Chrom stood out in the main garden of Castle Ylisse, overlooking the gardens that Emmeryn tended. Footsteps sounded behind him. "Chrom? What are you doing out so late?"
"Robin. Just... dueling with some unpleasant thoughts..." Robin waited patiently. Chrom continued. "Listen. Tomorrow we fly to Ferox to request additional soldiers. But there's something you should know first … do you remember Gangrel's rant?"
"Yes." Robin shrugged. "What of it?"
"Not everything he said was a lie. The last exalt, my father, waged war on Plegia for many years. It was a brutal campaign, ending only with his assassination fifteen years ago. Plegia rightfully remembers their suffering, but his war was no kinder to his own people. As the fighting dragged on, out army became more and more diminished. Workers who could barely wield a spanner-wrench were conscripted and sent to their deaths. Soon there was no food at all, and the planet began to collapse. I was young, but I remember those dark times. I know how they affected Emmeryn."
"Such an experience would change anyone, I would think."
"Indeed. In more ways than you know." Chrom fell strangely silent. "My sisters … they possess a gift, you would say. The exalts possess a remarkable bloodline, one which occasionally manifests itself in … ways. Such as my birthmark."
"Emmeryn has a similar one." Robin noted. "What does it mean?"
"For me, not much. It means I carry the curse." Chrom shook his head. "There are legends passed down in my family of an ancient superweapon that NAGA developed near the end of the war 1,000 years ago. The key was hidden within the blood of the Exalts, supposedly. This symbol marks the continuation of our line, it means you possess the exalted legacy."
"You call it a curse…"
"Exalt Nero, my father, tried … activating it. While he couldn't do anything to himself, he tried activating the genetic code dormant within me and my siblings. Nothing happened to me, my father thinks it's because of my gender, because both my sisters received gifts."
"Wait, WHAT?!" Robin started.
"Lissa is a neuropath, she can sense the pain of other. It's why she became a medic. Emmeryn received a far worse gift."
"What could be worse than Lissa's gift?"
"Lissa learned to control it after a while. She can block out the pain. Emmeryn is an empath. She senses the emotions of those around her. When our father died before her 10th year, he left her quite the legacy... Plegia's desire for vengeance... Our own people's unbridled rage... My sister became a target for blame on all sides. Her own subjects began to hurl insults—and stones. She still bears the scar from one... But she never let them see her pain. Only Lissa and I understood."
"You're telling me she bore the emotions…" Robin thought. She can sense emotions!? Well, wasn't expecting that.
"Yes. It's why she was able to mend Ylisse's broken soul. She felt every single crack, but herself on them, and repaired it. I cannot claim to know how she does it, Robin." Chrom's fingers clenched around Falchion's hilt, his knuckles white. "I could not greet such hostility with warmth and patience. While our people mocked and vilified her, she reached out and healed them. She brought soldiers home to their families. She ended the war. And when Ylisse's spirit was mended and the people "forgave" her?
"...She never resented them for it. She represents the best part of the halidom—the part most worth protecting. She IS peace. But some men would take advantage of that. Men like King Gangrel. The day he understands peace will be the day death gives it to him. ...So perhaps I must be death's agent. Emmeryn would never order him killed, nor would I wish her to."
"Well spoken, sir."
Chrom and Robin spun around to see a man in blue approaching them. Chrom stared at the man. "Marth…?"
"Good evening to you." Marth inclined his head.
"How did you get here?" Chrom asked.
"The same way they did."
"They?"
"Assassins. I come here only to warn you. The Exalt's life is in danger."
"What, Emmeryn? That's absurd. She's guarded at all hours."
"What if..." Marth asked. "What if I told you I have seen the future? Would you believe me? A future where Emmeryn is killed. Here. Tonight."
"Seen the future? Have you lost your wits?" Chrom cried. Robin looked thoughtful.
"Yes, I expected you wouldn't believe me." Marth drew his sword. "Allow me to prove myself…"
Behind Marth, the bush exploded as an assassin leapt out of hiding. Without pausing, Marth swung around and sliced the startled man in two. "I trust this proof will suffice?"
