A.N Yes this an Awakening and Radiant Dawn crossover.

For those of those who noticed this is in fact an updated version

Radiant Awakening

Chapter 1 My Choice

The loud clashes of steel, magic and the occasional dragon breath of the Shepherds can be heard from the distance all the while an equal amount of clashes can also be discerned from the Risen that seek to challenge the Shepherds. The Risen, no matter how foal they were created, are at the very least strong opponents to be reckoned with. But they face an uphill battle where they must face the most experienced Anti-Risen Army; the Shepherds. Even without my assistance, they should with time overcome these odds.

But none of that matters now.

What does matter is what is happening here and now.

Behind me, Chrom on his knees. Suffering a magic wound to his right side.

Lucina laid out to the far right of where I'm standing. Still desperately holding onto her Falchion and her consciousness.

Grima holding a hand on his chest where his heart would've been. Instead a gash took it's place, courtesy of Lucina's sudden and ferocious attack that left even Grima reeling.

And myself; breathing hard from exertion and left completely defenseless without my last weapon, my Levin sword, destroyed from defending against Grima's retaliatory attack that would've taken Chrom's life.

But none of that matters now.

I have Grima right where I want him. Furthermore Chrom and Lucina are incapacitated meaning they wouldn't be able to intervene from what I have to do.

I put everything I have left into my last attack; the rest of my internal magic reserves, my love, my hope and all of my sorrow. All of it condensed and given shape into my last Ignis.

It seems too finally to dawn on everyone there on what I was going to do. I see in my peripheral vision, Lucina screaming herself hoarse. Maybe in a final attempt to stop me but the words never seemed to reach me unlike the last time we spoke. I can feel Chrom attempt to stand and reach out to me and knock some sense into my admittedly thick skull. But he too fell short and would've collapsed if he didn't use his Awakened Falchion to steady himself. Even Grima to my surprise has shown some modicum of shock and fear with his trembling lips as he spoke his usual and hopefully last arrogant monologue.

But none of that matters now.

Their words. Their actions. Will never reach me now. I've gone too far to go back now and listen to their pleas. Doing so will only instill doubt to my already shattered confidence which would be catastrophic now that we are at the endgame. Now is the time for decisive action, yes, I would never risked so much if it didn't result in winning everything.

Chrom, Lucina and the rest of the Shepherds would be devastated, heck they might be downright furious once they fully take everything in. But none of that matters now.

With Ignis finally charged up I can finally end this, but first . . .

"GRIMA!" Robin yelled silencing everyone; even the clashes of battle seemed too died down when he spoke. "You are a scourge that devastated Lucina's world and would do the same here if you are not stopped. So it ends here; YOU DIE NOW!"

Before a reply can be made a dark ethereal beam launch from Robin's now extended right arm. Robin's brand now fully exposed as the glove is ripped off from the intense energy surge.

"IGNIS!"

In no time at all the ghostly beam hits Grima squarely in the chest. Unused to the pain of receiving his own attack; Grima's corporeal form begin to disappear from our own eyes from the bottom up, but even so Grima attempted to resist. But resistance was futile, in a few seconds the dark smoke that was once Grima's body finally disappeared from existence.

A breath of fresh air was what I needed as it finally hit me that I killed Grima, forever. But of course it was without cost. Looking down where my feet were supposed to be I wasn't surprised to find the same cloud moving up my own body. Maybe it's okay if I indulge a bit a start paying attention to my friends. As I turn around to face them I was met with.

Silence.

Funny how the lack of response speaks volumes.

"Chrom" Robin spoke in a voice so familiar yet so distant.

"I'm glad you and Lissa woke me up that day. You have no idea how much it means to me. And I just wanted to say. Thank you, thank you for everything."

My eyes began to wander to each individual Shepherd as tears begin to fall from each of their faces. My own face began the urge to let loose the water works but I sucked it back up as I looked for the face I wanted to see the most.

Lucina's face was moist from a combination of sweat, blood from a small cut to her side and tears flowing from her eyes which honestly didn't detract from her beauty at all.

