Hello all! Sorry this took longer than expected. Man finals were a killer. I found it hard to work on the story after the absolute beating I took from them, plus I've been playing a ton of Smash Ultimate. What a great game, although the new buffering thing is making it a bit difficult for me, and short hops seem harder to do. Lucina mains anyone? She is super good in the Ultimate so that's awesome. Robin seems kinda meh, not being able to grab people out of arcfire and arcthunder kinda sucks. Anyways here's the new chapter, wow it actually has some length to it, and Lucina finally makes her first appearance!
"My life is yours Lucina, it always has been."
No, you fool, don't do it! It's not his fault!
"I'm ready, do what you must."
Stop! Can't you see that your wrong? This is not the way!
Lucina screamed, but she could do nothing as she plunged Falchion into Robin's heart. She flinched as warm blood splattered all over her face and clothes. She pulled the blade out of Robin and his lifeless corpse hit the ground with a thud. She dropped her weapon and stared at her hands, they were covered in blood, Robin's blood. She had murdered him.
Lucina awoke breathing heavily and drenched in sweat. Frantically, she scanned her surroundings, but it was too dark to see. As her eyes finally started to adjust, she realized she was in one of the castle's many grand bedrooms, one that she had shared with Robin during the short time they had in Ylisse after the war in Valm. It was only a nightmare, she assured herself, her heart still pounding in her chest. Whenever she had woken up from nightmares before, Robin had always been right by her side to comfort her. Now she was alone.
That's right, Robin was gone, no longer would she be able to find solace in those warm brown eyes, messy white hair, and that goofy smile. The love of her life, the one that made her feel normal, the one that spent countless hours on her even with an entire army to manage, the one that broke her shell and no matter how bad things seemed to get, made her smile. Yet even after all that, she had tried to kill him and eventually, he wound up dead. Fate had punished her for turning her blade against him. For the seemingly thousandth time since Robin's death, tears sprawled uncontrollably down Lucina's face.
The monster that had caused her so much pain and grief, the monster that had haunted her dreams for years, the monster that had murdered millions of innocents, was finally gone. She should be happy, she should be celebrating that her future would never come to pass, that the world would never again be scarred by the fell dragon. Yet how could could she feel happy when she was so… alone. Her parents and sister were wonderful of course, but Robin had been such a big part of her life. She never realized how much she relied on him, until he was already gone. He had made her life so much more than the constant day to day survival it had been before they met. Lucina shut her eyes, her final day with Robin flowed through her mind.
"Lucina, I love you more than anything, you know that right?" Robin asked with nervous tone.
Lucina furrowed her brow, "Of course I know that, is something the matter Robin?"
"Nothing at all." He looked away as if to hide guilt. "I just want to make sure you understand how much you mean to me, even if I may do some things you might not agree with."
"Well thank you Robin, it makes me very happy to know that you hold me in such high regard." Lucina said while blushing. "I happen to share the same feelings with you as well." Still, his comment was odd, Robin never tended to do anything that she wouldn't agree to.
"Thank you Lucina. I am extremely lucky to have your love." Robin gave a brief smile, then sighed. "This all ends today, you will no longer have to worry about your future coming to pass. I will make sure of it." Robin clenched his fist.
"Yes, father will put Grima back to rest. That is what we agreed upon, yes?" Lucina began to eye Robin suspiciously. Naga had told them all the consequence of Robin landing the final blow right before their battle with Aversa. Afterwards, Chrom made sure that Robin promised he wouldn't sacrifice himself, which had relieved Lucina tremendously. But Robin went off on his own for a while and when he came back, it was as if something had changed. He wasn't planning on ending Grima himself was he? "Robin, you can't mean to…"
She was cut off by a thunderous screech that made her words catch in her throat. It was him, it was Grima. The Shepherds could only stare in horror as the dragon showed itself through the clouds.
Chrom walked over and placed a consoling hand on Lucina's shoulder. "We can defeat him!" He shouted to bring back everybody from their trance.
"Milord, how does a man challenge a mountain?! Where would one even strike?!" Frederick interjected.
"The fell dragon has a weakness on the nape of his neck. But that weakness will be guarded by his servants. I can send you onto the dragon's back, but the rest is in your hands." Naga spoke, providing the much needed answer to Frederick's question.
"Then please, milady, and quickly! We would ask no more of you. Everyone, gird yourselves! One way or another this ends here!" Chrom replied.