"Yeah." Chrom said, stunned.
"Look out!" The bush exploded again as another assassin burst out of hiding. Marth was caught unawares and desperately leapt backwards. The energy sword missed her face by inches, but took her mask off.
Chrom stabbed the assassin with ignited Falchion. Robin stared at the mask-less Marth. "Um, Chrom?"
Chrom turned around, and his jaw dropped. "Wait, you're—You're a woman?"
"And quite the actress, too. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't figure it out until just now." Marth shook her head, letting her locks free. "The voice wasn't too bad, but I thought the hair would do it."
A massive explosion sent the three of them to the ground. Robin stared out as he saw a massive hole in the far walls. Dark shapes started pouring through it. Alarms sounded as proximity alarms triggered throughout the palace. Robin activated the gauntlet, projecting a spectral image of the palace. Red dots appeared throughout, moving towards one central location. Straight towards the…
"The Exalt!" Robin punched his com. "Attention all SHEPHERDs, there is an assassination attempt in progress!-"
The voice echoed through the com besides the arena that Stahl and Sully were sparring in. They nodded to each other and ran to their mechs.
"-Remain calm. Your orders are simple.-"
Virion blasted another hole through targets on the practice range, and loaded a fresh clip into his gun. He headed towards high ground to find some real targets. Lon'qu followed closely, the training dummies missing limbs behind him.
"-Protect Exalt Emmeryn with your life!-"
Frederick felt a chill down his spine as he activated his mech. Besides him, Vaike brought his gauntlet to life, and Miriel strapped on her flamethrower. Lissa nervously followed them, holding her medical equipment.
"-That is all.-"
Sumia activated her PEGASUS armor, screaming through the halls of the castle, energy lance at the ready. Below her, Maribelle ran through in her personalized mech, with Ricken perched on her shoulder, his airgun ready.
"-Fight hard, SHEPHERDs." Robin finished. He took a look at the 3-D map of the castle projected, with green dots showing dozens of guards, and blue dots showing the SHEPHERDs reinforcing them. Robin pointed to a route. "There's a direct line to the throne room that's not being covered. Come on! The guards will only hold them so long!"
Chrom, Robin, and Marth raced through the halls. They arrived, passing through an arch to see Emmeryn deep in prayer in the room beyond. "Emm!"
"Chrom!" Emmeryn stood up. "Take Lissa and flee while you still have time!"
"No! We're not leaving you! Just stay where it's safe!"
"Chrom, please! Flee while you still can! You each have but one life, and I do not wish it weighed against mine!"
"The assassins should scatter if we can defeat their leader." Robin spoke up, still glued to his map. "Judging from the reports-" he indicated a location. "The leader is there. We'll take the first wave, then we'll hit him hard. Worry not, Exalt." Robin ignited his gauntlet. "I will protect you with my life."
A klaxon sounded. Plegian warriors rounded the bend, and started yelling when they saw the Exalt. The three SHEPHERDs walked out, Chrom tapping a panel, sealing the chamber behind him with a three-foot thick titanium wall. Chrom drew Falchion and ignited it. Marth did the same thing besides him. Robin drew his blade, and his gauntlet started crackling with lightning. "Time for a bit of stir-fry."
Ylisse Castle, Eastern Corridors
Vaike finished trading blows with a Plegian, and sent him down permanently. A Plegian psionic tapped his forehead. Vaike started to feel the room spinning. He looked around only to see the ground was above him. He was falling, falling-
-He stopped. The psionic was shrieking as Miriel systematically torched him to a crisp. She looked at Vaike. "Focus. They cannot affect you if you focus on them." Vaike nodded, and leapt back in the fray.
Frederick was simultaneously fighting five Plegians at once, their gauntlets smashing into his shield, as he took them out one by one. Vaike and Miriel re-joined the fray, wiping them all out. Lissa repaired Frederick's mech quickly. Frederick looked at Miriel. "Where to?"
