Greetings, readers and fellow authors! This is DarthHawke, and the story below is my first attempt at fanfiction.
To start off, I really love Fire Emblem: Awakening. The story, the characters, the fact that it's a strategic dating-sim (don't see that combo often in video-games). It's by far my favorite game on the DS, so I figured I'd write my own fanfiction in honor of it. And on the day that FE: Fates comes out in the US. I can honestly say I didn't plan that.
This story is intended to be my own "canon" idea of the game. It will follow the events of the game, but with more backstory to tie in other FE games like Gaiden and Genealogy of the Holy War (you wouldn't believe the amount of time I spent reviewing the timelines of the games to work out a plausible plot). I will also be including my own original characters, because Say'ri and Flavia deserve their own unique children! Some of the chapters will have some dark moments and scenes of violence, so I'm rating this story "M" to be safe.
On a personal note, I've read a lot of FE fanfics on this site, and I've been planning this story for awhile, so the last thing I want to do is steal the ideas of another writer whose story I may have read a long time ago. I've worked to the best of my ability to edit my own ideas to be as unique and original as possible. If anyone believes a part of my story is too similar to another author's, please let me know immediately.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fire Emblem: Awakening. FE: Awakening is the intellectual and commercial product of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. All original characters and events are included solely for the purpose of this story. This is a work of fanfiction by a guy who simply enjoys a good story.
Alright, let's get started!
Chapter 1: A Premonition of Despair
A low, shrill hum resonated through the cavernous hall of the Dragon's Table, creating a noise uncannily similar to the creature it was named for. Foul energy swirled around the massive stone columns that ran its length, and the braziers on each pillar cast flickering shadows that danced in each dark recess.
Two men moved quickly in between the columns. At first glance, the two couldn't appear more different. The man in the lead moved with brisk, confident steps, his muscular frame inferring years spent fighting on the battlefield. His bright steel armor and white cape stood in stark contrast to the shadows that surrounded them, while his cobalt-blue hair looked almost black in the darkness.
The other moved with much less surety, frequently looking back toward the entrance of the hall. A large purple and black coat hung from his thin frame, and his facial features were largely obscured by the hood pulled low over his face.
The armored man halted his steps behind a column and beckoned his robed comrade to his side. He quickly poked his head out, looking for some sign of danger. "I don't see Validar or the Emblem, Robin. Is it possible he isn't here?"
The hooded man, Robin, looked out from behind the column as well. "He has to be, Chrom. We both saw him enter."
"Well, could he have gone out a back way? If we don't find him soon, we should rejoin the others outside."
Robin sighed, "Alright, just a few more minutes. But I know he's here. Don't ask me how, but I can feel it."
"Oh don't hide on my account. This is a momentous occasion. Please, I would be honored if you would join me," taunted a sinister voice from the end of the hall.
Both men immediately jumped out from behind the column. Chrom drew a long broadsword from the scabbard at his side. Meanwhile, Robin pulled out a well-worn book from the inside of his coat.
Before them stood their target, an unnaturally thin man in dark purple robes with swept-back, graying hair. Validar, the man who had caused both of them so much suffering, was finally within their grasp. The lines of his narrow face twisted into a sneer as he pulled his own tome from his robes, but unlike Robin's mahogany-colored book, Validar's was jet black with six purple eyes glowing on the cover.
The moment he opened it, dark energy materialized in his hand, crackling like lightning.
The focal point of the dark ritual, the Fire Emblem, rested behind Validar. It sucked in the ambient energy in the hall, giving off an eerie purple light that only grew stronger with the more energy it absorbed. The sight of it made Robin's breath catch. The sheer amount of dark magic coalescing before him made his head twinge and body ache, and every step he took towards the altar only made the discomfort increase.
He barely had time to move when Validar threw his hand forward, releasing the energy toward Chrom and himself.
Chrom took the lead and sprinted ahead of Robin. His sword blazed with light as the blast of energy made contact with it, dissolving much of the dark energy back into the air. Chrom lost none of his momentum, launching forward into a series of lightning-fast attacks against the dark sorcerer. Validar responded in kind, releasing a salvo of magic against the Lord. For a few seconds, the two were at a standstill.
Robin flanked the two as he charged his own lightning spell. Wait, wait, have to time this just…uh-oh!
Validar vanished from sight, appearing high above them. His next blast fell between the two, throwing them backwards. Robin managed to release his spell before slamming into the ground. The orb of magic rocketed toward the sorcerer before exploding, leaving a twenty foot crater in the ceiling where it made contact.
"Did you hit him!" Chrom yelled from across the hall. The strength of the blast has put a large amount of space between the two. Too far for Robin to effectively protect Chrom.
Before Robin could respond, another discharge of dark energy threw Chrom into a pillar behind him. Validar stood at the far side of the hall, already aiming another attack at the blue-haired swordfighter. As Validar released the magic, Robin fired his own spell to intercept it. The two spells collided in mid-air and detonated in a massive conflagration of energy.
The explosion kicked up the centuries of dust in the great hall, making it impossible to see for a few moments. As the dust cleared, Robin could see Validar's face contorted in a viscous scowl. To his right, he could see Chrom try to struggle to his feet before falling back to the ground, holding his side with a pained expression on his face.
