A/N: Contains spoilers for both Fire Emblem: Awakening and World of Light
Light shone on Lucina's shut eyes. Her mind swam as she slowly regained consciousness, vaguely aware that she was moving. A pain shot through her entire body as the movement stopped. Lucina cried out, eyes snapping open, as Falchion clattered to the ground next to her. The portal above her closed. Slowly, Lucina grabbed the sword and attempted to stand.
"Lucina," A familiar voice said. Lucina turned towards the voice, seeing four figures standing nearby. Three Risen stood with aggressive postures, two tall and one short. Behind them, however, stood Robin.
"Robin?" Lucina asked, turning towards the tactician. A dark energy swirled around Robin's weapons. "No. Grima. You should be dead."
"You thought that I could really be killed by that pathetic version of me?" Robin asked. "I cannot die, and now this land is mine!"
"I will stop you!" Lucina yelled, raising Falchion.
The three Risen slowly approached. A strange power started flowing through Lucina as she readied her blade. Grima raised one hand and said, "Kill her."
The short Risen ran towards Lucina, falling and dropping an object. Lucina dodged out of the way. Falling from the air, one of the tall Risen tried to land a flying kick. The attack missed as Lucina rolled under it. She swung her sword as she rose, aiming for the third Risen. The Risen managed to disarm Lucina before swinging Falchion in a counter-attack. Lucina raised an arm, and Falchion bounced off harmlessly. The third Risen tried to strike again, and Lucina again took the dull blow while landing a solid elbow to the Risen's face. With the Risen stunned, Lucina yanked Falchion out of its hands and knocked the Risen aside. With Grima wide open, Lucina charged.
The Risen shrieked as Grima laughed. Falchion sliced through the air, guided by Lucina's steady hand, only to by stopped by Grima's shield. As Lucina readied another blow, a strange force yanked her back. The small Risen pulled Lucina out of the air and slammed her onto the ground, with both tall Risen landing kicks while she was airborne. Lucina landed on the ground with a grunt of pain, but rolled to her feet in time to avoid a tall Risen's foot slam into the ground.
Lucina took a moment to breath, Falchion raised defensively. The Risen regrouped in front of Grima. "I cannot fail," Lucina muttered. "I will not fail!" Lucina took another breath, feeling a surge of power. Her confidence returning, she ran forward.
The Risen made an admiral attempt at stopping Lucina, but Lucina's newfound power allowed her to bat the Risen down with a single blow. Panic and concern flashed across Grima's face. As soon as Lucina neared Grima, she unleashed a torrent of blows. Grima staggered back, succumbing to Lucina's assault. Lucina did not relent, even as her body and mind started to ache
The Risen attempted to strike from behind. Lucina quickly turned around, striking the two tall Risen with a single blow. The small Risen unleashed a high-pitched scream as a spear erupted from the ground. Lucina blocked the spear's attack before countering it with a precision strike and sending the small Risen flying. She then turned to face Grima. Grima leapt over Lucina before dropping fire between Lucina and the Risen.
Lucina took several breaths, fatigue gripping her body. And yet, she did not buckle. The power surging through Lucina urged her forwards. For a brief second, Lucina felt that something was wrong. This power must've come from somewhere. But, as soon as she questioned it, the power grew to new heights, nearly taking her over. The fire wall dropped. Lucina locked eyes with Grima.
With a rallying yell, Lucina charged forward, knocking both the Risen in her path back. Her mind cleared for only a second, questioning where the third hid. A pain in her neck answered that question. Lucina slapped the pain, feeling a dart in her neck. She yanked it out and tossed it to the ground. Grima laughed as Lucina's vision slowly blurred. The Risen gathered between Lucina and Grima. "You have already lost!" Grima yelled. "You cannot change destiny!"
"I have before, and I will now!" Lucina yelled, shaking the blurriness away. She started fighting the Risen, but her movements were sluggish and her reactions slowed. Slowly, the Risen beat Lucina back further and further. Lucina's vision blurred as she fell to one knee, her mind growing drowsy.
Grima chuckled as the Risen returned their guarding position. "Fight as you will, this battle is over."
Lucina took a deep breath and forced her vision and mind to clear. "I say when it ends!" she yelled, rising to her feet and charging forward.
The Risen stuck fast and hard, but Lucina struck faster. She landed a solid hit on each Risen to clear the path. With Grima exposed, a dark rage overcame Lucina. She rushed forward with a feral yell. Grima looked on in shock, paralyzed with fear. Lucina thrust Falchion forward, aiming for Grima's heart.
She missed.
Grime side stepped the attack. Lucina glanced towards Grima in horror as she flew past. With too much energy behind the attack and her mind clouding again, she could not react as Grima counterattacked. Grima's pommel connected with the back of her head. Lucina fell onto her back, Falchion slipping from her hand. Her vision blurred as Grima stood over her, the Risen slowly approaching. Lucina made one last attempt to strike, reaching for Falchion. As her hand gripped the blade, darkness overtook her.