Miriel tapped her glasses. "Chrom and the others are holding steady at the front. Stahl and Sully are holding the east wing, but are getting pushed back. Wait. It appears Virion and Lon'qu are reinforcing them." Miriel looked up. "Nevermind. Another wave approaches us. We hold position." Frederick picked up his gun.
Ylisse Castle, Southeast Hallway
"We have to get to the captain!" Sumia said, firing energy javelins at a group of psionics. They had just driven a guard patrol to suicide, but Sumia and the others had ambushed them. "Where is he?"
Ricken blasted one into a wall. There was the satisfying sound of every one of his opponent's bones breaking. "Probably protecting the Exalt! I don't know where, though."
"I do." Maribelle said, accessing the network from within her armor. "We need to keep going straight. Prince Chrom is fighting at the end of this passageway."
Ylisse Castle, Northern Courtyard
"Come and get some, ya sissies!" Sully howled as she uses her energy staff to batter more Plegians aside. "I'll kill the lot of you." Besides her, Stahl fought though his own share as well, wielding a massive sword, the rims projecting energy. The two only stopped when a small pile of corpse lay before them.
Stahl sighed in relief. "I hope the others did as well as we did."
"You might want to stop wishing that." Sully said, sounding worried.
Stahl looked up to see four Plegian mechs bearing down upon them. He groaned, and raised his sword, bracing himself. Energy blasts came from above, destroying one of the mechs. Sully looked up to see Virion crouched on a ledge, elegantly raining down death. "Your hero arrives, milady."
"Shut it, dandy!" Sully snarled. "Keep up the fire." She turned to Stahl. "Ready, Viridian?"
"Lead the way, Crimson." Stahl grinned, and charged.
Ylisse Castle,Southern Main Gate
Robin clashed blades with yet another Plegian, then activated his gauntlet. The electricity shot between the blades, and shocked his opponent. Robin stabbed him through, then checked his gauntlet. "One good charge left…"
Chrom hacked yet another to pieces, and Marth matched him. No less than two dozen Plegians had charged through the main door, despite the fact that it was securely locked. They were systemically cut to shreds by the three of them. There were only two soldiers left, amidst the mound of bodies.
Then one stabbed the other. He threw off his mask to reveal a childlike face with orange hair, and raised a hand to surrender. "Easy there, blue blood. I'm not here to hurt anyone."
Chrom stared at him with disbelief, "...Yet you run with a band of assassins?"
"Believe it or not, just trying to make a living. I'm a thief, see? Bust open doors, crack into chests... that kind of thing. This lot said they wanted to break into some kind of vault. Nobody said anything about murder. I'd just as soon sit this one out."
"Yeah." Chrom tapped his arms. "How about you prove your good intentions?"
"Beg pardon, blue?"
"We need all the help we can get to save the Exalt's life. You appear capable, and we could use any information you have about our foes."
"Oh, right—those good intentions. Fine then, I'll prove my sincerity... if you," Gaius coughed. "'sweeten the deal'."
"You want creds? Fine, you scoundrel. Let me just," Chrom reached into his pocket.
"Looks like you dropped something. Hello! What's in the satchel, mmm?"
"Just candies from my little sister."
"'Candies'? As in, sugar candies?" The thief's eyes grew wide.
"Well... yes. I assume they'd be sweet? But-"
"IT'S A DEAL!"
"...You'll risk your life if I give you... a bag of candy?"
"I said "sweeten the deal", didn't I? Don't get me wrong, I'll take the credits, too. Later. Unless you've got more of these. ...Have you got more of these?!"
"Chrom!" Robin howled, engaging two more Plegians. We have a bloody thief who switches sides for candy? "If you're finished?!"
Chrom turned towards Robin, but a dark shape burst out of the shadows and tore through one of the Plegians. The other turned around, and received the same fate. The shape landed on four legs, and then got up on two.
Chrom stared. "What manner of being…?"
It snarled at him. "Precisely, man-spawn."
