Chapter I: A Desperate Move

"Those blasted servants of Naga! They are truly desperate to flee from fate and run into the past. Morgan! Time to hunt!"

"Y-Yes Master Grima!" the short woman replied.

The cobalt-haired princess turned to address her party.

"Ready, everyone? We go to save our world today! We're going to see many people we thought lost to us, like my father… but we shall not allow them to perish once again! It's time to change Fate!"

"Lucina. Here." A tall man clad in ebony armor approached the princess and held out his hand.

"Gerome! One of your masks? Are you sure?"

"There may be a time where you need to conceal your identity. Use this."

"T-Thank you, Gerome" Lucina responded, giving him a genuine smile.

"Lucina! He's here!" shouted Kjelle.

"HA HAHAHAHAHA! Isn't this convenient? You can all perish here together!" Grima laughed maniacally.

"You! How did you get in here?! Th-" Lucina stammered.

"The Royal Guard?" Grima finished in a mockingly concerned tone. "You INSOLENT MORTAL! As if they even had HOPE to stand against ME!"

"Everyone! Go! Into the Portal!" Lucina shouted.

"Tch! Such fools," Grima muttered. "Come, Morgan." Extending his hand, Grima cast a powerful tether of dark magic, binding the two.

"We must not be separated. I will disrupt the portal so it won't allow them to group on the other side, but we will. COME, MY SERVANTS! OBLITERATE THEM!"

In answer to Grima's call, and eerie army of soldiers with glowing red eyes amassed behind Grima, following him as he prepared to enter the portal. Once again, Grima extended his hand, channeling immensely powerful dark magic.

"HYAAH!" A dark sphere flew from Grima's fingertips and collided harshly with the edge of the portal, causing its light to flicker slightly. Within the portal, resounding screams could be heard. Turning to Morgan and his army, he motioned for them to enter the portal as well. As he and Morgan stepped in the portal, a royal blue blur descended upon them.

"YOU WILL NOT STOP ME!" Lucina cried as she brought down Falchion in a mighty swing, opening a gash in Morgan's torso.

"WHAT?! DAMN YOU!" shouted Grima, firing several blasts of dark magic at Lucina's retreating figure. Instead of pursuing her, Grima decided it would be more prudent to attend to his servant first, Turning to Morgan, he saw her sitting up, drinking from a blue vial.

"I-...I'm fine...master...AUGH!" Morgan collapsed once again, clutching her head as the dark tether that was binding the two shattered like glass.

"Tch. Another setback," Grima muttered. Turning away, he continued to the other end of the portal, leaving Morgan's lifeless form collapsed on the ground.

End of Chapter 1