Chrom
3 Months Later...

I have never seen Emm or Mama so scared before.

They keep saying things like "The kingdom is falling" and "We're losing". And I can see why. It's a struggle to get food. To feel safe. To feel loved by everyone.

Most of my days are now spent with Mama and Emm. Mama holds us so close every second of every day. She says that baby is going to be born in about a month. Maybe that will bring joy back to the castle!

"Mama? Are you ok?" I asked, placing my hands on her belly.

She slowly opened her eyes and smiled at me. "Yes, dear." She stroked my hair. "I'm alright."

Emm sat down next to her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes! Goodness, my children are more doting than me!" she giggled.

"We worry about you, Mother..." Emm whispered as she hugged me and pulled me into her lap.

Mama closed her eyes once more. "I know, Emmy. But you have to be strong. You're almost ten! I can hardly believe it!" A tear rolled down her cheek. "You two have grown so much...I love you both dearly..."

I smiled. "And soon we'll have another member of the family!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, then we'll truly be happy, right Mother?" Emm asked, sadness lacing her voice.

Mama didn't answer immediately. "...Yes. Yes, we will." She sat up and kissed our foreheads. "It's getting late, my children. We must rest."

I nodded and snuggled under the covers. "Ok, Mama!"

"Right..." Emm laid down next to me.

"Goodnight, my loves. May pleasant dreams find you." Mama kissed us one more time before going to sleep.

Everything will be ok soon! I know it! This stupid war will end soon, baby will be born, and we'll be a big happy family! I can feel it!

...

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!" I woke up to hear Mama screaming.

"Mama?!" I crawled to her side and hugged her arm. "Mama, are you ok?!?!"

"Mother!" Emm joined me.

Mama looked at us weakly. "Th-the baby..." She was clutching her stomach.

Emm's eyes widened. "No...don't tell me..."

"It's coming..."

"What?! Didn't you say baby was coming next month?!" I asked, placing my own hands on her stomach.

"Th-they are impatient, it seems!" Mama screamed in pain again. "E-Emmy, get the nurse! Now!"

"Of course!" Emm got out of bed and ran to get the nurse.

I hugged Mama tight and held onto her hand. "Everything will be ok, Mama... I promise..."

She hugged me back and clutched my hand. "I hope so, buddy... I really do..."

...

Soon, Mama was in the new room with a lot of nurses and midwives running around. Emm and I were seated at her bedside.

She wrapped an arm around us both and began to cry. "I love you both so much... I want you to remember that..."

My heart was beating really fast. "Mama?! What do you mean?!"

"Mother..." Emm began to cry.

Mama smiled weakly. "Do not weep, Emmeryn. You're a strong girl. You can make it through anything life throws at you. You are going to make an excellent Exalt someday... Remember what I've always told you: always be kind. Treat others with respect and generosity. Do not rule your kingdom with an iron fist; guide it with a gentle hand. Let Ylisse be a land of peace and prosperity, not war and fear. I love you so much...you make me so proud..."

Emm began to cry heavily. "Mother, please stop saying things like that! You're going to be ok!" she exclaimed.

"Yeah, Mama! Listen to Emm!" I cried.

Mama let out a labored breath and squeezed my hand. "Chrom...my precious boy. I remember when you were so tiny. It feels like just yesterday when I had you... You have grown up so much. You are going to be an amazing older brother..."

"Mama?!?!"

"Chrom...listen to me. I need you to protect your siblings. I need you to keep them safe from any harm. You are strong, I know you can do it. Not only that, but you must protect Ylisse. Keep her peace in check. Your sister will do everything in her power to restore that peace, I need you to protect it. Please, Chrom...grant your mother one more selfish wish..."

I was bawling too hard at this point. "Mama, no! You're going to be alright! Please! Keep fighting! I can't lose you!" I buried my head in her neck.

