Prologue: Grima

"Hear my words, Awakener!" Naga's voice rang across the battlefield. "Grima's servants will beset you to no end. Dispatch him as soon as you are able! Once the fell one is weakened, a choice will await you... If Chrom lets fall the final blow, Grima shall survive but return to his slumber... "

"Right. So be it. " Chrom said with determination.

"If Mikel strikes in Chrom's stead, both his life and Grima's are forever over. Only in this way may the fell dragon be destroyed for good and all."

"..." The Grandmaster only grunted in response, still determining what to do.

"Head me...the final decision...is yours." Naga's voice seemed to disappear over the wind.

The tactician snapped out of his trance and looked over to his left, to where Chrom and Lucina stood, both looking at him with eagerness.

"Are you ready?" Chrom asked, pulling out Falchion.

"All right." Mikel said, speaking for the first time in a while. "Lucina, you and Chrom go up to Grima and distract him from attacking us. Everyone else, get rid of the reinforcements!"

"And what about yourself?" Chrom asked.

With another grunt, the boy looked on towards where his look-a-like. "I'll go and help anyone who gets attacked."

Chrom smiled at him. "Sounds just like you to help others even in the most dire situations." Then he turned towards his daughter. "You ready Lucina?"

"Yes Father, it's time to end this!" She exclaimed.

"Hmph. Then let's go."

The two units paired up with each other and moved to the top of the back towards the head. As the other units engaged the hoard of Grimleal, filled with at least one of every advanced class. The halidom of Ylisse held strong, fighting back with many advanced and unique classes of their own. Grima watched his army fall at a rapid pace, and each turn he called for more units. However no matter how many units Grima would call, Ylisse would keep advancing forward. Out the corner of his eye, he noticed something sharp. Without warning, he moved out of the way to avoid a sideway slash from Lucina and Chrom.

"I challenge my fate!" Lucina yelled. "I lost to you once, monster. I shall not lose again!" She raised her sword again, pointing it at Grima. "Die now, that our future can live!"

Grima's chuckle echoed throughout the sky as he laughed at the girl's attempt to attack again and heard Chrom's voice in the background, assuring Lucina that they would attack "As one!". He moved out of the way, but Chrom had caught him off guard and managed to attack him. "...YOU CANNOT SLAY...WHAT MAY NEVER DIE..." With a wave of his hand, the fell dragon's head appeared from behind the unit, letting out a ferocious roar. The head lashed forward with a roar again, as spikes suddenly shot up from the ground. Chrom jumped in the way and pushed Lucina out of the pathway and guarded against the attack.

"Think again!" Chrom yelled. "Your end HAS come! I come to end you Grima!"

Again, Grima chuckled at Chrom's assurance. "...ARROGANT MORTAL...I AM THE END!" The spikes came back with Grima's roar again. As Chrom prepared to guard against the attack, he was pushed out of range.

"Predictable." Mikel was now standing in the pathway, staring down Grima.

With one confident laugh, Grima seemed to smile at himself. "...RETURN TO ME...WE ARE ONE...AND THE SAME..." His comment left the tactican without words, but instead he clutched onto his tome and casted lightning magic against the dragon. The magic actually damaged Grima, causing the dragon to grunt in pain. A vortex of pink petals seemed to emit from Mikel's body, signaling that the Ignis skill activated.

"Checkmate! You're finished!" The boy fired his magic at the dragon, leaving him harshly wounded. Grima fell to the ground, breathing heavily.

"...NNGH...AAAAUGHHH..." Grima was now vulnerable to a deadly blow.

"Now, Mikel! This is our chance!" Chrom yelled as he stood in between the tactician and the fell dragon. "Right, I'm going to finish it!" With a look of determination, Chrom pulled out Falchion, but when he looked up, He saw Mikel with his hand in the air, gathering dark magic from the surrounding atmosphere. "...Mikel?! Wait, what-"

Grima was also surprised by this action, as he stood up with as much energy as he could and stared at the ball of energy. "...WHAT...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Another grunt escaped from his lips as Mikel stared down the dragon. "For once, I'm glad you and I are the same. Now I can give my life to protect those I care for..."

"...NNGH...WHAT? ...YOU WOULD...NOT DARE!"

"I would and I will. The evils you would visit on this world are unthinkable...In some way, I-we share the blame. All right, It's only right we meet our ends together!"