Damn it, his old wound is acting up!
"Chrom!" Robin cried, running to his comrade's side and lifting him to his feet. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm ok. Falchion took most of the blow," he coughed. Despite his reassurances, Robin could see the fatigue etched across Chrom's face. He felt a warm wetness on his hand. Looking down, he saw his hand covered in blood. It was Chrom's.
"Chrom, we need to retreat. Wait for backup. Something! Maybe it's not our destiny to be victorious today!" he pleaded. "I don't know how much longer I can hold out. If we don't retreat now, I'll…"
Despite his pain, Chrom placed a reassuring hand on Robin's shoulder and smiled. "No, Robin. This is it! This is our final battle! You're one of us, and no "destiny" can change that. Now let's kill this dastard and be done with it!"
Robin looked at the man beside him, the man he would follow to the darkest corners of the world, the man who had followed him to his darkest corners, and smiled back. "All right, let's end this."
A cackle from Validar made them turn. "Fools! Struggle all you want! You cannot unwrite what is already written!" he spat.
Without a word, Chrom and Robin charged again. This time they attacked in tandem, sword and magic flowing into a seamless flurry of attacks. Validar tried to keep up, expelling dark energy as fast as he could, but even his masterful skill couldn't compare to the output of the two.
Slowly, the dark sorcerer was pushed back. Suddenly, Validar's magic faltered, sending out much less force than it previously had. Before he could recover, Robin threw a blast of lighting at him. It made contact, stunning the sorcerer. Chrom saw the opening and dashed forward. With a savage war-cry he planted Falchion in Validar's chest.
The dark sorcerer let out a low groan of pain as Chrom withdrew the blade from his chest. The moan turned into a terrifying shriek as he erupted in dark-purple flames. He fell to the ground howling as the dark flames consumed his body.
Chrom looked back towards Robin, a smile spreading across his face at the thought of finally achieving victory. Robin returned the grin, but cringed as a spike of pain drove into his mind.
No, he's dead. So why doesn't this pain go away? As an answer to his question, Robin saw the smoldering pile of Validar's remains rear up from the ground.
"This isn't over! Damn you, DAMN YOU BOTH!" his blackened body roared as it unleashed all the energy it had left in one single strike.
Time seemed to slow as the magic closed in on the two men. Chrom's back was turned. He wouldn't be able to dodge the blow. Instinctively, Robin pushed his friend out of the way as the massive orb of dark energy collided into his body. He felt his ribs crack as the force of the blast propelled him down the hallway. The landing knocked the air from his lungs.
Robin struggled to breathe as he felt Chrom's hand on his shoulder. As he was helped up, he saw what was left of Validar vanish in a wisp of dark smoke.
"That's the end of him," he heard Chrom say. "Thanks to you we carried the day. It's finally over…"
Whatever else his friend said was drowned out as a new wave of pain assaulted Robin. He felt his head spin as red veins blurred his vision. He felt his hand moving against his will.
No, not again! Chrom, run! he tried to shout, but no sound came out.
"Robin, what's wrong…" Chrom's eyes widened in shock as a sliver of lightning pierced his chest. With the little control that he had, Robin looked down and saw the static discharge crackling from his fingers. He jerked his head back up, a look of horror on his face as he saw his friend's pained expression.
"This isn't…isn't your fault," Chrom rasped, staggering forward slightly. "Promise me…promise me you'll escape from here. Promise me…" With a final gasp, he fell forward. Robin saw a pained smile on his face before he hit the ground.
Robin struggled to move his feet, using every ounce of strength he could muster to inch his way over to Chrom's motionless body. Every second was torture to him, both from the relentless waves of pain and the horror of what he had just done. When he finally reached him, he turned Chrom over, hoping against hope that somehow, someway, his friend would still be alive.
However, the moment he saw Chrom's lifeless eyes, he truly realized what he'd done. Robin had killed his best friend.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked at what he had wrought. His mind reeled. "Chrom…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he moaned.
It was too much. He threw his head back, letting his shrieks fill the dark hall. He cursed the gods for allowing this to happen, cursed Validar for all the pain and suffering he had inflicted. But most of all, he cursed himself for his own weakness. His laments were met with silence. The dragon carvings that lined the walls stared at him all the while, answering his cries with callous silence.
A low chuckle drifted down the corridor, somehow louder than Robin's howling. He lurched forward as renewed pain, stronger than he'd ever experienced, tore through his body. It was unbearable, overriding any other sensation. Every inch of his body felt like it was on fire. Through it all, he felt something, so dark and menacing he couldn't begin to comprehend, settle in his mind.
The ground quaked beneath his body. Above him, the ceiling of the cavern was ripped asunder. Chunks of stone the size of houses fell around him. Chrom's body disappeared among the debris. With the last of his strength Robin looked upward. The last thing he saw was six massive, hate-filled eyes staring back at him, burning into his very soul.
A flash of red hair and a young child's laughter were the last thoughts he had as the foul presence swallowed what was left of his consciousness. He gave one last pained cry, a cry that sounded more like a maniac cackle than a scream, before collapsing. Then he felt no more.
Please leave a comment. I can be a bit self-conscious with my writing, and as this is my first fanfic, I'd appreciate the feedback.