The Shepherds all prepared their weapons, and in a flash of bright light, they found themselves hundreds of feet in the air on Grimas back.
Lucina was finally able to move again, there was no time to be scared. She would have to give it her all in order to defeat Grima and she could only hope that her father would be the one to end him. She looked over to the nape of the dragon's neck, there Grima in Robin's body stood menacingly. Lucina shuddered, she would never get used to seeing Robin like that, to think that somebody so kind and loving could look so evil.
"Are you ready, Robin?" Chrom looked over to their tactician.
Robin opened his Thoron tome, magic began to flow through the pages. "As ready as I will ever be, Chrom, Let's finish this!"
"Welcome children of Naga, so nice of you to travel so far… only to meet your doom." Grima gave a slight bow, his face holding a wicked smile. "It's only fair that I give you a welcoming gift, sorry if it's not to your liking, I had ill time to prepare it." Grima snapped his fingers. Suddenly thousands of purple spikes burst from the scales the Shepherds were standing on. Everybody fell to the floor, the spikes all but killing them.
"Hrrngh! ...Wh-what... What manner of magic…" Chrom attempted to sturdy himself using Falchion.
"Magic?" Basilo gasped, air no longer filling his lungs. "That was a...damned...catastrophe... He's weakened us all... He's too...strong...rrgh…"
"It cannot end like this... I won't have...all our struggle...be for naught…" Frederick was clearly struggling, his heavy armor now a hinderance as he could barely stop himself from being pinned to the ground.
Lucina's mind was racing. She looked around at the Shepherds. They were in no condition to lift a finger, much less fight the hordes of risen that were now appearing around them. Lucina's strength began to crumble. "No... This darkness... The future is upon us! Oh gods... F-Father…"
Grima's laughter filled everyone's ears. "And so it ends, Robin. See how frail these humans bonds of yours are? How short lived? How pointless? You have all thrown your lives away, and the result is the same!"
Robin was clutching his side in pain, but he had managed to get one foot planted on the ground. "We're not dead yet!" He shouted in defiance.
Grima yawned. "Details, details. But yes, I suppose it's time I got you all off my back, so to speak—permanently."
Robin's eyes widened in shock. "No…"
The reaction made Grima grin. "No, you don't want this, do you? You do have a choice, you know. It doesn't have to be this way. You can still save all your friends…" Grima put his hands up and shrugged. "Become one with me, and we shall spare their lives. ...Refuse, and watch as I rend the flesh from their bones!"
"No, Robin! Don't...do it…" Chrom said, still trying to get off the ground.
Lissa raised her head. "He's lying… It's… a trap…"
Grima stomped, sending another small wave of pain through the Shepherds. "NOW! I will have your decision! Will you save these worms? Will you JOIN ME and become a GOD?"
Lucina wanted to scream, she wanted to tell Robin to refuse, to tell him that Grima should never be trusted. "Robin… please…" she could barely manage a whisper with her anxiety causing a burning pain in her chest.
Robin looked back to Lucina briefly, then faced Grima. "Do you think me a fool? You'll kill them anyway!"
Grima gave a small frown. "...Well, of COURSE I would. I only thought you might want to leave your comrades with a heroic, selfless image. ...But so be it. Leave them with the final memory that you were their undoing!" He opened his palm and Robin was dragged into a dark portal, then he disappeared.
Lucina froze, Robin was gone? No… he couldn't be. It was over? After everything they had done to stop the future, was it all in vain? Her body slumped. Grima had won.
"You have to fight back!"
Lucina looked over to her father. He was using everything he had to shout at the top of his lungs.
"Fight back! You have to keep fighting! Fight back, Robin! You swore to do so, remember? Now keep your damn word!" Chrom slammed his fist.
The rest of the Shepherds realized what he was trying to do and followed suit. One after another they began to shout for Robin to return.
"Lucina! He needs you! Robin needs you! If anybody can pull his arse out of Grima's hands, it's you!" Chrom shouted with the last ounce of his strength.
Lucina finally snapped back to reality. That's right, it wasn't over. They were all still alive, and they needed Robin, she needed Robin. Mustering up all her strength she finally started to yell. "Your stronger than him Robin, you can fight it! You were the one who made me open up, you were the one that made me smile! I never thought it was possible, but you did it! Please Robin!" She began to tear up. "You have earned my trust and my love, Robin. Now return to us!"