From there I decided to give her my last response. With my body from the armpits down gone, I gave her my genuine smile and warm words.

"Thank you, Lucina."

The smile never faltered even when his whole head finally disappeared in a black cloudy mist.

When I suddenly opened my eyes I noticed I was in an empty white expanse that seemed to stretch on forever. It also seems that going to any direction gives the impression of not moving at all. It's a quaint feeling; being dead and all maybe I can . . .

"You know for someone who's supposed to be dead your taking this quite well."

I quickly turned around to meet the source of the eerily familiar voice. There sitting on presumably nothing, a bored looking man looked at me with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms. He was wearing a long black coat with strange purple symbols, long brown boots, baggy pants, and very white hair. He had a very spitting image of, well, me except for his bloody red eyes. Then it finally hit me, only one name came to mind.

"Grima."

"Robin." Grima responded.

After blinking once in confusion I realize I spoke his name without thinking, not the greatest thing to do with the Fell dragon but he's dead, what could he do? So might as well play along with him.

"The same can easily be said with you. The 'immortal god of destruction' or something asinine like that." I sarcastically replied.

To my surprise Grima didn't respond in his usual manner of arrogance and grandiose theatrics.

"I understand why you'll think like that." He calmly notes. "And just a heads up I'm a lot calmer now than I was before."

"Calmer?" Clearly confused he could use such a word. "Do you mean you weren't yourself before?"

"When I gained overwhelming power; that power consumed me to the point of madness." Nodding his head in approval by the fact I understood. "Just like the Earth dragons of old."

"That doesn't excuse anything you've done!" I immediately bite back.

"It was never meant to be an excuse." Looking me straight in the eye. His calm demeanor ever present. "Merely wanted to inform you of the fact."

A soft snort left my nostrils as I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't want to believe it because it did make some sense considering the parallels with the legends associated with the War of Shadows and the Hero-King.

"Well, anything else you want to inform me off?" I quip. Still willing to play along with this new Grima.

"Anything in particular?"

"Where are we exactly?" I immediately ask.

"Purgatory?" He says thoughtfully.

"You don't know?" Raising my own eyebrow in interest.

"I was never dead before now." Grima addressed now resting his right leg on his left in an admittedly comfortable position. "So everything that happens from here on out is quite new to me."

"Hold on." Now raising my hand up as I'm now fully realizing what Grima was telling me. "You're really dead?"

The doppelganger with no change to his tone nodded his head. "Yes and no. My physical body is 100 percent dead. But my spirit is currently, slowly eroding away mostly due to my divine dragon lineage. So given sufficient time I'll be dead through and through."

I just couldn't believe it. All the suffering and death the future children were forced to endure and could've been wrought in my time. Finally gone. I could almost just laugh from the sheer absurdity of the situation except for the fact he's telling me this. I'm here with a dying Grima.

"Am I dead?" I cautiously ask, almost afraid for the answer he could give me.

"Not exactly." If Grima was attempting to be comforting, he was doing a piss poor job. "Like me your physical existence has disappeared, but your spirit is still able to retain itself."

"So it's possible to return to my world?"

I was very eager to hear what he is going to say. If someone were to tell me I would be asking Grima on how to get home after killing him; I would have slapped them for their irrational and offensive remark. Yet here I am.

"Yes."

"How?" I was simply too eager after hearing what I wanted to hear.

Grima took a good look at my person and answered calmly. "You can't see it but I can see you're still tethered to reality.

"Tethered?" I said dumbly.

"Those ties you've created with the Shepherds, getting to know them, laughing with them, suffering with them and even loving them. Creating those friendships and relationships that can even transcend space. So they pull at you, they tug onto your spirit and those same ties will, in time, return you home."

Silence.

I simply refused to make any sort of reaction for fear of him laughing at my naivety with his ever present arrogance. I like to think I'm a pretty good judge of character. So when I look at Grima's relaxed form; I decide that everything he said is the truth.

"You're serious?" Seeking some reassurance from an evil god.

"Very."

