A Grim Presence
A Grim PresenceThis is not my property, and it's not canon, but you knew that, I hope.
Validar looked up over the window frame he had opened and climbed through; he found Morgan and Tiki asleep, Tiki's bed being by the window and Morgan's on the far side of the room, "For you, Master Grima, I take this risk." Validar stepped cautiously pass Tiki, and froze suddenly as Morgan looked up at him, then rubbed her eyes and looked again, but while she rubbed her eyes he vanished in a flash of light. Morgan stepped across the room and nudged her mother's shoulder, "Is everything alright, Morgan?"
"Yeah, I'm just going to look out the window, if a tentacle or something pulls me off the boat then call for help, alright?" she ran to the window and looked outside, but saw nothing, "Funny, I thought for a minute there that I saw Validar, but I guess not, the floor's dry too, so I guess nothing jumped out of the water and into our ship, sorry for waking you for nothing."
"It's alright, but I thought I closed the window."
"Huh, I didn't notice, maybe it was closed." Validar waited outside the window, gripping two depressions in the hull of the ship, one on his right, the other one his left; he then looked inside and saw Morgan was back in bed, "I thought the Vessel to be a greater mind than this, keen and aware of all things, but I mustn't become sloppy as well!" he swung himself to the viewport and grabbed it, then held his finger under the frame of the window, "Wind!" he whispered, sending a breeze through a cut under the window, pushing the latch out of the way and pushed the window in and came back through the window, secured the window, then he crawled across the floor and lifted himself up and pulled out a book, and held out his hand, placing a finger on Morgan's head, "Grima's Truth!" he hissed, then stepped away, and folded his arms, appearing back on his ship, "How goes the mission, sir?"
"Grima is smiling upon me." he said, grinning.
Tiki awoke to the sound of sniffing, and turned to see Morgan still in bed, "Morgan, are you okay?" she asked, stepping over to Morgan, who turned around and wiped her eyes, "I don't know, is everyone alright?"
"Yes, everyone's alright, why, is everything alright here?"
"Yeah, it was just a bad dream, then, I guess."
"Oh, do you want to talk about it?"
"I can't even if I did want to, it's all a blur."
"Well, are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah, I guess it's time to march soon, huh?"
"It's still dark, but soon enough, yes."
"I don't know what that was, but it didn't feel imagined, though not quite real either. I think I killed Chrom in my dream."
"But Chrom's been dead for a while now, are you sure it was you?"
"It was from my point of view, also, the eyes on the coat were there, and after I turned away from him I looked at my arm, that's all I can remember, but I was sure he moved his mouth, though I can't recall what was said."
"I wasn't there, was I?"
"No, you, weren't there, why?"
"Well, a similar thing happened to your father, he was under the control of Validar, who had him kill Chrom, but he somehow resisted, but only for a short time, and then Grima's full power…he killed everyone except me."
"Oh, well, no wonder I felt so guilty about that."
"But it wasn't you, it wasn't your father, and it won't be you, you're stronger than Validar, he's grown weak."
"No, I've become stronger, though you're probably tough enough to take him out. I'm going outside; I have to make sure everyone's got everything." She said, jumping out of bed and running to an adjacent room, stepping out in her outfit, "Well, do I look like I'm distressed?"
"I wish I could say, I really don't know, if only things had been different, if I could have found you sooner."
"Hey, if only, right? I wish a lot of things were different, but we've got to go on with what's left, right?"
"I wish things could have been better than this, if I had a gold coin for every time I wished things could have been better, though, I'd be rich."
"You'd buy me a better a better set of circumstances, wouldn't you?"
"Anything would be better than this. You're going out right now?"
"Yeah, don't worry, we can always talk later, but you need you're rest, and I'm holding you up."
"Yes, I do have more power after I've rested a bit, but if wait out there for me; I'll be along in a minute."
"Alright, but that means you can't push yourself too hard this time, understood?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Ha, ha, very funny, Mother. Come to think of it, today may be better than I gave it credit for."
"Great, you've got your smile back."
"I do, don't I? Thanks, I was wondering where it had gotten off to. Well, I'll be right out here." Morgan said, stepping out into the hall, where Lucina stood, rubbing her eyes, "So the princess actually does need rest, but this is pretty early to be up, maybe you can be one the morning watch."