As if on cue, the black portal reappeared. Everyone held their breath as Robin emerged and stood tall on Grima's back. "Thanks everyone, I needed that." He spoke softly. He had made it.
"What?! No! That's impossible! My grip cannot be broken!" Grima shouted, his voice filled with frustration.
"I have a bad habit of doing impossible things, and I have the best friends I could ever ask for by my side." Robin gave a triumphant smile.
Grima looked over at Lucina, knowing it was her voice that gave the final push. "Damn you, spawn of Naga!" He spat. "Your constant meddling will end once I kill you!"
Robin stepped next to Lucina protectively. "It will be you who falls today Grima!"
Light appeared around the Shepherds causing the spikes to dissolve. The Shepherds stood up with new found strength. "Children of man, take my power! Rise now, and face the fell dragon!" Naga's voice filled them all with a burning confidence.
"This matters NOT! I will KILL you ALL. ...I AM...GRIMA... I AM...DESPAIR…" Grima raised his hands and immediately risen began to appear at an accelerated pace.
Robin started shouting his commands. The Shepherds were to hold off the risen while Chrom, Lucina, and himself went to confront the Fell Dragon head on.
Lucina charged in alongside her father to engage Grima. Together they threw a barrage of powerful strikes against the dragon. Any time Grima managed find an opening on one of the lords Robin's magic would stop him before he could strike. The coordination that the three had built from their many battles together was starting to become to much for Grima. The constant attacks had Grima on the defensive and eventually he was worn out.
*TANG* Grima's blade was thrown from his hand by one of Chrom's slashes and he was left defenseless. Lucina used this chance to quickly struck at both of his inner thighs to bring him to his knees. Chrom stood over the Fell Dragon.
"This ends now Grima!" Chrom raised his glowing Falchion into the air, ready to deliver the final blow.
But that final blow never came.
Chrom flew backwards as if he had been blown away by some kind of magic. Lucina gasped and ran to her father's aid. What was that? She began to look for the attacker, Who… Lucina trailed off as she spotted Robin holding the wind tome that had knocked over Chrom. No, he can't be...
Chrom was still gasping for air after the wind was knocked out of him. "...Robin?! Wait, what—"
Robin pulled out his sword.
"...YOU WOULD...NOT DARE!" Grima yelled, fear beginning to show in his voice.
"I would and I will. The evils you would visit on this world are unthinkable... In some way, I—we share the blame. It's only right we meet our end together!" Robin thrust his blade through Grima's heart.
"...NOOOOOOO! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO JOIN ME, BECOME IMMORTAL..."
Robin kicked Grima off his blade and he disintegrated. "Sorry, being an evil dragon god isn't really my thing." The Fell Dragon was no more.
Lucina could barely process what just happened, Robin had just stolen the final blow from her father, and now his body was beginning to disappear.
"Robin! No! Ah gods, NO!" Chrom was finally able to stand up.
Lucina ran over to Robin with the last of her strength. She grabbed onto Robin, hoping that if she squeezed hard enough, it might stop him from completely disappearing.
"Why! Why did you not let father end it! I thought you said you wouldn't do it!" Lucina screamed as she broke down, tears streaming from her eyes.
"I'm sorry Lucina..." Robin was having trouble speaking, his fading body beginning to take a toll on him. "I had to do it, we had already failed once to stop him. Who is to say that those in the future will not do the same." Robin gave a deep sigh. "Your future can never again come to pass."
"But what am I supposed to do without you!" Lucina was starting to wail, the realization that Robin was going to die preoccupying her mind. "Please, I need you…"
"I love so much Lucina, you were the best thing to ever happen to me. You have made my short years worth living. Please, find happiness. That is all I have ever wanted. Thank you, Lucina. For… everything… May we meet again, in a better life..." Then Robin disappeared, not a single speck of him remained.
Lucina kept trying to grab at the air where Robin was just standing. Maybe she could still catch hold of something, but nothing was there. She fell to her knees with a thud.
Again the Shepherds were covered in a blinding light, and they all found themselves back on top Origin Peak.
The large dragon that had once bestowed fear no longer had Grima to keep it materialized, it began a fast descent into the water, and was never to be seen again.
The Shepherds all remained dead silent and looked to the ocean, trying to grasp what had just occurred.
Lucina was on all fours, she felt faint despite being fine physically. She stared weakly at the ground. Hes… Hes gone…
"Is it over? Did it work? Please tell me it worked!" Chrom spoke up, finally breaking the silence.