"Why are you so . . . ?" I trailed off, trying to find the right word.

"Friendly?" Grima finished the thought in an amused tone.

"Cooperative is the better word here." Correcting him as describing Grima as anything as friendly seems heretical.

Slapping his left thigh, Grima answered.

"Well, being lucid once again made me a bit . . . introspective of my previous actions."

"Are you saying you feel guilty of what you did?" I say flabbergasted.

"Not exactly." Shaking his head. "The guilt I'm feeling isn't entirely my own."

Okay now Grima is speaking some nonsense here.

"What? What do you mean by 'not your own'?"

For once Grima looked unwilling to answer as he seem to decide that looking at the eternal nothing was much more interesting. But a minute later he seemed to make up his mind as he returned his gaze back to me.

"When you look at me, what do you see?"

Is this some sort of trick question? Is he trying to deceive me with some clever wordplay? Or is this some sort of test? All I see is my face but with red eyes.

My face with red eyes.

"Robin's face with red eyes." I answer aloud as recognition dawns on me.

"That's right, those are primarily Robin's feelings. The Robin who became my vessel at least."

Grima took this time to rise from his invisible seat as his eyes became level with mine he began to continue his explanation with a soft smirk and pointed finger to his skull.

"When I took over Robin's body his spirit never died, merely suppressed by my own overwhelming presence. So when you 'killed' me you destroyed that overwhelming presence and so Robin's spirit became on par to mine. Which means his feelings can 'leak out' at times."

"So everything you've just done wasn't your own doing?" I ask wondering about this new development.

"No it was ultimately my decision to reveal all of this to you." Finally putting his finger away. "It seems that Robin's spirit is still subordinate to my own, most likely because of my draconic heritage. That's the running theory of course."

Once Grima ended his explanation he sat right back down onto is invisible seat.

"Think about it like this." Looking back up at me. "It's like your inner conscious having its own personality giving you some sage advice."

"So Robin speaks directly to your spirit?" Finally wrapping my head around on what I've just been told.

Grima thinly smiled as he was glad you got the gist of it. "Yes, he's actually pretty good company. Even if he'll be a bit smug for winning his bet against me."

"Bet?" Wondering what he's going on about.

"Yes, he and I made a bet on who would be leaving this place first. Me." Pointing his right thumb to himself and immediately pointing his index finger at me. "Or you."

I almost asked him what he was on about until a feeling of weightlessness hit. Looking down I noticed many purple colored sparkles consume me from the bottom up.

"That felt like no time at all." I dumbly comment.

"Or it felt like a lifetime." Grima rebutted. "Keep in mind time here doesn't seem to follow the same rules as our world. But that's irrelevant since you won't be needing that information."

"I suppose you're right." I softly agreed. Patiently waiting for the purple sparks to consume me.

"Hey before you go can I ask for a favor?" Grima asked breaking my own musing.

"What is it?"

"When you meet everyone . . . "He paused looking away from me once again. "Say Robin is sorry for failing all of you."

I should be surprised for this change of personality, but considering what just happened . . .

"Okay, I'll tell them you're sorry." Smiling for the first and the last time here.

The former Fell God chuckled at my choice of words. He chuckled, didn't realize he can feel humor that isn't in the sadistic side.

"Thanks. I mean it." His smile now morphing into a mischievous smirk. "Also you should let her hit you when you reunite with your sweetheart. You kind of deserve it."

"Wait, what do you mean by th . . ."But before I can continue to question him the purple sparks fully consumed Robin returning him to his home and loved ones. Leaving behind a condemned monster and his guilty conscience.

"That went better than I expected." A disemboweled voice in Grima's head commented. "You can actually be pleasant company when you put in the effort."

"Oh laugh it off." Grima lightly threatens with a light smack to his own head. "I'm glad it would be only you two that got to see me like this."

Even with Robin gone, I'm not alone in this forsaken place. The soul of the Robin that ultimately became my vessel will forever be my companion until the end comes. Since this'll be the end maybe it's time to . . .