"...NOOOOOOO!"

Mikel fired the ball of dark energy. It hit Grima in his chest, causing a small, dark explosion, knocking the dragon back.

Grima's head roared in pain and fell to the ground. Grima took two steps back, having finally being defeated, and faded away as dark energy engulfed him and vanished in the air.

As the dragon fell, Mikel also started to have black energy disappear from his body. He stared at the spot Grima once stood.

"Mikel! No!" Chrom exclaimed.

Mikel turned to look over his shoulder at his best friend with a joyful expression. He let out a chuckle before speaking, a calm, collected chuckle. "Thank you, Chrom. For...everything...Tell the others...my last thoughts were of them..." His voice sounded weak and faded as he closed his eyes and flashed that smile that the whole army knew well. "May we meet again, in a better life..."

"Wait! Mikel! No! Ah gods, NO!" Chrom was almost in tears as his closest friend waved goodbye before he was also swallowed up by the darkness, and disappeared, along with the fell dragon's skin.

Now, the only evidence of the fell dragon was his skeleton dented within the ground.

Chrom stood atop of a small Clift above the bones and spoke to his fellow shepherds as they stood behind him.

"The war is ended, my friends. Never again will the fell dragon trouble our world. I owe you all far more than words can ever repay. Especially Mikel, who gave himself to save us all. To save all the worlds to come."

Chrom suddenly heard sniffling and crying behind him. When he turned around, many wore shameful expression due to the sacrifice. The first to break into tears was Lissa, Mikel's wife.

"P-poor Mikel..." She sniffled as she stood trying to hold back her tears for her lost husband. "After everything he did for us..."

Chrom placed a hand on her shoulder and attempted to smile at her. "No. Don't cry, Lissa. We'll see him again. I'm sure of it. Remember what Naga said? That Mikel would survive if our ties were strong enough. This isn't over. I believe Mikel is out there...somewhere...And I'll find him. If it takes me the rest of my days, I'll find him..." Chrom then started to head back to Ylisse, with his army in tow.

Lissa wiped her tears from her face and looked up at her brother and followed along with the rest. "Mhmm. You're right! He has to be out there somewhere..." A smile appeared on his face. "And we'll find a way to bring him home." She then let out a small laugh. "Even if we have to search every open field in this whole stupid world."

"Ah, I believe the same, my prince." A sniffling Frederick said, following closely behind Chrom on his horse. Mikel is too strong to simply disappear. It falls on us to look after the realm until he returns."

"Yea, Mikel had damn well BETTER come back!" Sully said as she punched Chrom in the shoulder to reassure her husband. "If that blasted dragon truly got him, I'll be the one breathing fire!"

Virion sighed as he walked along Chrom's side. "He made a noble sacrifice, and I know my nobility!" However a smile spread across his face. "And I know Mikel shall someday return!"

"Yeah, Mikel has gotta be out there somewhere..." Vaike said, grinning in his usual overconfident way. "How do I know? Hey, you don't question the Vaike!"

Stahl nodded as he rode on his horse next to the group. "I can feel it, too. Mikel is out there waiting for us. Though I surely will miss him in the meantime..."

Miriel sighed an exhausted sigh as she walked along. "While statistically unsubstantiated, I have what laymen might call a "hunch." This hunch corroborates most of the statements made thus far." She smiled, something which was rarely seen outside of her research.

Even though he was sure the others couldn't see him, Kellam smiled as he gave his reassurance. "Mikel, I know you're out there... I know you're not gone... And no one knows more about being lost and found than me!"

Sumia seemed upset as she flew along on her Pegasus. "I wish he could have stayed with us long enough to see me grow stronger...But all the more reason to work hard between now and his return!"

"Hmph...He lives. I know it." Lon'qu sighed as he walked along, putting away his sword. A smile appeared across his face, although for a brief moment. "Some people just aren't the dying sort."

"If Chrom believes he's all right, then so do I!" Ricken smiled as he walked behind the others. "Maybe I can work out some new magic to bring him home..."

Even Maribelle sighed as the army headed back to Ylisse. "If he returns to us now, I might even consider making him tea. ...Myself." Tears suddenly filled her eyes. "Do you hear that, Mikel?! ME, making TEA! You should be honored!"