Robin stared. It looked like a grotesque hybrid of a human and a rabbit. The shape looked like a human female, but was covered in thick fur and hard armor, and had wicked claws at the end of its hands. Alongside twin bunny ears. "You … you were built for war, weren't you? Who did that to you?"
"I am called Panne. And yes, human, I was. I aid you tonight to repay a debt to the Exalt. Nothing more."
Stomping mechanical feet interrupted the discussion. Half a dozen Plegian mechs marched towards the four defenders. Robin swore, and activated his com. "Now would be a good time for more reinforcements…"
Energy javelins rained upon them. A burst of air ricocheted off one. Robin sighed in relief as he saw Sumia, Maribelle, and Ricken approach. Robin raised his hand, and electrocuted a mech, disabling it. His gauntlet fizzed out. Chrom pulled a slim handle off his belt. He jumped up and stabbed clean through one using a thin, thin energy blade. Two down.
Sumia landed on one, impaling the driver. Three.
Marth skidded underneath the rest of them, and slashed at the tendons of the rear one. The pilot spun around, but Marth nimbly evaded its maneuvers, and crippled it. Simple matter to finish it off from there. Four.
Panne took a running start and leapt through one, claws extended. She leaned on four feet, the ripped clean through the last one. All six accounted for.
Robin looked at the smoldering carcasses, and relooked at the map. "Chrom, they're all grouping in the main hallway and heading this way."
"They're blast shielded against nuclear warhead." Chrom said. "They'll never crack these doors open. It's pointless."
"Um, what about entering the code?" the orange haired thief offered. "Thirty digits long, starts with 76589-"
"How do they-!"
"Nevermind that now!" Robin tapped his com. "All SHEPHERDs, all guards, anyone who can bloody move whether you're alive or dead, get to the main hallway now!"
Ylisse Castle, Entrance
Validar marched through the passageway, flanked by the remainder of his forces. "Hmph! Two assassins and the little princeling was not even wounds? This wasn't in the cards. I cannot help but feel that there are some actors that do not belong on the stage right now."
Validar reached the main entranceway. Between him and the door to both the Exalt and the Fire Emblem were fifteen battered warriors. The legendary SHEPHERDs. Validar chuckled. It looked like he was going to get three birds with one stone. His eyes grew wide as he saw the white-haired tactician next to that blasted Prince. "Ho ho! Can it be?! After years of searching. Tonight, fate truly piles gifts at my feet!"
Ylisse Castle, Southern Main Gate
"My sword is glowing…" Marth said, staring down the last of the enemy forces.
"What's wrong?"
"I have absolutely no idea." Marth set herself in a lunge, formation.
Robin breathed in, and set his feet defensively. "Phila's arriving in under three minutes. Hold them." The Plegians all charged. The SHEPHERDs charged back.
Panne tore through soldiers, her claws extended. Virion picked off soldiers like a child popping candy, Lon'qu cut through them as a farmer cutting wheat. Stahl wielded an energy covered blade the size of a door, Sully use a spear the size of a pillar. Ricken and Miriel unleashed the fury of nature upon their foes, even as Vaike pummeled them to dust. Lissa and Maribelle healed when necessary. The thief, Gaius, killed his co-conspirators. Marth fought like a woman possessed, Robin fought with shock and sword, and Frederick … Frederick hit like a truck where he wasn't needed and a train where he was.
Chrom fought for his sister's dream, and won. Every Plegian who had entered the castle was a corpse. Every Plegian…
…save for one. Validar had not entered the fray with his men. He sighed. "If you want a job done right…"
Validar walked into the arena. Virion sighted him in a heartbeat, but Validar acted faster. He mentally activated his psionics. Every SHEPHERD collapsed. Validar sighed as he walked through the room. Miriel staggered to her feet, howling in pain as she tried to reassert her mind. Validar drew a small arms pistol and shot her.
Miriel collapsed, blood pouring from a leg wound.
Validar walked up to door, and entered the code. The door slid open with a hiss. Emmeryn sat in the room beyond, still meditating. Validar smiled wickedly, and flicked a switch on his head. Emmeryn did not react at all. Validar sighed. "Emmeryn was supposed to be an easy target... Not immune to psionics. Oh, well." He drew a napalm grenade. "Fight fire with fire, as they say. Or really just … fight with fire."