"Hey, Morgan, first thing and you're already cracking jokes?"
"Yeah, it's nice today, huh?"
"Optimistic as always, I see, you know, without your light attitude, I think we'd sink."
"Ah, you give me far too much credit."
"I think I understand what Inigo meant the other day."
"Hmm, I must have not been there."
"No, I think it was at during training, a little while before Validar showed up. Hey, look at how far we've come though; we're finally going to end this."
"Either with our might, or our numbers, Validar will fall."
"No, I don't believe that we'll when because there are more of us, nor that we're stronger, our bonds are strong, and they'll hold us together."
"Let's hope so, but either way, he's going down."
"Agreed, my father would be proud to see the little Exalt of Ylisse all grown up, and I know your dad would be quite amused to see that you're quickly mastering magic, swords, and strategy."
"Yeah, I'm a long way's from there; I don't even have to wonder."
"That in itself is a reason to wonder, and what happened to that grin, all of a sudden you look so crestfallen."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, that, look, Lucina, I've got something to say, and you won't believe me, not that you'd want to believe me, I don't even want to believe me, but it's pressing, so here it goes, umm, I have reason to believe there may be an attempt on your life, and a possible carryout is somewhere on board."
"Huh, I believe you, and that isn't too hard to believe, but do you know who's behind this plot?"
"Validar, I am certain that I saw him last night, he broke onto the ship, though I can't say he wasn't out to kidnap me and bring me to his master's table."
"Well, maybe I should sleep in the cellar, or somewhere with fewer access points."
"No, we're already pass that, though the agent—I hate to tell you this, but it's someone among your friends, or I think you consider the person a friend, but all I can say is that…I think it may be me, or maybe someone like me."
"What gives you this idea?"
"I had a dream last night, and in it I killed Chrom, Mom said that my father was in that position, but was able to keep control, and, well, seeing as how history was drastically changed in my dream, and that I had no previous knowledge of this matter, I thought it might be a glimpse of the future."
"And I'm Chrom's child, right? So it seems to me you're saying that our dads history is about to be replayed, and altered?"
"Drastically altered, Lucina, it was a nightmare!"
"Well, since you feel so strongly about it, I'll be careful."
"Please, understand this situation, it's not a matter of being careful, it's a matter of whether or not you end up a corpse at the Dragon's Table!"
"Morgan, I'll be fine. And this is why your smile dropped earlier in our conversation, isn't it?"
"Yes, Lucina, it may be my light hearted attitude, but without your daring in battle to inspire, and Mom's constant encouragement, we'd never have gotten out of Mount Prism's battle alive. And Inigo's right, smile more often, it makes us all feel better. Ah, Mom, there you are."
"I checked the window again and got lost, sorry."
"It's alright. So, Lucina, are you always up this early?"
"Yes, and Gerome's probably wondering why I'm not up on the decks by now, he's out there earlier than I am, and I am typically up there by now, he must be wondering what has me delayed, I must off now."
"Alright then, and remember, life or death!"
"Yes, I hear you, and I'll keep that in mind."
"That girl's going to get herself killed one of these days."
"The Exalt and tactician, all over again," Tiki said, smiling, "good thing you're watching her back."
"Yeah, well, she certainly won't—not that I'm upset about it, but she;s far too trusting, like all princesses of astronomical importance, I suppose."
"Morgan, I can practically see the storm cloud over your head, you're never usually this serious."
"I'm never usually about to be the death of my friends' leader, who happens to also be my friend, nothing can ever be simple."
"Please calm down, your angry expression is killing me."
"Sorry, but this entire situation is bearing down on me, dragging me down."
"You'll feel better after you've eaten, I'm sure of that, I'm often very cranky when I first wake up too, I'm just glad you woke up facing away from me."
"Yeah, you're probably right, and who knows, maybe Validar was an illusion, caused by my tension at the prospect of meeting him later."
"I hope so, or else he's cleverer than I'm comfortable with."
"He didn't even have to break the window to get in, that's the scary part."
"Well, the latch was still in place when I checked, so he didn't try again."
"Hmm, he must be outside the ship then, and Lucina just went out, I'll check on our gear later, right now I'm going outside."
"Oh, and if she's right about how suspicious Gerome would be, then he didn't come down to check up on how she was, hopefully he just didn't notice, she did say she was typically up there by now."