"Do you think they're be accepting to what Robin is going to tell them?" The disemboweled voice hummed.

"If he is sincere, they will be more than accommodating to your apology,"

"What do you mean by my apology? Don't you mean ours?" The Voice said with a smug tone.

"Robin is smart enough not to include me into your apology." Grima huffed. "There is simply too much hate going around. It isn't even misplaced hate which makes it worse."

"Do you honestly believe no one will ever think of you in the positive light?"

Grima didn't dignify that with a response instead busying himself by feeling the palm of his right hand with the opposite thumb. Feeling the rough callused hand that at one point held a Levin sword; all the while ignoring the Mark of Grima on the back of his hand.

After long silence, Grima's musing was interrupted by what sounded like an exasperated exhale of air.

"You know you can't hide anything from me." Robin loudly exclaimed. "I have a clear view of your soul which is everything to a person."

"And why can't I do the same with your soul?"

It is a rather unfair arrangement. But considering this was forced down upon Robin, fairness is the last thing to be thinking about.

"You're asking the wrong soul here. Practical applications of soul and spirit theory are beyond me." He bemused.

Even Grima had to agree. Only the very basics in spirit transfers between separate bodies were explored and that was later downgraded to one-sided transfer when it became apparent to be unnecessarily complex.

"But that's beside the point." Robin, taking over the conversation. "You're also curious why I'm accepting the fact I'll being dying with you?"

Welp. That proves that Robin isn't bullshitting.

"When I peer into your soul. Your whole history is before me. At least the parts that led us here." The ghost comments.

"What exactly did you see?" Actually a bit sickened by the fact someone could have a complete history of himself. Well with the exception of them.

"Well, just about everything; when you first woke up sane, you spending time revolutionizing dark magic and hex's, your relationship with the other dragons and humans, and of course the Great Schism." Robin informs.

Ah. The Great Schism was a period of time in which the old Kingdoms of Archanea and Valm collapsed and all contact with Jugdral was lost. It ended with Grima sealed to the Dragon's table by the first Exalt of Ylisse and the Fire Emblem divided up among the successor states.

"While it is true, you being sealed to the Dragon's table can be considered as the end of the Schism." Robin began to address. "The general belief that you caused the Great Schism is utterly false and I'm actually ashamed to admit I was a subscriber to that school of thought."

"So you got a good history lesson. So what? Grima huffs while crossing his arms in clear disapproval.

"Grima, everything you did up to your insanity was done under the pressures and other externalities of the chaotic time period." Robin points out hoping Grima gets what he is getting at. "In an absolute vacuum your decisions may seem unnecessarily cruel and heinous, but given the context, you were forced to make very hard choices that was either bad or worse."

"Are you taking pity on me?" He accused.

"No. That's the last thing you need. Let's just say I understand. To a degree." Robin respectfully said aloud. "You have to remember that my and the other Robin's experiences were vastly different because of two facts. One, I still had my memories and two, the night of Emmeryn's assassination."

Grima kept his silence even though he was very aware of Robin's circumstances, but he was respectful and kept quiet while listening to Robin.

"Because of these two facts the war against the Mad King was significantly longer and didn't end, nearly as neatly. The Valmese actually broke out of Port Ferox before we forced them back to the ocean. The Valmese Campaign was nearly a slaughter and would've been if it I didn't save Tiki from an attempted assassination perpetuated by Excellus. When Validar and the Grimleal continued the war after the campaign, not a single grimleal we encountered was given mercy. Sure Chrom and I did our best to mitigate the suffering, but it was never enough."

"When it came to the safety of the Shepherds and Ylisse compared to everything else, I made the conscious decision to prioritize the Shepherds." Finally reaching his conclusions he continued. "It was hard, and many unnecessarily died and suffered for of it. But like you it was for the greater good and unluckily for us, our ends came because of another's ambitions."

"That doesn't change the fact I forced you to kill everyone you know and love." Grima pointed out. "Especially Chrom."

"But it does let me know that it wasn't you or I who committed it." Robin calmly states.

