merric doesn't tell him much. Maybe if he learns more about us, I can help him ease his fear and uneasiness for us a little bit.

"Well, I do not understand it much myself. But my mother told me that every Dark Magician has an equal chance for getting any color for hair and eyes and their parent's traits do not matter as much. My mother has lavender hair and green eyes so Merric shares her eyes. But when you look at me, I do not share anything with Merric at all. When you were born, my mother told me you were not a magician so your traits are normal when you look at the parents,"

"Really? I see. That is strange," He pauses for a moment, "I—Isn't that because you and your mother are from a different planet, right? Er, Darphor, right?"

He does know. I am glad he remembers. I must have told him, or maybe Merric did.

A smile spreads on my face, "Yes," I finish mixing the mixture and slide it into the kiln while moving to the sink to wash the remaining dishes, "So have you tried speaking to your stubborn brother yet?"

Lance laughs loudly, "Stubborn? Have I spoken to him yet? Yes, and yes. His response? You should know him by now, Ma. His answer is non-negotiable, he says. Very stubborn, but for good reasons I suppose,"

I grunt, "Yeah, good enough reasons that I do not hold them against him," I put the remaining dishes away as I dry them and turn to face Lance, "At least I know he takes his beliefs very seriously and stands by what he believes,"

Lance studies me. His dark purple eyes shine with something that looks to be glad, "Yes, that he does,"

Sounds of Ike playing with little Lance can be heard in the room next door. Lance turns in their direction with a delighted look in his eye. After listening for a little bit, something else flashes in his eyes and they shine darker as he turns away to study me again, "I am 9 years now, yes?"

9 years? O—Oh he means his age currently.

"Y—Yes, you are 9, why?"

A wave of sadness washes over him for a moment before he pushes it away, as he nervously looks around before his gaze falls back to mine, "That was the age. The age you became ill. I expect the same for Chrom now,"

Oh. I cannot imagine what that must feel like right now.

"I—I see," I say softly while watching him closely. Little Merric peeks around the corner and he wearily looks up at Lance before looking up at me. His face lights up slightly as I notice him and when I give him a small smile he rounds the corner and walks up to me, giving me an embrace. He smiles up at me before tightening his grip on me, leaning his head on me and watching off to our left. Probably out the front door.

When I look back up to Lance's gaze, it is serious all of a sudden and he glances to me before turning to the front door, "Wait, Ma, Merric is calling me outside," and he quickly rushes off before I have a chance to respond.

W—What? Is older Merric outside?

I feel little Merric perk up slightly while he is still holding me as I turn to watch Lance leave out through the front door. When he clears the doorway, I feel something strange spike inside of me as I see older Merric glance at me for a short moment before he backs out of my view. I watch Lance speak to him and several emotions wash over his face.

If it is about King Chrom, Papa needs to know what they are saying. Maybe I should get Ike to get his father.

I tear my gaze from the front door and turn towards the other room. I still hear sounds of Ike chasing and playing with little Lance, "Ike?" I call, slightly concerned and I draw out his name a bit.

I hear small, muffled shuffling sounds, "Yeah, Hun?"

"I think older Merric has brought important news that your father should hear. He is out front speaking to Lance,"

More muffled shuffling sounds float through the doorway, "W—Wha? Merric is outside? I will be right back," Ike calls with a bit of surprise coming from his voice then is followed up with louder shuffling sounds as his movements get softer.

I chuckle. His reaction was just like mine.

We have been expecting to hear this news for some time now. I assume it is Chrom's time since Lance just told me this was the time I became ill from his memories. Since that time when I became so emotional when my future sons revealed themselves to me, the war still continued on like it never happened so I had to keep up. Older Lance stayed and helped us when Chrom needed it. I am glad he is here. From all of the chaos, little Merric has gotten extremely good now and Lance has gotten a bit better as well. Older Lance has been watching Ike train him and he is quite impressed as he gives his younger self a bunch of positive feedback.

Also, Myst has gotten her promotion and has become a Sage class now. Her tome practice is now coming in handy as she can now use it in battle. Her rank has increased to a C as well. As for everyone else, Ralf, Oscar, Boyd and even Titania has gained another rank as well. Titania is now at max rank with an A in axes. At least there are good things to come from all of this constant fighting going on. Papa has also given Ike his axe, Urvan. Papa has retired his title of joining us out in the battlefield now as he cannot keep up with the rest of us anymore. He now does everything else that is required to keep up with this company while sending us to complete the work.

I am brought out of my thoughts as Ike enters the kitchen, following his father in, and stands by me. He gives me a concerned look before looking down at his son who wearily looks back up at him. Little Lance follows close by his father and smiles when he sees me.

I glance to the front door before turning to pour some cups of juice for my little ones. Lance smiles bigger as he approaches me and reaches up to take the cup from me with wonder in his eyes, "Mama made her yummy juice again!"

I chuckle while handing a cup to Merric, "You all warn out from playing with Papa, boy?"

He giggles while he attempts to take drinks from the cup without spilling it, "Yup! But he keeps catching me, though,"

Ike chuckles quickly with his delighted smile appearing on his face, "You have to get faster before you can outrun me, boy!"