Panne was one of the few who did not bear any signs of sorrow. "Let us honor Mikel's regard for his warren. He was a true taguel." Her face suddenly showed much more concern. "And a true taguel would not leave family behind... I feel he's out there!"

Gaius smirked, being another who didn't show signs of sorrow. "If Mikel's anythin' like me, he won't check out just 'cause a job is done." A sincere smile appeared on his face. "Gotta collect on all the sweet rewards, right?"

Cordelia let out a long sigh, one of the sighs that she would normally say when she daydreams. "Too many times now have I watched loved ones give their lives for me..." She shook her head and petted her Pegasus. "I must hold on to faith that this time will be different."

Gregor refused to hide his sorrow. "Oy, Mikel! You daring to make Gregor celebrate alone?!" Although he sounded a bit angry, he had a sly grin on his face. "Gregor not rest until he drink you under table! Har har!"

Just behind him, however, was a sobbing Nowi who could not control her tears. She sobbed and sniffled as she walked along, listening to everyone's remarks, yet barely hearing and misconstruing them. "Mikel's not gone! He's just...misplaced! I'll wait a thousand years for him if I have to!"

"In Naga's name, Naga has a way of sending a ray of light into even the deepest darkness." Libra said, trying to keep everyone calm. "May Mikel find that light, just as he became that light for us."

Tharja hid her face, presumably to hide her tears for her obvious crush. However she did not show any sign of sadness. "He had better march back here and try again! I only send people off on my terms! ...Or in a casket." She refused to look at anyone, for she sat on the back of her daughter's horse.

Olivia also sighed, although hers was more calmer than normal. "There will be one less set of eyes on me as I dance...It feels wrong..." Tears started to flow as she looked up at the sky. "Please come back, Mikel! Please be out there somewhere!"

Minerva let out a roar that sounded softer than normal, although the only ones who could tell were Cherche and her son. "Oh, Minerva says she still feels Mikel is of this world..." She then looked a bit confused. "Also that he smells delicious, but that's neither here nor there..."

Henry still wore a smile, even though he was also sad to see his friend go. "Hey, Mikel, everyone's dying to see you alive. We're sick to death of death!" Some people actually laughed at his joke, which was rare. "That reminds me of a good one: two Risen, a wyvern, and a priest walk into a bar-"

Princess Lucina interrupted him however. She seemed to share the same amount of grief as Lissa. "We have won our future, but we are in debt to so many sad memories..." She shook her head, but kept it down. "I pray at least one of those sadnesses will yet be undone."

"Right." Say'ri agreed with Lucina, forcing a smile to the girl. "I swear my life and blade to defend this future you have one, Mikel." However she couldn't keep her smile on for long, as she closed her eyes to hide her own tears. "If you can hear me, swear that you will help me do so!"

"Right. He did what he had to do. That's the mark of a true warrior!" Basilio wore a saddened look, but did not show tears. "He'll be back. I'd bet my sweet brown arse on it!"

"Bah!" It was unclear weather Flavia was scoffing at Basilio's remark or Mikel's sacrifice. "Leave it to Mikel to take responsibility for all of us. If he cared for us that much, I hope he knows how we still need him."

"Thanks to you and the others, I was able to change...And I've got more changin' to do! I wants ya to see it." Donnel's voice was weak, but he managed not to let his tears fall.

Even Anna let out a sigh, moving out of her trademark pose for a few seconds. "You've done so much for me and all of my many, many sisters." A look of hope shined on her face, along with a faint blush in her cheeks. "You're an extra-special customer. ...I hope we meet again."

"Hmm..." Owain was mostly silent, despite the fact of his father's loss. Yet a smile still shone on his face as if her were Inigo. "I feel a soul straight and true pulsing in the darkness." His look suddenly changed, becoming more serious, yet his speech remained the same. "The hero...will return!"

Although he normally smiles, Inigo shared his frowns along with the others. But it quickly changed into a smile. "No tears today. I know he'll be back. I'll just have to wait, and...try to smile..." His voice sounded high, almost like his mother's.

Even though he was sniffling, Brady refused to let them show. "I won't cry! He'll be back! I know it! And in the meantime, I'll write the finest song about him that ever was!" As he walked, Brady sometimes dropped his staff, causing the one behind him to occasionally pick it up and return it to him.