Nah looked up at the sky, and then heard a squeak from the floorboard behind the door to the deck, and scrambled up the mast, Gerome stopped as the door shut, and looked up, "My gig's up." She muttered as he faced her direction, then sighed and stepped towards the mast she was perched upon, "Fine, fine, you found me." she said, dropping in front of him, he jumped back and held out his hands, preparing for battle, but dropped them a second after, "I guess you could say I was testing your reflexes, very good, you assumed a battle stance but didn't attack, very, very nice, who knows, if I had been a civilian, you would have felt terrible."
"What are you doing out here?"
"I could ask you the same, every morning I hear footsteps pass my door, and then a door shuts, so I wanted to see who was up and about at this hour."
"Wait, you always hear me walking, every time?"
"Unless I slept through a day or two, then yeah, two sets, actually, one at first, then another a little bit afterwards, every morning, ever since Mount Prism. In fact, the morning after Noire critically wounded Validar, I had noticed walking, I let it pass for a while, but curiosity got the better of me."
"Hmm, didn't you ever follow?"
"No, if you want, I'll leave now."
"You're fine; just…could you tell me how I look without my mask on?"
"Huh? That mean's I'll get to see your face?"
"No, it means I know you saw my face."
"Wrong! I never saw your face!"
"Hmm, very well then, how've things been?"
"Fine, we're all doing just fine, how about you, Gerome?"
"Well enough."
"I can tell, you smile more often than I remember, you know, since I joined."
"Yes, I know, it's nice to have someone's ear from time to time. Well, we'll be leaving soon; did you bring your gear along?"
"Yep, I'm all set; everyone else should be out soon, right? I can't wait to get this over with."
"I know, but we must be careful, we don't even know if we'll have to fight."
"That's what I meant, it would be a lot easier to go in and fight Validar, but that's not something we can do, is it?"
"No, it isn't, and Morgan wrote down a list of things that could happen along the way, various ambushes and traps set in and around the castle."
"Sounds like she's been busy, speaking of which, I'll be going to see what's taking everyone so long—oh, never mind, here they are."
"Lucina," Morgan called out as the princess stepped out onto the decks, "there you are, and it looks like there aren't any enemies up here, after all. Whoa, the Dragon's Table is just over those hills, I'm not so sure I should go out right now, I mean, I may be part Divine Dragon, but I'm part Fell Dragon, too."
"Don't worry about it, Owain Dark can fell any opponent, especially with a great tactician at his side."
"Flattering, but still, we're not invincible."
"It's not flattery, but the truth, I will stand against every nation in the world to bring peace and prosperity, and if such a day comes when I stand against the world, you'll make victory arrive sooner than planned."
"Yes, well, we'd best get this over with, maybe we won't run into trouble, Gerome, is the anchor set?"
"Yes, it is, but what about that village over there, I see Risen running up from the forest a little beyond that, they're all armed."
"Are they now, and it would make sense that they'd try to stop us, they must have seen us too, Gerome, Cynthia, fly up ahead and warn the village, everyone else will mount a horse, except me, Mom, and Nah, we'll fly there, I'm bringing two seals along with me, we'll have to have the dragons carry the footmen, Nah should carry Kjelle, I'll carry Severa, and Mom will carry Owain, everyone else will have to run from the boarding ramp to the village."
"What do you mean we're being invaded?" an old lady asked Cynthia, who turned back to Gerome, "Well, I see how you wouldn't believe us, but we're here to talk with Validar-"
"Yes, yes, I know, but you say the Risen are invading, but they belong to Validar, right?"
"Yes, you see, he doesn't fight just soldiers, the reputation of the kingdom is important to us, but he doesn't care because if he succeeds Grima will destroy the world, goodness, but even the second time you still don't seem to understand, Cynthia, you explain this to her, I'll go out there and try to slow them down."
"If they want to give us up to Grima, then it's better now than later, when the monster appears in full form."
"That's why we're fighting, just like Gerome said, and we won't stop until we win."
"Or end up dead, now leave me alone, child, I'm not worth your effort."
"This village won't fall to the Risen, not while you're in it, you guys have to run! You guys can stay on our ship."
"We're staying here, like Grandma said, we're no match for the Grimleal."