I chuckle as my eyes dart back up and over to the front door. Lance has turned away from Merric and Merric has vanished. Lance is now speaking to Papa as he nods sternly before turning and finding my gaze on him. He looks at me before turning his gaze over to his son, "Gather everyone, boy. Our destination is Ylisse Castle. The time is now... The King is ill,"

Sadness washes over me suddenly. Lucina...

Ike turns and leaves the room as I make my way through the front door. I dreaded this day. I knew it was approaching and I knew Lucina would never be ready for this. I approach Papa with a sadness in my eye, "I must go ahead, Papa. Lucina needs me,"

Papa nods understandingly, "We will catch up with you, my dear,"

I am sorry Lucina. I wish things could be different. This is always going to haunt me.

~~~

I reach up and run my fingers over the golden headband on my head that Lucina and her father gave to me the last time I was here. I quickly approach the courtyard and the guards nod me through with a subtle sign of urgency. I comply and quicken my pace and reach the door. I open the door and look around slightly frantically. The guards in the room nod me up the staircase, also with similar subtle signs of urgency.

I fly up the stairs and approach the chambers where the guards lead me. I hear saddened cries from within as I push my way through the door. I do everything I can to stifle back the tears threatening to fall down my face as I see Lucina appear next to the bed hovering over someone laying in it.

Chrom.

I feel my stomach sink as a wave of strong sadness washes over me and fills me up to the brim the further I close the gap between us, "Lucina..." I say softly as I get near.

She is softly sobbing as she turns to look at me for a very short moment before turning back to her father in the bed. Her face is a pale pink as her eyes show many signs of crying from the redness surrounding them. She looks like she is trying her hardest not to break down as I wrap my arms around her shoulders and allow her to lean into me.

"F—Father...! Please..." Lucina says between a sob and she coughs from choking on another.

As I sweep my eyes over Chrom, I immediately notice the paleness in his skin and there is no emotion on his face. His eyes are gently closed and his breathing sounds out of rhythm. Every once in a while, one of his breaths are deeper and you can hear him wheezing.

"Father..."

This should be me... I cannot help but feel like this is my fault...

"Oh, my King, I feel just awful..." I say in a whisper and Chrom's eyes open slightly to look over at us. A wave of confusion washes over his face as he studies both of us.

"Wh—Who are you?" He says weakly and his voice sounds hoarse like he has not spoken for weeks. He begins to cough violently and then calms back down to his wheezing breathing patterns.

My stomach drops to the floor and my eyes widen wide. No... His memory... It's...

Lucina looks blankly at him for a moment before crying out louder than she just was. More tears stream down her face as she begins to shiver violently while her sobbing increases, "F—Father? You do n—not remember me?" Her blue eyes sweep over him as she studies his face, "Not e—even a l—little bit?"

Chrom softly shakes his head no before going into another coughing fit. Lucina falls forward into her hands and she continues to sob haphazardly before falling backward into me. I hold her up firmly and keep her from falling as her words become incoherent sobbing noises.

Chrom's coughing fit ends and he closes his eyes, "I am so sorry, Lucina... This makes me feel awful..." I say softly as I try to steady her and keep her from tearing away from me to fall to the floor.

Several of her maids rush in and one of them appears at Chrom's side on the other side of the bed. She begins caring for him while several others take Lucina from me. She squirms around violently like a child and screams for them to leave her here, "NO! I d—do not wish t—to leave my father's s—side!"

"Please, my dear, we must do this for your safety. We have to care for your father now..."

A tear defeats me and slides down my face. I raise my left hand up to my chest, hold it there and clutch it into a fist while pressing it against me. I do not know what to do as she does not respond to anything. I think she has passed the point where she will allow me to calm her. Lucina loses it and she breaks down as they bring her out of the room. She stops trying to fight them and says no more as her sobbing increases while she hides herself in her hands.

I take another look at Chrom before they close his bed curtains and waits for me to leave the chambers. When I clear the door, I follow Lucina's sobs and find her curled up on her blue bed in her chambers crying softly. I approach her and sit next to her on the bed. She has is dark in here and only some light is shining in through her cracked bedroom door. Her bed is large with light blue curtains draping down from the top of the bed similar to her father's.

I gently rub her back and she slowly turns to look up at me, "Star?"

Good. Now she will let me in.

I allow another tear to fall as I open my arms out to her. She gets up and leans into me while continuing to sob gently, "I wish things were different," I whisper.

She nods into me and her sobbing slowly gets quieter as she seems to be calming down, "I will never leave your side,"

She nods again and gets up off of her bed. Lucina turns to me, her face a soft red and her eyes are glistening from tears but another emotion is radiating from them. She slightly scrunches up her face like she is suddenly filling with anger or determination, "We cannot let them win," She says softly.

I raise my fist up and look back at her, "We will win, Lucina," I stand up and study her eyes on mine, "I know it,"

Something like annoyance flashes across her face, "We must stand up and fight!"

Lucina has the right idea. Star is already prepared for that, don't you worry!

Another difficult scene to write. I wanted an intense scene with Lucina and her strong will. This is one of her best traits.