A heavy clank sounded behind him. Validar spun around to see Frederick staggering towards him, holding his cannon. Validar smiled. "Such loyalty! But you are no Exalt! You cannot withstand my mind."
Frederick attempted to pull the trigger. He couldn't. Validar smiled. He clicked the grenade, and threw it onto Frederick's armor. The magnetic grenade stuck. "So much for the famed Ylissean guard."
"NOO!" Robin howled, skidding under Frederick's legs. "You will not touch the Exalt!"
Robin came up, slashing Validar's left arm off. Validar stared in horror, and focused his efforts on Robin. Robin gritted his teeth as his ears started bleeding. "Too much… focus… on him… not enough…" Robin sliced wildly, missing. "…on me!"
"You think you're my match?" Validar stared at him and started laughing, right arm folded over the stump were his left arm used to be. "Well, well... Robin. I know you… Submit to me, and perhaps I might honor you with the truth!"
"Submit? Neve…!" Robin froze in place. No!
Validar stared at Robin, menace on his face. "Do you really think you can kill me, boy? Now, it'll be harder for me to kill the Exalt, but rest assured, I can still do it."
"Flee, Robin!" Emmeryn cried. "All of you, go!"
Never, milady. Robin stared at Validar head on, pouring every ounc of willpower he had into moving his arm. He had no chance to defeat the maniac, but all had to do was draw away the psionic's power.
"I don't think so." Fredrick use the last vestige of his strength to fall on Validar. His energy shields expanded around him, entrapping them both, along with the napalm grenade that Validar had clipped to his armor. "Thanks for the grenade."
Robin stared aghast. "Frederick, NO!"
"Farewell, M'lord, M'lady. I hope I served you well." Frederick said. "Robin, protect the Exalt."
The grenade exploded, killing both the assassin and the knight.
Ylisse Castle, Emmeryn's Chambers
"I beg your forgiveness, milord! I failed in my duty—they should never have made it into the castle in the first place. Fredrick – It's my fault-" Phila choked up.
"Peace, Phila." Chrom said, by his sister's side. He had refuse to be anywhere else. "You couldn't have known what was coming. Frederick – Frederick knew what serving meant. Don't blame yourself. He would never had wanted that. We only knew because of a warning from Marth."
"...Marth?" Emmeryn inquired.
"Yes … um, Robin, where's Marth?"
"Hmm... An excellent question. She was here a moment ago…" Robin said.
"Not again!"
"Stay here, Chrom. I'll deal with her."
Ylisse Castle, Entrace
Marth walked away from the castle. A voice came out of the darkness. "You have a bad habit of leaving without saying goodbye, you know."
"Yes, I'm afraid I have a few bad habits."
Robin walked up to her. "And a few good ones as well—you saved the live of the Exalt. Chrom wishes to repay you. Is there a favor you need?"
"Hearing him offer is reward enough." Marth said. "Though, in truth, I wish the same as you do – war did not have casualties. Regardless, I already have what I came for: history has been rewritten."
"And what future averted?"
"After the Exalt's untimely assassination, the Fire Emblem would be stolen. This, in turn, would lead to a great war, and soon to the end of mankind itself. But I'm sure that sounds like madness to you."
"It doesn't." Robin shook his head. "That does seem like a possible sequence of events. However, I must correct you on one detail. You are not from the future."
"I never claimed to be." Marth enigmatically said. "You are putting words into my mouth. Most unlike you."
"Ah." Robin fell silent. "You claimed you saw the future. How?"
Marth shrugged. "Does it matter how I know?"
"Obviously. There are innumerable strategic and tactical applications."
"Yes. You are Robin." Marth inclined her head. "Your actions carried the day today. Were it not for you, Frederick would not have had the opportunity to save the Exalt's life. I shall tell you, but we are even."
"That's all I ask."
"Have you ever heard of psychohistory?"