"Then we'll just have to fight for you, and prove our power against the full might of Grima himself, onward!" she said as she flew towards the battle on her Pegasus, pulling the reins of her steed to the right she had the creature turn a three-hundred degree angle, sending three mounted Risen off their horses, while steadying the far end of the blunt end of the lance against her wrist, "Justice always triumphs!" she shouted, raising the lance to the sky, Severa looked back and shook her head, "Always playing the hero, sometimes I wonder why she even bothers, right, Kjelle?" she saw the knight throw a javelin into a wyvern rider, "I don't know, maybe she feels more confident when she views herself as a hero, it works for Owain."
"Yeah, well, he's getting on my nerves too, naming his weapons as though they were his pets."
"In a way they are, what about you, where does your sense of confidence come from, what do you dream about?"
"My mom and dad" she whispered sadly, "they are—I mean, memories of my previous successes are all I need. I draw my strength from knowing that I'm not my mom, everyone else compares us, though."
"Oh, really, that's sad, they should see the fighter you are, not your parents."
"No, it's usually just Mom, she was a Pegasus knight, that's something special, which is why I became a mercenary, Inigo just wanted to see the world."
"To think you left to erase all feelings of sentiment towards your friends, look where you are now."
"It's like Gerome said, this is temporary, afterwards I'm striking off on my own, I'll be famous."
"There are thousands of stories about mercenaries rescuing and fighting for princesses, but I guess you're fine so long as the critics don't drag your mom into this, huh?"
"Right, Inigo has been a decent enough copilot, I suppose…speak of the devil."
"Hey, ladies," Inigo called out as a Risen knight fell back, "didn't expect to see you there, just passing through…hey, what's that over there, it looks like freshly polished spears and carrying them are…Severa, tell me those aren't villagers!"
"You're right, Cynthia, look what you've done!" Severa yelled, "They're charging to their deaths!"
"Reinforcements," Cynthia called out, flying over to greet them, "they've finally arrived, let's go! Who's leading the pack here?"
"The village elder's son is leading, I'm the guy."
"Great, then, what you'll need to is-"
"Charge, we'll meet death or victory!"
"Well, this will be over soon." Severa grimaced, "We must stop them!" Owain yelled as he charged up ahead of the villagers and jumped in their path, but they pushed him aside and stepped up to Validar, who smiled and stroked his beard, "Who are you, young man, that you would stop them from sacrificing themselves in an attempt to stave off the inevitable, unwittingly and ultimately leading to the very events they try had hoped to prevent or hold off, who are you to defy the odds, the gods, or me?"
"I'm Owian Dark, hear that name, know it well, for it will be a legend of which you will gaze and tremble, tremble before the might of the scion of heroes, a cutting spared from the tree in the garden of peace you razed and-"
"Silence, Waste, Waste!" Owain jumped back, dodging the blasts, then leapt forward, "Behold!" he yelled as he swung his blade into Validar, knocking the wizard back, "Very fast, aren't you, and skillful, Nosferatu! There, I feel much better now, oh, but you're looking a bit pale, perhaps you'll join my army of Risen? I'm recruiting!" Severa leapt behind Owain and swung her sword out in front of him, he braced the blade before him against the impact, but the villagers who had stopped in the terror of Validar charged towards the wizard, "If the crazy kid can live through that then so can we!" Validar grinned, and held out his hand "Nosferatu!" he shouted, and they fell to their knees, the heads of their spears in the ground as they held tightly to their weapons, and they gasped for breath as the dark rays fell on them from above, "What is this, it's like he drained us or something! And if he doesn't look better!"
"You villagers, to think you'd turn your back on Grima and me, you're all a…Waste, Waste!" before the destructive magic reached them, a blast of thunder came from the fingertips of Morgan, who then stabbed her blade into the dark cloud, "Pick on someone your own skill level!"
"Morgan, destroy the villagers, fulfil your destiny, you are Grima."
"No, I…hey…I—I will not obey you…everyone, run!" Morgan yelled as dark scales spread along her hands, "Owain Dark never backs down from battle-" Owain shouted, but was dragged back by Severa and Kjelle, "Hey, this is not very ladylike of ether of you, I am a legend, and you will put me down!"
