DarkenedFantasy: Hello and welcome to a project I've long had sitting in the back burner of my mind, an adaptation of my first, and thus most fond playthrough of Fire Emblem Awakening. I'll be taking some liberties and expanding upon the storyline quite a bit, so look forward to those extra bouts of characterization and information. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Fire Emblem Awakening and all characters therein are the property of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

Swords clashed, lances pierced armor, arrows filled the air, axes worked to hack through limb, and magic sparks filled the night sky, yet not even the din of the climactic battle outside could pierce the still, solemn air inside the Dragon's Table, the inner sanctum of the Grimleal. The roar of hope and battle cries seemed a distant memory as two sets of footsteps hurried through the stone halls towards the altar where the Emblem would be offered as tribute, and the Table set for a feast.

This moment had been planned for ages. Robin knew exactly what was soon to come. Yet nerves still threatened to swallow him as he and Chrom came to the final throne room and beheld his tall, dark father Validar deep in preparation for the summoning. A strand of honey blond hair fell before his plain brown eyes, which he abruptly pushed away from his field of vision before turning to face Chrom.

"This is it. Our final battle." Though the prince's voice was hushed, it seemed to echo endlessly in the silent hall. Robin nodded in agreement with Chrom's statement before he continued, "You're one of us now, Robin. And no 'destiny' can change that."

Oh how Robin wished he could have shared the confidence Chrom held in his voice as he spoke. How he fervently wished his heart didn't pound so in his chest as he tried desperately to reclaim the strength of conviction he'd held when they sailed their way to Valm and he bravely proclaimed destiny held no power over them.

But destiny was a tricky business to sway. Even Robin's mother had known that. They'd known since his birth there was no way for him to forestall Grima's return- their best victory would be in fighting from within, holding the Fell Dragon's might off long enough for those of exalted blood to lay him low. Or else have one of Grima's own line finish him off.

It was on this thought that Robin's mind briefly raced to a pair of green-haired women who waited for him back in Ylisstol. One with the power to call upon Naga herself, the other bearing the blood of both Naga and Grima, who would hopefully stand the best chance to fell Robin once destiny came to pass. They, along with the prince, whom he'd stood by ever since they first crossed paths in Plegia, were his only hope.

"Now, let's kill this dastard and be done with it!" Chrom stated, inclining his head towards Validar. With that moment, Robin knew the time for thought had passed. Now, it was time for action.

Validar turned from his rites as he heard the pair of them approach with a mirthless laugh. "Struggle all you want, fools! You cannot unwrite what is already written!"

Chrom, incensed by Validar's incessant talk of pre-written fate, charged the sorcerer with a mighty battle cry, Falchion working to cleave through the dark magic threads Validar summoned forth from his hands. Though the mighty blade was adept at holding off the sparks of powerful arcane might, it could not cut through them, and Validar soon vanished from before the prince.

Robin's eyes scanned the room warily before his attention was drawn to the ceiling by Chrom's cry of "Up there!"

The tactician fired off a burst of electrical energy, only to have his efforts met with thin air as Validar transported himself out of harm's way. Validar laughed off the tactician's efforts, calling he and the prince that opposed him fools before charging up another blast of dark magic. This time, Robin could not react quickly enough, and the magic struck true, sending Chrom flying backwards into a pillar.

Robin's breath caught in his chest as he saw Chrom struggling to his feet. The prince had always struggled in extended battle against powerful foes- he had been ever since the attempt on his life by those who stole the life of his sister. Now, he was barely holding himself up with Falchion's glowing blade.

Validar smirked as ever more tendrils of dark magic came to his hands, developing into a massive glowing orb he released towards Chrom with one simple command- "Die!"

Robin's heart lurched in his chest- he would not be too slow to react this time. He fired off a blast of electricity, which struck the orb intended for Chrom and caused it to explode. As the dust settled from the arcane clash, Robin saw Validar, his father, glaring imperiously down upon him.

Something in his chest snapped at that look- the one which condemned him and reminded him of the arrogance of his lineage. He fired off two bolts of magic without a word, each of which struck true through Validar's chest. Chrom took the opening created, and drove Falchion through Validar's ribcage, bringing the number of blows to his heart to three. He withdrew the blade like so much trash, and turned to face Robin with a smile of relief upon his face.

What Chrom failed to notice in his relief, Robin's sharp eyes took in. Validar's body was not collapsing like a normal corpse would- rather, his body was fading into purple mist like one of the Risen. It was at that moment that he realized he'd been outplayed.

"This isn't over. Damn you both!" the fading, false Validar cried out, firing one last blast of dark magic towards Chrom.

Obvious ploy to get him to come closer or not, Robin refused to allow Chrom to be killed by his negligence. He charged in the way and shoved Chrom out of the magic's blast. His field of vision went white, then black as pain tore through his body. He collapsed on the floor several feet back from where he'd started.

His vision slowly returned to him as Chrom, sweating and panting heavily from the exertion of the battle, took him into his arms, helping him to stand. "Are you all right? That's the end of him."

Foolish boy. The familiar taunting voice of Validar resounded in Robin's head. You and your mother earnestly believed you could halt the destiny of a god?

Robin's heart thudded in his chest. Oh gods, no…

"At long last." Chrom sighed in relief, a smile on his face at seeing the end of many years of war.

Robin's vision swam in a field of red, his father's voice resounding in his ears, drowning out the sound of Chrom's worried queries and looks. So, you love him. How disgustingly sentimental. Perhaps I should rid you of your pitiful distraction.

Oh gods, no! Chrom, run! Robin thought to himself as his body moved of his father's accord, slamming a bolt of lightning through Chrom's chest.

Chrom staggered back in shock as he realized he'd just been betrayed by his dearest companion and the man he'd once loved. He looked directly into Robin's eyes, and the tactician's heart broke at the broken plea Chrom whispered to him with his dying breaths. "This is not your… your fault. Promise me… you'll escape from this place. Please… go…"

Upon those words, Prince Chrom of Ylisse fell dead upon the floor of the Dragon's Table. With him fell also Robin's heart into the pits of despair. With Risen running amok and the one commanding them still living, it would only be a matter of time before his wife and child met the same fate as the prince.

Indeed, my strongest Grimleal are already headed to Ylisstol. Did you truly believe I did not know of your dalliance with Naga's wench? Foolish boy. Every action has been orchestrated. And now, the time has come for you to embrace your full power.

As Validar receded from his mind, Robin staggered back multiple steps before his legs failed him and he collapsed to the ground. All the while, the laughing voice of his father echoed through the halls of the Dragon's Table.

It's over… It's all over… And now, only darkness awaits…