"I am glad for our victory, but I wish it did not mean so sad a farewell..." Kjelle muttered. She shyly smiled as she walked along with the rest, remembering her past training sessions with Mikel. "I still have so much to learn. Come back and teach me.

As she flew beside her mother, Cynthia silently cried, even though she occasionally whimpered. "Now I know what it really means to be a hero..." She rubbed her face in her hands and forced a heroic smile on her face. "But heroes always come back to fight again...don't they?"

Not only did Severa let her tears fall, she also was furiously blushing, although the reason was unknown. "Fool! Why did you sacrifice yourself?!" More tears started to flow as Severa tried to hold them back. "I refuse to accept it! Return, Mikel, or face my wrath!" This was one of the rare moments Severa let her mother hug her.

Gerome and Minerva did not show any sign of emotion, accept for in their voices. "He showed me that I have a future. That destiny can be defeated." For a moment, Gerome looked sad. "We have to believe we can alter destiny once more and bring him back."

Walking alongside her mother, Morgan did not hide her emotions. "Father...you can't leave me now. Not like this..." Morgan suddenly fell to the ground, letting more tears fall than anyone else. "I believe in you. Come back!" Lissa had to eventually drag Morgan along the way home until she recovered from her breakdown.

"All this death...No more!" Yarne also fell to the ground, although he did not need to be dragged, as he continued on four legs. "Please, you've... You've got to come back..."

Laurent hid his face under his tall hat. "The world is vast and full of potential unexplored! I shall devote myself to discovering that art which might reunite us."

Gently hanging on to her horse's neck, Noire tried to hide her tears, but did not succeed. "No, this is all wrong...He can't be dead! He's out there. We have to be patient and believe!" She felt a hand on her shoulder, and when she turned around, she saw her mother nod in agreement.

Nah had to agree with Noire on this particular subject. "This is all wrong. We can't just leave Mikel for dead. I'll wait until the end of time for his return!"

"Mikel put others before himself. No one can question his character." Tiki did not show signs of crying, but she did sigh occasionally on the way to Ylisse. "But his work is not done. He is still needed here." In the sunlight, it appeared that she had a faint blush.

"Yes, How we die defines how we lived." Walhart said, the most quite during the trip. A very rare smile appeared on the Conquers' face. "This can be said of Mikel. But I expect there are more pages yet to be written of a man so nearly my equal."

Trying to keep up with the group, and getting a few words in, The broken Emmeryn seemed even more phased than usual. "Mikel...Come back...I need you...We...need you..." Although none heard her, she had a frustrated look. "This world...needs you..."

"...Mikel. 'Twas a life lived grandly." The ghost of Yen'fay showed no tears. "...But was it lived to its end? I trow you are yet meant for more..."

Aversa, although sad, was also upset greatly. "What? Mikel, dead before me? Preposterous! Return, milord, and you will have my service." Although the way she said it made it sound shady, Aversa was really sincere with that comment.

Even the great descendant of the Radiant Hero seemed disturbed by the lost of the tactician. "Mikel could not have arrived at his decision easily. But I won't accept it. This can't be the end of his story..." Priam took a look at his sword and then the sun, as if it held answers.

At their arrival to Ylisse, Chrom turned to his friends, his army, and nodded, understanding almost all of them. "Mikel has secured for us all the most precious gift: a future. Now it falls upon our shoulders to protect what was given. I vow to give my all to healing the damage this war has wrought upon the realm. When Mikel returns, I want him to see what his sacrifice brought. Mikel...if you can hear me..." Chrom smiled an actual smile for the first time since the defeat of Grima. "You will always have a place here with us. Remember that."

"Always."

5 years later... when the world knows peace...what happens when the tactician returns? But where is he? Will Chrom find him before something takes his life away for good? Or will adventure bring the tactician home?

Now I know what you're thinking...I think. "Why is the prologue the endgame? Where's Gangrel? Why did you show everyone else's quotes?" My reason? Each play a significant role in the story. Gangrel not being present...will be revealed later. Little tibits here and there can hint later things in the story.

Also, this is technically a review based story, as you are encouraged to think of supports for certain characters. I welcome all ideas! :D

Also, why is Severa blushing at the end? Could it be unrequited love like her mother? 0.o (but I do love her...damn I love every woman in this game XD)