"No," Kjelle said firmly, "but she will if you stay within range, now pick up the pace, I'm not going to continue dragging you—ah, she's lost control, run Owain, we have to go!"
"I see that, though it goes against every instinct in my body, I must back down, but hear me, Validar, next time I'll severe the strings Morgan's bound to…which basically means you'll face the full fury of my sword hand!"
"We'll see if you have a next time, Morgan, fetch me the hero boy."
"No," she said with a distorted dragon voice, "they can't fall, let them escape."
"You're right, I'll take you to the Dragon's Table right now, but they still know where the Fire Emblem is, but I'll use you to barter the last gem from their grasp…ah-ha, I have a plan, let's go Morgan, to the ship."
Lucina sat next to Tiki, who stared at the dragonstone in her hand, "I wonder, Lucina, does she know the power this stone possesses?"
"Not that I'm aware of, or at least she never speaks of it."
"This stone can transfer the life of the owner to another, more than once I wondered if I could have helped Rick, but then I remember it was because I was almost destroyed that he isn't here."
"I never heard the story of what happened that day from anyone but the reports, they say Grima killed everyone."
"That's true, he came back in his terrible form, and killed your father with Rick's own hands, then I ran up to him and stared at him, Grima stared back, but I could see Rick was still there, as I took a step forward he stepped back, then ran forward, the last thing I remember is that I was intensely warm, the warmth radiating from my heart, and then, all at the same time, everything went pitch black very cold, but I was still conscious of the bitter weeping, and then he yelled Grima's name, and suddenly I felt warmer, then realized he held a dragonstone in his hand, then it dawned on him that his power, which I had told him the first time we were introduced that his was so much like mine, that he could use a dragonstone to bring me back, but I knew the consequences, and it was as though he read my mind, because I distinctly remember him telling me goodbye, though maybe it was because he was weakened that Grima conquered him, Validar had stabbed him after pretending to be dead, that's when the smoke from the table began to gather around him, eventually bringing out the Fell Dragon."
"So he was already dying?"
"Yes, though a quick sip of vulnerary would have fixed that, though at that point he was too upset to worry over himself, if he hadn't brought me back both of us would have died, but I still feel as though the entire thing was my doing."
"Well, at least Morgan doesn't have to be an orphan, you're here now, not to mention the closest person Nah has to a mom, she's a Manakete too, and as far as I know she's still younger than me, right?"
"Yes, so is Morgan, but they both have human blood in them too, I'm not sure how much that figures into things, and they both seem as old as Brady, Owain, and everyone else, but then, Gerome seems like he'd be much older, how interesting, where do pretenses end and reality begin?"
"When do you think Morgan will be back? Sorry, I didn't mean to snap you back to reality, I just had to wonder."
"It's okay, I had two thoughts at the same time, and spoke but one, I too have to ask the same question, I don't know when she will come back, but I feel terrible leaving her back there, but at the same time, while in dragon form, she is immensely powerful, if she injures me like Rick did, then I'm afraid of how things would have turned out."
"I understand, I just wish there was more I could do."
"I think your undervaluing how much you've done so far, while our friends are watching out for Morgan, you've helped me to stop worrying, and though I know they only want to keep me from the scene so I don't have to worry so much, I'd much rather be there, watching her, I also know that I might be useless to her if I end up dead, so when I was sent away from there I just followed orders, I don't know what to do, I feel useless, and that makes me angry, mostly with myself and Validar, but Grima's in charge too, I don't know which is worse." She said, sadly staring out the viewport.
"Anything's better than you going out and getting yourself killed. Tiki, that grin doesn't befit the circumstances, I wouldn't think…" Tiki giggled and stood up, "Lucina, outside, now!"
"Right away, milady." She said, following Tiki out onto the decks, where Morgan stood talking with the others, "Mom!"
"Morgan!" Tiki yelled, running to Morgan as Lucina stood smiling, Inigo stepped over to Lucina and chuckled, "Lucina, it seems you've taken my advice and started to smile a little more."
"Ha, that may be true, but this is the best reason I can find for smiling like an idiot."
"Well, so long as you keep smiling." Inigo said, walking over to Owain, who was scribbling in a book, while Lucina walked over to Morgan, "Is Validar still out there?"
"Yes, out and about, but I may know a thing or two about his current location."
"Such as…?"