She placed a shaking hand on my back. "I love you so much, Chrom. You and your siblings are my everything." She took me and Emm into one last embrace. "I love you...you have given me so much happiness, so much hope, a reason to live... At least I can go knowing that the next generation will be in good hands..."

"What?!?! What are you talking about?!?!" I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Mother, no! Please don't say that!!!!" Emm bawled as she held onto her tightly.

Mama smiled at us once more time before she began breathing heavily. "You are Ylisse's future," she chuckled weakly. "This little one is a girl, I can feel it... Please, look after your little sister for me. Love her with everything that you are. Protect her." She pulled us close. "Watch after them, Emmy. They'll need you. I'm so sorry to leave you like this. Be the mother I cannot be for them..."

Emm wiped away her tears and nodded. "I will, Mama... I'll look after them... I promise..."

I squeezed her neck. "I'll protect my sisters, Mama. I'll protect them with my life. And I will be Ylisse's guardian. She will never fall under my watch!"

Mama closed her eyes and sighed in relief. "Thank you, my children. I'm so sorry that you have to clean up the mess we made... I love you both so much..."

"I love you, Mama..." I whispered.

"I love you..." Emm silently sobbed.

"Now, go wait outside... You can meet you sister, soon."

Emm and I did as we were told and waited outside the room. We held onto each other tightly. Our tears flowed whenever we heard our mother scream in pain.

"M-Mama's going to be alright, right?" I looked up at me.

Emm only hugged me closer and cried. "I don't know, Chrom... I really don't..."

A few agonizing hours later, we hear the cries of a baby.

Emm and I shot up and pressed our ears to the door. "Maybe Mama's alright! Maybe everything was alright!" I exclaimed.

"Y-yeah! Maybe!"

However, there was nothing but silence. Then, we head the voices of the nurses.

"Queen Lucia? You just had a beautiful baby girl! She's a tiny one, but she's as healthy as can be!" A pause. "Lucia? Lucia! Wake up!"

"Mina, what's wrong?!" Another nurse asked.

"She's not waking up!"

"Wait, didn't this happen when she gave birth to Emmeryn and Chrom?"

"Yes, but she always woke up! She's not waking up!"

"What?! Let me see! ...Oh, gods... She's not breathing!"

With that, Emm and I burst into the room.

"MAMA!!!!!" Emm and I screamed and ran to her side. My heart stopped.

She wasn't breathing. She wasn't moving. She looked so pale.

"Mama! Please wake up!" I tried skaing her, but she wouldn't respond. "Mama...?!"

"Mother..." Emm collapsed on the bed and cried.

A nurse grabbed her wrist to check for something. She gasped and tears began to form in her eyes. "...I'm so sorry... She's gone."

I was shaking so much. I looked up at the nurse. "W-what does that mean?" No. No, Mama can't be gone! She's right here!

"She's dead, my prince...I am so deeply sorry."

And with a single sentence, my entire world fell apart.

Emm and I held onto each other and cried. Dead...Mama is dead...

"I-I'm so sorry to intrude, but..." A midwife came into the room, carrying a small bundle of blankets. "Here is the newborn princess."

Emm and I gratefully took her into our arms. She was tiny. Very tiny. She had light blonde hair and chubby cheeks. "She's so tiny..." I whispered, hugging the baby close.

Emm nodded and kissed her on the nose. "She really is..."

The baby opened her eyes, and my heart jumped. She had the same pale green eyes as Emm. I began to cry again.

"Lissa..." I whispered.

"What?" Emm croaked out.

"Lissa," I repeated. "It sounds like Mama's name. Can we call her Lissa?"

Emm smiled at me. "Of course, buddy. I named you, so it's only right that you name our little sister," she said.

We held Lissa close to us. Despite the feeling of my heart being shattered, it felt like it was slowly rebuilding everytime my baby sister looked at me.

__________

I'm gonna be totally honest here: I cried writing this. I actually really liked writing Lucia, I'm gonna miss her. I promise that I will make next weeks chapter more light hearted. Thank you so much for reading and look forward to reading more.