Grima snorted in amusement. Everything about him is quite fucked up and listening to one of his victims say that to him actually meant a great deal to him. It's no forgiveness but he isn't complaining.

"Well then let's have a toast." Mockingly raising an imagined mug. "Two souls about to reach their maker."

Before any affirmation can be heard Grima immediately felt a feeling he thought would never feel again. A feeling of warmth, calm and grace; a feeling he would normally seethe if he was anywhere near it. A feeling that was right behind him.

His draconic reflexes allowed him to rise from his unseen seat and hastily turn around to meet this familiar feeling.

The Divine Dragon Naga in all her glory was now looking straight onto, her now standing archenemy. Her long flowing green hair in good order, her tiara shiny and minimalist as usual, her revealing outfit; showing off her immaculate skin. All the while carrying herself in a way any dignified goddess would; with pride and without a single hint of arrogance.

All that Grima did was gape at her with genuine shock as he didn't believe she would pay him a visit. But before he could make any sort of response Naga decided to preempt her rival.

"If you want Grima, I could keep you company." Naga conversationally stated.

Grima could only stare blankly at Naga as he was too stunned with the sudden turn of events. Only then did he hear clicking noises in his head.

*Snap* *Snap* "Grima! Focus!" Robin said gaining Grima's attention.

Only now did he realize, Robin was snapping his fingers. Without any fingers or a body. In fact didn't he exhale in exasperation earlier, implying he could breathe? But those are questions for later. Right now, for better or for worse, he needs to give Naga his full attention.

"What are you doing here Naga?" As Grima eyes her critically. "You're not here for pleasantries so spit it out."

"Well that didn't last long, did it?" Shutting her eyes and shaking her head in disappointment.

"Answer the damn question!" Grima demands as his irritation is rising rather quickly.

"You need to calm down Grima." Robin in his head advises. "She isn't here to gloat at our coming end. That's beneath her."

Before Grima can internally send a rather polite message of shutting up to the free-rider, Naga intervened.

"Robin is correct Grima. I'm merely here to give you an offer." She calmly states to defuse the situation.

"You know he's also here." More of a statement then a question.

"Yes, you can't see it Grima but there is a clear visage of two souls in one body." She continues in a fond manner. "But I only recognized that because of our shared history together."

That's an understatement if I didn't know one. But if this conversation is going anywhere he needed to take Robin's advice and calmly listen to what she has to say. Even if it is rather irritating she would use my own words against me.

"Alright then." As the Fell Dragon calmly breathes out. "I'll once again get straight to the point, why are you here?"

A soft huff escaped from the goddess's lips as it was clear she prepared a long monologue before she got to the actual proposal. To Grima's satisfaction.

"I'm here to offer the both of you a second chance."

An honest to god laugh nearly escaped Grima's mouth, but luckily Robin preempted him.

"You shouldn't laugh at an offer like this, Grima." He scolded. "We both know you always wanted something like this."

To be fair to Grima he only scowled, but not because his passenger was siding with his nemesis, not because he knew Naga heard the voice (or lack of thereof) of support but because he was right yet again about his true feelings. Hopefully this doesn't become a trend.

"So you're offering us community service?" A joke but still an on point observation. "A way for us to give back what we have taken away?"

A single blink came before a soft smile formed on the old manaketes face as she was very happy he got the gist of what she was offering.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm offering. So what will be your answer."

Luckily Robin took the hint and stayed out of his thought process as this was Grima's choice alone. Really this isn't a hard choice it's this or death.

"Alright then." A small smirk appearing on his face. "What exactly do we have to do?"

"Out there, in the great sea of probability, is a world in chaos and on the verge of destruction." Naga dramatically performs clearly happy of Grima's choice. Or that she got to do her monologue; either one. "The two races are in the precipice of all-out war, all the while an ancient evil is dwelling in the shadows preparing to strike at the most opportune time, in fact the opening shots have already been felt throughout the continent. But there is time to stop the key from turning. You two mus-"

"And that's where we come in." Grima purposely interrupting to miff his rival. "We rally the two factions under one banner to defeat the evil once and for all. Am I right."