"Such as he's going to the Dragon's Table, for starters, and that the reason he went to Mount Prism wasn't just to escape or ensnare us but to obtain a gemstone for the Fire Emblem, as well, so it was to serve a threefold purpose."
"That's not good, how do we get it back?"
"Well, he's going to the Dragon's Table to secure it, but we can outrun him and get to the capital, then run back to Ylisstol, regroup the troops and clear out the Risen occupation force, as there will certainly be some there to keep the citizens in line."
"The civilian population was left largely unharmed then?"
"Yep, it seems he left them alive, he said that if I ran away that you guys would be joining the citizens under the watch of the Risen occupation at Ylisstol, or something along that line of thought, mostly it was gloating meant to make me feel less than sure of myself, but I somehow got him out of my mind, then proceeded to burn him, but before the roasting could be completed he ran away, and the sudden lack of presence caused me to collapse, so I was alone and unconscious in my dragon form, which eventually fell away, and then I ran back to you guys! And now I'm famished, so Severa had better have something cooked up, I only grabbed a ration on my way up here and had that for breakfast."
"You got it! And fortunately I'm feeling overly generous, so for a treat to you all, I'll have a wonderful dessert, in celebration of Morgan surviving, and the villagers being somewhat safe, they stayed out by the boat."
"I thought," Inigo began, "that a celebration was supposed to be big."
"Does that mean I hear one for no dessert? No, hmm, it must have been my ears."
"Ha, ha, you guys can sort out whatever it is, I've been looking forward to a dessert for some time, though I thought it would be after this war, hmm, we're going to celebrate until dessert's done, then I'll start reading tactics for sieges."
"Leave it to me to find those books for you, I can't have you getting distracted with tome stacking, now can I?"
"Thanks, Laurent, but I should be fine."
"I must insist…I must insist."
"Ha, ha, right, then I'll just do some other reading until then, I promise you all, we won't fail tomorrow!"
Morgan watched as the chef and Inigo heatedly discussed what would be made for dessert, and listened as Tiki and Nah discussed what it meant to be part dragon, then turned her attention to Kjelle and Lucina, she heard "society" and "power" then turned to Brady and Noire, who were talking about injuries and being weak, then to Gerome and Yarne, who were talking about heroes and their parents, then she heard Laurent sit down next to her, "Quite a circle of close friends, hmm?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking about how strange it is, that we can work as a unit, and yet, when free time finds us, we act so much more like people than warriors, even Kjelle and Lucina, right now I have to wonder, when we're not fighting, do we act the same as other friends, or is there a difference?"
"My mother has written on the various curiosities that exist in nature, it had long been said that all snowflakes were the same, but Mother insists that each snowflake must be somehow different, and yet classified a by shape and size."
"So our little band is a bank of snowflakes?"
"Well, in a manner of speaking, we all melt by spring, after all, but yes, we are a snowbank—or snowball, I heard Feroxi children initiate something a 'snowball fight' every so often, in fact, I first found out about it in Mother's notes."
"Snowball fights, huh? Forget tome stacking!"
"Ah, yes, that reminds me, Mother's old books and mine were in one of your ruins, I would like for you to select only the hardiest books from now on, alright?"
"Well, I'll try, I guess, but I didn't know your mom's name, so I didn't think anything of it, and as for your books in there, I just wanted to use them as a base."
"Yes, well, it must stop."
"Sure, what's Owain drawing now, I wonder? Whatever it is, Cynthia's taken an interest in it."
"Hmm, I don't have the faintest thought, has he been scribbling away for long?"
"Yep, looks like he's done now. Oh, and while we're talking about books, can I borrow a few of the curious books, the ones you should me the other day, I haven't had a chance to see them again after that, and I don't want you suspicious about someone breaking into your library."
"It's not mine, I merely maintain it and keep the key, you may borrow it, but then I must have it back once you have what you seek, and remember to lock the door on your way out."
"Of course, Laurent, you can count on me." she left the room quickly, then found the room, and felt scales encasing her in dark armor, "Once I plant evidence that everyone here has changed from the friends Lucina once had, you and Grima will be closer to the girl than ever, all secrets will go to me, and then I'll coordinate my troops, who will overwhelm and destroy everyone here."
"No, Validar, you will not succeed, I've warned her that anyone here could be the enemy."