"It's a lost science said to be able to predict the future with pinpoint accuracy. Most scholars consider it to be nothing more than a modern myth."
"You are wrong on two counts. Psychohistory cannot predict anything with pinpoint accuracy, nor is it lost. The scientist who discovered it hid the techniques away. Even know, it is passed on through the centuries, no more than a handful knowing at any one time. Around two years ago, I had the fortune to run into one of them. He told that, should Plegia ever make a pre-emptive strike of any sort, the Exalt's life would be under threat by assassins." Marth said. "As for the cyborgs, I've been tracking them."
"How did you know about the assassins?"
"I spotted them coming in." Marth said. "I've been keeping vigil for days, now. There is more, of course, but it's not something you need to know. Is that satisfactory?"
"Yes, I guess we're even now." Robin conceded. "Or, actually, we still have to repay you for what you did tonight."
"Perhaps one day you shall. Until then..." Marth walked away. Robin watched her leave, and then headed back.
Ylisse Castle, Emmeryn's Chambers
"Brave taguel, there are not words enough to express my gratitude." Emmeryn said aloud to the empty room.
There was a pause, and then Panne walked in, standing awkwardly on two legs. "So you remember me, Exalt? It has been a while since you freed me from my cage."
"Sorry, what's a taguel?" Robin interjected. He had made his way back to the Exalt as quick as possible.
"I am a taguel. The… the only taguel. I, as you guessed, was an experiment by the previous Exalt during the last war. I only helped because I owe the Exalt a debt. She released me form her father's experiments. But do not think us friends, you and I!" Panne hissed at Emmeryn. "You may pretend to be different, but you aren't! Do not act so shocked. You humans are all the same. Right down to your base desire to ruin and destroy all your touch—even each other."
"...There is truth to your words, perhaps. The words may come too late and mean too little, but I am deeply sorry. What has been done is inexcusable."
"Your Grace—you had no fault in this!" Phila protested.
"You claim to be blameless, and yet you would apologize? Pah! Your words are but wind."
"I know... But they are all I have." Emmeryn said. "I cannot rescue you again, as I did all those years ago."
"...You seem sincere, man-spawn. You feel my pain as your own. ...I've never felt that before. Look at me. ...See what I am. I will never trust mankind. But you... Perhaps you truly are not like the others."
"All I ask if a chance to earn your trust."
System: Arkaneian. Planet: Unknown. Location: Unknown.
Validar stood over a monitor, watching the wreckage of Ylisse. He sighed. It looked like he died again, which meant another conscious duplication and transferal. After all this time, he still hadn't quite gotten used to it.
"Validar."
Validar spun around to see a dark shape in the shadows. He cautiously activated his psionics. "What? Who are you…? Where did you… come from?"
"I am that which you have spent your life seeking."
"What? That's … i-impossible! It can't be..."
"I am the wings of despair. I am the breath of ruin. I am the Fellblood… Your assassination was easily spotted, Validar."
"Impossible!"
"Quite possible for one who knows the lost art." A devilish grin beckoned from the shadows. "It appears one who know how to play the game is on the side of Naga. I think it's time to tip the scales back in our favor."
Author's Notes:
Remember when I said I'd stick to the main Awakening storyline? Yeah, about that. Frederick can't die, in game. If he drops to zero HP, he suffers an injury, and leaves because he's cutscene relevant. However, the reason for this isn't storyline purposes, its for the sake of the writers. In other words, Frederick dying is within the spirit of Fire Emblem Awakening, even if not the game itself.
Why kill Frederick? Well, two reasons. One, I lost him on this level my first time playing it. I'll let you decide whether I was being stupid, or got hit by an unlucky crit. Two, because it forces me to go outside the box for a lot of dialogue, rather than rely on the canned Frederick lines. I'll miss Frederick. But, that's the way the dice roll. You win some, you lose some. Tell me what you think.
Also, 'Marth's psychohistory is, of course, a shout-out to Foundation. If you knew that, you get Frederick's FE: Warriors double-headed battleax! Because spears apparently aren't a thing.