Lucina heard someone talking. The voice sounded distant, the words muddled. Lucina slowly awoke, her first sight her limp hand underneath Falchion's handle. Lucina's head spiked in pain, eliciting a groan from her. "Glad to see that you're awake," someone said. Lucina turned towards the voice, her vision still blurred. "How are you feeling?"
Lucina blinked back the blurriness. Slowly, a familiar face came into focus, revealing Robin standing over her. Her memory of her last battle flooded her mind. "Grima!" Lucina exclaimed as adrenaline kicked in. She grabbed for Falchion and tried to strike at her enemy.
A blue boot stomped down on the blade, preventing Lucina from lifting the weapon. A commanding voice said, "Wait."
Lucina looked up, seeing Samus standing on her sword. "Samus?" Lucina asked. She looked back at Grima. It was not Grima; Robin's warm smile greet Lucina. "Robin?"
"Looks like it worked," Robin said, standing and offering Lucina a hand. "Welcome back."
Samus removed her foot from Falchion, allowing Lucina to lift it as she took Robin's hand. "What happened?" Lucina asked.
"What do you remember?" Robin asked, helping Lucina to her feet.
She sheathed Falchion as she said, "The last thing I remember is Galeem, and then dreaming, then nightmares, then-" she grunted in pain, nearly collapsing. Someone from behind her stopped her fall before helping her sit on the ground. She turned around, seeing a man in a grey suit. "Thanks."
"You really went all out in that fight," the man said. "Your reputation is well deserved."
Lucina took a deep breath before asking, "What fight?"
"Against us," Robin said.
"Against you?" Lucina asked. Samus stood next to Robin, with what appeared to be a walking yellow dog. "What do you mean?"
"That wasn't Grima you were fighting," Robin said simply. "That was us."
Lucina blinked once, stunned. "That was," Lucina started to say. She took several breaths, replaying the memory. The next time she spoke, she spoke quietly. "If that was you-" Lucina shook her head. "I thought you were Grima." She looked up. "Robin-"
"Don't worry about it," Robin said. "The only way to sever Dharkon's control was to beat you in battle."
"That doesn't forgive my actions," Lucina said.
"They weren't your actions," Robin said, kneeling down. "How are you feeling?"
Lucina sighed, pushing her thoughts to the side and focusing on her body. "It feels like I just finished a long day of training." She flexed her hands, feeling the soreness throughout her arms and chest. "Exhausted and sore."
Robin nodded and stood. "I thought as much. Dharkon must've been pushing beyond your limits in your attempt to fight us. I think-"
"We aren't safe here," Samus said, interrupting Robin. She jabbed a thumb over her back as she added, "We need to regroup with the others."
"I understand," Robin said, turning around, "but Lucina needs some time to rest. If we push her too hard right now, then she won't be able to fight later."
"I can fight, Robin," Lucina said coldly, rising to her feet. She breathed hard, her legs shaking. "Let's go." She took three slow steps before her legs gave out and she fell to her knees.
Immediately, the yellow dog was at Lucina's side, gently touching one of her arms. "Are you okay?" the dog asked.
"I'm fine," Lucina said through clenched teeth.
"Lucina," Robin said with a sigh. Lucina said nothing, bowing her head. A boy in a red shirt and cap ran up to the group. He handed Robin a piece of paper before taking out a pokéball and tossing it up and down. "I'm needed with the main force. But I can't just leave Lucina behind."
Lucina opened her mouth to argue, but thought better of it and held her tongue. "I can stay behind," the man from earlier said.
"You are not staying here alone with a woman," Samus said, narrowing her eyes at the man.
The man said, "Unless you're volunteering to stay behind-"
"I am now," Samus said, crossing her arms.
"Can I stay too?" the dog asked.
"The two of you are more than a match for anyone that should come across," Robin said. The dog waved, and Robin said, "I meant three of you."
"We won't be long," Lucina said, rolling onto her back. "Just long enough for me to catch my breath."
"Take as long as you need," Robin said. The boy in red nodded at Robin, and the two ran off.
After Robin left, Lucina sat up. "I know Samus, but who are you two?"
"Call me Snake," the man said as he looked around with a set of binoculars.
"I'm Isabelle," the dog said, kneeling next to Lucina.
"It's nice to meet you," Lucina said, holding out her hand. Isabelle shook it.
"Enough talk," Samus said. "Get some rest. I don't want to be here longer than we have to." She drew her paralyzer and started walking away.
"Where are you going?" Snake asked, turning around.
"To secure a perimeter," Samus said without turning around.
Lucina watched Samus walk away, then whispered to Isabelle, "What's up between them?"
"Snake's a flirter," Isabelle whispered back, "and Samus isn't a fan of it. She's right though. Just relax so we can go save the world!"