"All the better, then, this will work at her nerves until she can no longer think straight, then the last Exalt will fall."
"This all makes sense, you broke in and put some curse on me, didn't you?"
"Grima's Truth is a curse, as is all knowledge, no, all I've done is take the pain your father met and put it in your mind, you're strong, but I'm stronger, and all you've done so far, by telling them what my plans were, all that does is lull them into a false sense of security, which we shall exploit."
"No, we won't, and stop saying we!"
"Morgan, ma'am, is something on your mind?"
"Huh, no, just talking to myself, Validar must have snuck a curse of some sort on me so that I would be loud enough that I had no way of hiding, but I'm stronger, so there, we, we, we, we, we…sorry, that's the only though on my mind, how we're all in this together, as a…we, we, sorry, it's weird, I know, but aren't all curses? At least it won't kill me, though, right?"
"Uh, yeah, may I be excused?"
"Sure, we have nothing to talk about, do we, we, we, we… Valdiar, get out of my head!"
"Sorry, but this is too much fun, humor an old man, would you? You're father and my son were like brothers, brothers that couldn't get along, but it's still the idea, they were close, so close, they could almost kill each other, but they couldn't over power the other, I helped my son in every way I could, but in the end I had to destroy him."
"And it was all for Grima? If nothing else, I admire your tenacity and your tactics, but there is a line, and when you crossed it you lost all respect I had for you."
"Too bad, I thought of you as my own daughter, but I suppose you two must die, like my son, and your father, you will fall."
"But I won't take my friends down with me."
"No, they will go first, then you."
She took out some books and locked the library back up, then placed the books in her room, and then ran back down to the kitchen, where she found Inigo standing on a table, "And now, we celebrate, Owain has written down some music for Brady to play to, and Cynthia, Noire, Yarne, Brady, Owain, Kjelle, Lucina, and Gerome have memorized their lines, while Severa and Inigo, that's me, by the way, have cooked a large meal and dessert, and arranged the lighting, ahem, Brady's an old friend from long ago in Owain's past, Yarne's a villager, Noire is a mysterious woman who is sometimes possessed by the talisman she uses to give her strength, Kjelle, will play as the squire of the wicked and vicious general, who is played by Gerome, Cynthia is a young Pegasus knight who guides Owain on a lengthy tale to stay his sword hand, and restore peace and order to the land, Lucina is a sage who tries to put him back on his path, for he's lost his way, and now, every night, his hand seeks blood, and so he goes forth, with his companion blade by his side, enjoy."
"Missiletainn, I do believe my hand seeks out blood, while for the blood I've spilt my heart seeks vengeance, either by my might or my sword hand will its righteous fury will be satisfied, and I do fear for the latter, as the former can at least repair a portion of the destruction my hands have wrought, ah, I see sage Lucina, what advice, noble sage, can you give me, for you surely have a thought that can assist me in my plight, even though you know not what your words will mean to me."
"Fate isn't what molds you, change it you can and must, or great tragedy will befall the one you love, that is what was in my dream, and has haunted me all the day the people I meet say 'Do not tell us, wise Lucina, it is nothing which we would have you speak.' Yet, here you stand, seeking advice, but I know also what you have done, the terrors you've let loose upon the world are writ large upon your face."
"Aye, and now I must begin again, but I will honor your advice, forgive me, Lucina, but I'll make this quick." he said as he swung his arm down in front of her, and slowly sank to her knees, then he turned around and yelled out, swinging his arm around, "Forgive me, villagers, but night draws near, and my hand has its own mind!"
"Help!" Yarne yelled, running around the stage as Owain swung his hand around, "What, you say to cut it off, oh, but if it had worked my thousand other crimes would have not been seen by this world!" he finished by grabbing Yarne by the shoulder and pulling him up to his fist, "Ah!" Yarne yelled, then fell silent, "Stop!" Cynthia yelled, walked up to him and punching him, "Hey, that actually hurt, next time do it open palm, would you? Hey, and yet, still and silent is my hand!"
"Yes, but you're in poor shape elsewise, to keep yourself in control, a duel awaits, and the one you will face is one who they say is not man or beast, but some form of both, he and his squire await you, but first I need to rally the soldiers, they will follow us to meet the demon king in his tower."
"What's that, a dragon?!"