"Grima is gone, I can no longer feel his presence. The Fellblood has succeeded." Naga spoke. "You have saved the world from Grima's destruction, I thank you, children of man." With her role now fulfilled, she left.
Chrom clenched his fist, tears began to swell in his eyes. "That dastard, he just had to play the hero."
The Shepherds were victorious, but they had just lost their dear tactician. Each of them looked at one another knowing full well that they would not be alive if it had not been for Robin's plans and quick thinking.
"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 Robin, who gave himself to save us all. To save all the worlds to come." Chrom announced, trying to perk everybody up, even though he himself seemed ready to break down. "I know we all may not feel like celebrating, but tonight I say we drink in Robin's honor. It is only fair that we take advantage of the future that he has given to us, and we need to give him a proper send off for everything he has done. Our labor has finally paid off, and after all this time, the future has been averted!"
Everyone in the Shepherd's gave a slight cheer, everyone except the one who should be the happiest out of all of them. Her father was safe and her future was prevented, but right now, none of that mattered. Lucina felt as if a large part of her had just been ripped out, and in a way, it had.
The group made preparations to descend the mountain, and so Lucina stood up to join them. Nobody said a word to her, nobody had anything to say. Slowly Lucina trekked down the mountain along with the others, her knees threatening to give way with every step.
The Shepherds found a spot a distance away from the base of the mountain and began setting up their camp for the night. A mournful mood could be felt all throughout the camp, Robin's death still fresh on all their minds. They could only take a small pleasure in knowing that it was all over, and that they could later eat and drink in a newfound peace.
Lucina was fidgeting with her ropes to make sure her tent was tied properly. She heard a soft pair of footsteps closing in behind her.
"Lucina, honey. How are you holding up?" Lucina's mother, Sumia, put a loving hand on Lucina's back. "I can't imagine what you must be going through right now. "
"Mother…" Lucina turned to face the pegasus knight "I don't know what to do. Part of me still can't process that… that he's actually gone."
"I know sweetheart, I know…" Sumia brushed a few strands of blue hair that were covering Lucina's face
"After everything he's done for us, why did it have to be him? The world is now saved, but in doing so I have lost my greatest reason to save it." Lucina looked to the ground. She felt like crying again, but no tears would come out. "It hurts… so much…"
"Would you like to come join us in the mess tent? Everybody is going over right now. It might help clear your mind a bit." Sumia replied somberly.
"I… can't. Right now, I just… I just need to be alone" Lucina turned away from her mother.
"Alright… if you need anything, your father and I are here for you." Sumia took one last concerned glance at her daughter, then walked over to the mess tent.
Lucina climbed into her sheets and shut her eyes, she was too tired to change into night wear. Everything felt like it was a dream. Yes, that was it. This was all just a dream and she would wake up the next day, Robin by her side just like always. But it was no dream, it was the exact opposite.
It was then her nightmares started.
This nightmare was one of many that had been haunting her nights over the past three months. Again and again she would see herself drive her blade through Robin's heart, and she would be powerless to stop it. The nightmare had begun to take its toll on her. The guilt that she had actually pointed her blade at him with the intention of ending his life was becoming too much to bear, and now he was gone. She felt that she was never able to properly make up for what she did even though he always laughed it off.
How much she longed to be held in his arms again. For him to brush aside the hair from her face and tell her everything would be OK. But that would never happen again. He was gone for good, just like Grima. She wondered how long she would be able to continue living like this.
She did not cry in bed on the night Robin had disappeared, but now nothing was stopping the tears from spilling out. She slowly fluttered back to sleep, moisture still in her eyes, knowing that when she awoke, Robin would still be gone, and she would still be alone.
What a nice chapter for the holidays huh. Nothing is better than a big dose of depression, or at least its supposed to make you sad. Anyways I had initially wanted to do the final battle earlier but decided against it, I felt the best way to start the story was Robin stuck in limbo or whatever. Then I made this chapter about Lucina having a nightmare, but it was really short. I kept thinking of a way to make it longer and decided that maybe I could actually do the final battle, but from Lucina's point of view in the form of her memory. Hopefully it worked alright, it's mostly just a write up of the final chapter of the game, so nothing too special. Don't expect the next chapter to come out too soon. Also if you want, please check out my other story "Lost in Light" Its about Robin and Lucina during the events of Smash Ultimate's "World of Light" Until next time!
- Arcale