A sigh from Robin and glare from Naga is all the response Grima got.

Rubbing her forehead in annoyance Naga confirmed Grima's interruption.

"Essentially yes, you two must save this world."

"A rather tall order even with the two of us." Grima thought aloud while rubbing his chin. "What exactly will we be working with?"

"Well you'll be working with this."

Immediately saying those words Naga clapped her hands together creating a bright light that forced Grima to close his eyes shut and put up his hands to stop the light from reaching him. But it was a futile gesture as he was immediately blinded by the intense brightness. As the blindness persisted he clearly heard a female voice speak to them.

"Good luck, the both of you." The voice now recognized as Naga suddenly changed from its usual dignified tone to one of sorrow as she directly spoke to Grima. "And Grima, I'm sorry, for everything."

And when the voice was finished, both Robin and Grima were knocked out unconscious as their spirits traveled through the endless sea of the Outrealms to their destination.

"Do you think we . . ."

". . . Safety must come . . ."

". . . no better than . . ."

". . . shelter to re . . ."

Voices. How did they get here and why does it feel like every one of his body parts is on fire?

"The headache is too damn loud and I have a massive voice." Somehow those words escaped Grima's mouth before consciousness escapes him once again.

Sometime later, Grima's consciousness returned along with the positive and negative feelings of his body. He was hungry, thirsty, lying on his back on some hard surface with a killer headache. But at least he can feel. Slowly he was able to finally get his eyes to open to look around. But upon opening his eyes he was immediately assaulted by a bright light but instead of the bright blue sky the light was concentrated by an opening in the jagged rocky roof.

'So some sort of cave? That would explain the hard surface.' He thought to himself.

Grima further tested his motor skills by bringing his right hand with the brand within eyesight. It was a slow process but he noted he was still clothed in Robin's tactician garb. That most likely means he's still in his body, white hair and all. At least it's something familiar. While trying to use his elbows to get himself in a sitting position, a hand lightly pressed on his right shoulder stopping his upward momentum. When Grima looked at the figures face he noticed he was moving his mouth and sounds were coming out in a soft melodic tone.

Words were clearly spoken, but they were some foreign tongue that is very unfamiliar to Grima. With that realization he slowly turned to the one who spoke and has their hand on his shoulder to find a very fair and handsome face humanoid with long blonde hair and pristinely white wings looking at him with concern.

"Who . . ." Before Grima could finish his question a female voice made themselves known.

"Rafiel! Be considerate to his situation there is a high likely hood he has no idea what you're saying." The new voice wasn't alone as a second figure, this time male, was right beside her.

As he got a good look at them he notice the female wore an eye-patch and the two of them wore very loose and revealing outfits, heck the male doesn't even have a shirt. But a peculiar feature is that they were wearing peculiar animal ears and tail. Or those were their body parts.

"Yes that was rather thoughtless of me." The winged blond agreed. "But we know the song soothes his body and spirit."

A song that soothes body and mind does not exist. At least not in my world . . .

And it was that moment did Grima finally realize he was in a different world and was way over his head. And the only logical thing to do was to-

Rafiel returned to look concernly at his patient as he began to tremble and fall back onto the hard surface with a loud thud. His eyes were closed shut, his face red and his mouth was puckered. He was about to hum another one of his songs until he noticed the white hair male open his mouth.

"THAT BIT-"

A.N. Yup, I'll be committing myself to this, unless this is poorly received of course. So please Review on your favorite parts (or the lack of thereof) or how to improve, what should be removed, etc. This was done without a beta reader so if you have time please P.M me if you want to my beta reader.

Edit: To the guest reviewer

I'm very happy of your review and I agree with many of your points and I updated the chapter to reflect one of those points. Sadly I won't be addressing all of them now since they are in fact future plot points. But in regards to Ashera noticing Grima's presence I have to disagree, at least in its immediancy. There will be investigations into Grima's person but not in that way. For now at least. So again thank you for the review and hopefully I'll read from you again.