"This isn't good, that's the dragon Minervikins, she is the herald of Gerome's army, and we have yet to rally the soldiers."
"I don't know about rallying, but here they are, blood thirsty as ever."
"Halt, men, this man Owain may be your enemy, but Gerome's far worse, we must stop him, for he has curse Owain's hand to be his slave under the moon's gaze."
"Yes, and I regret it all, now we must go, for we have no time to lose."
"And so," Inigo said, light suddenly falling down on him, "Owain went out, and fought against the enemy, but he saw a soldier fall, a friend from long ago, he saw, as he recognized the scar over his eye, the one he got from a violin string, "Brady, no."
"Go on, without…me."
"No! I will avenge you!"
"And Owain became warmer, until he was set aflame with anger, and roared through the crowd, cutting a path to the tower, in his frenzy he cut down his allies, but with every ally lost, he became five times more powerful, and with every new scar he received his power weakened, needless to say, he had few scars, but as he rampaged on to the tower something snapped, he received the worse scar he ever inflicted upon himself, he held the burnt Cynthia is his arms, and sunk to his knees, "What have I done?!"
"It's not you, please, forget this duel, a meteor falls tonight, the general Gerome's fate is sealed, my soldiers will keep his men back, and your hand will trouble you no longer."
"No, Cynthia, why have you died? Why is it that this life is mine and not the life of a murderer? But no, I will avenge you."
"And so the red moon named him Owain Dark, Avenger of Righteous Justice, and he cut down his foes , friends left unscathed, but as he drew closer the foes became stronger, and more of his allies threw down their blades and asked that the enemy kill them quickly, which they did not, when occasion arose to have such an easy kill, but Owain didn't fall back, he pressed on, up to the top of the tower, and met with the squire, "Stay, milord, for you need to keep up your strength for when the meteor comes, besides, the meteor will probably kill me anyways."
"Ha, you fight for your master, but I fight for all the innocents slain, face me now, squire of darkness, and face the scion of heroes!"
"Hmm, I had no idea your bloodline was of heroic, but all the better that you slay your wards."
"I'll avenge them, I'll avenge them all!"
"She struck with her lance, he stepped to the side and swung down, but her lance blocked, and they were locked in combat, then she spoke."
"Are you afraid to die, Owain?"
"No, but if that meteor scares you…"
"She turned her eyes up, and caught a glimpse of her lance flying out of her hand, then she fell, and he raced to the general, who held out his blade, but Owain kept shoving him back, aiming to tear into his armor, bit by bit, but as the general jumps off the tower he hears a new voice."
"Dark general, halt…blood and thunder!"
"He saw she wielded Inne's Bow, but stood ready to dodge, even though the bow rarely misses it's mark, but the arrow flew passed him and the girl released her grip on the talisman."
"Who are you?"
"I am blood and thunder! I am righteous fury! I am…so tired." She said rubbing her forehead, "Oh, sorry, I thought you were about to kill me, did you miss?"
"No."
"As she said that the fleeing general was impaled by the arrow, and looked down at the arrow that pierced his heart, then looked straight ahead and fell on his face."
"The meteor's coming."
"Are you afraid?"
"Not anymore, wielder of Inne's Bow, not anymore."
"I remember you, Owain, cursed as I was, but yours is far worse, and you had forgotten me, also, but I never forgot you."
"Ah, I remember, but wait; I thought that Cynthia was to be my heart's thief."
"Yes, but now we will meet her, as the meteor lands upon us."
"But it was not meant to be, for the moment the energy of the general dissipated, so too did the meteor, and just as the duo stared down at the meteor crashing down at them, and so ends a saga, and begins a diary, which will not be read, good evening." He said, bowing as everyone in the room clapped and cheered, but Morgan remained silent, her chin resting on her hand, then joined in the applause after a moment.
A story in a story, that was almost enough to be its own fanfiction, but that's another plot, possibly already being thought up by someone else who thinks it could be a good idea. Oh, and just so I don't accidently mislead you, but I'm not pairing anyone here, sorry if the play had you thrown off, or if there may have been hinted pairing, there are just too many possibilities for the pairings, and I never know which one I like best. So in being indecisive I made a decision, as paradoxical as it may sound. Well, hope you like this one, I'll be updating soon enough, perhaps sooner than this time.