Woah, what's this? A triple update? No way... Well, I guess it kind of might make up for my absence lately? Even if they're all mediocre chapters... Shh.
Anyway, I'd just been wanting to write this scene. You'll figure out what's happening fairly early on.
Even if this part doesn't actually happen in the main plotline, it's still a fantastic source of angst. Guess this is Lucina's timeline here or something; I don't know.
Anyway, enjoy.
*Note: If I owned Fire Emblem, I would also own a lot of Fire Emblem t-shirts, and posters, and every other type of merchandise you can think of. Probably all with Ephraim's face on it... or Chrom's ass; either would work.
When Cat sees that dark magic lancing towards the other, he doesn't think. He only moves, heart shuddering in his chest, eyes wide, and desperate, pleading to anyone, all the gods he knows, to please let me make it in time—
He doesn't think. Doesn't think things through, doesn't take into account that this magic is Validar's, that he shouldn't come in contact with it. He's already been near the other too much, he can already feel his father's aura bearing down on him, hear Grima shouting at him inside his skull, to give in, submit.
"Do as you're told, you foolish boy!"
It doesn't matter now, though. All that matters is that Chrom is about to be hurt, possibly killed—Cat doesn't know, doesn't care; he just moves.
His hand comes into contact with Chrom's chest, and the lord's eyes widen. Cat's meet them for a moment—only a second really—sees the look of horror, the pleading expression that's telling him, "Don't," but he doesn't listen. He just grits his teeth and shoves the other gracelessly out of the way.
Because he won't—he won't let Validar take away the one thing he's ever really wanted, the person who matters most…
"Cat!"
And the next thing he knows, he's on the ground. He can't feel anything, for a moment. There's just an emptiness, a sick sort of darkness, and Cat can't tell if he's alive or dead, can't even remember where he is, what he was doing; Who…?
Who am I?
He gasps as his senses rush back to him. Then there's the feeling of the cold, hard stone beneath him, a dull, persistent pain that's shooting through his body, spreading like wildfire. His chest feels as if it's filling with something; something dark, and slimy, that wants to slither its way up his throat, and Cat groans, eyes fluttering helplessly. Think, he tells himself. Think. Remember. This is nothing. You're not…
But he can feel him. He can hear Validar inside his head.
"Be a good boy, now."
And the dragon in him rolls over like a dog in front of its master. Validar will never control Grima, but this—this thing inside of Cat—awakens and shifts lazily at his call.
Cat's eyes flutter open as he feels someone slip a hand under his shoulders; wide, and black as ink, and staring at the man holding him without any sort of recognition. Who…? He takes in a shaky breath as his body is wracked with pain, hears his father's voice, spitting at him, venomous.
"Stupid, foolish king. You feel nothing for that cretin."
Grima growls in response; a low rumbling somewhere below Cat's ribs, and he grimaces, bringing a hand up to clutch desperately at the front of his shirt. His hood has fallen off, and he stares at the man—this man with gentle eyes the color of the sky—struggling to recognize him as the dark magic lances through his body, burrows its way under his skin. I know you, he thinks. He wants to say it, too, but his lips won't move; Cat's heart feels as if it's being crushed.
The man says something, but Cat can't hear him. He can only see the smile on his face as he helps him to his feet, one arm securely around his waist to keep him from stumbling. Cat knows that without him, he would fall. Without him…
I know you…
"You don't."
Cat gasps as his vision flashes red, doubling over slightly. Everything is hurting—his body is rebelling against him, and suddenly, it's impossible to breathe. Grima strains against his bonds, and Cat's breaking. Stop...
"You don't know him."
But I…
"You don't feel anything for this man."
He swallows, looking up at the other, expression twisted in pain, and fear, and anguish, and he wants to speak, he wants to tell him to run, because this man isn't an enemy, Cat knows him from somewhere, can feel him in the small, undamaged part of his heart, but he…
The man hesitates, seeing the look on his face. He leans in closer, one arm still secure around Cat's midsection, holding him up while the other comes up to touch the side of his face. Cat gasps at the sensation; his fingertips feel like fire on the skin of his cheek, but Cat wants to lean into it, he wants to be burned clean.
Finally, he hears the other; "Cat?! What's wrong?"
But it's too late. Cat is aware of everything, but his body won't do as he tells it to. Grima is fully awake, and grinning, and Cat can feel the stretch of his lips, the presence permeating every inch of his very being. He's drowning inside himself. He wants to scream, but he doesn't have a voice any more.
Stop it.
Stop it, stop it, stop it, stop it—!
But Validar doesn't listen. He never did.
"Kill him."
And the fell dragon complies.
Cat feels the energy gathering in the palm of his hand, the electricity dancing easily across his fingers, but there's nothing he can do to cut it off. There's nothing he can do to dampen it; all he can do is watch, and hear...
He can hear the man's voice; "Hey! Hang o—"
But he's cut off there as Grima's magic pierces his flesh.
For a sickening moment, there is just the crackle of electricity; the slight, slippery noise of the blade pushing easily through to the man's back. Cat can't do anything but stare into those blue eyes as they widen in surprise and pain. What's left of him is in shock, trying to figure out what he's feeling, and why, why does his heart feel as if it's stopped beating…?
Then it comes back to him.
Chrom.
And his world is falling apart. Everything is falling apart, and all he can hear is the other's name; Chrom, Chrom, Chrom, Chrom, Chrom…
"Chrom!"
He chokes it out, barely, and the fell dragon snarls in response, threatening to snap his jaws shut around the fragile human heart they hold. Cat doesn't care, though. It doesn't matter anymore, whether he lives or dies. All that matters is the fact that Chrom is staggering away from him, clutching at the blade of lighting still embedded in his gut, and Cat can't do anything to help him, he was the one who…
I betrayed him. Killed him. Murderer.
"Ha! Powerless against you, isn't he?"
Cat shakes his head, pitifully, stumbling towards the other, ignoring the sharp pain that cuts at him, tries to make him stop. Please, he thinks. Please, no…
"This isn't…" Chrom's voice is thin, and wavering, and cracking. "This isn't your fault."
And the words make Cat choke, eyes burning, because no, no, this can't be happening…
It's all his fault. He reaches towards the other, but flinches back at the last moment, and then his body is caught there, wavering, Grima threatening to burst out of his chest, Validar cackling sharply inside his head, and he can't…
"Promise me…" It's all Chrom can do now to stay on his feet. "Promise me you'll get out of here, Cat."
He can feel a tear rolling down his cheek, but he can't so much as even wipe it away.
"You have to live…"
How? He… I can't. Not without you…
And then Chrom's eyes are fading, that beautiful, lustrous blue turning into a dull gray, and Cat can't do anything but watch, can't even sob the other's name.
"Please… go…"
The king of Ylisse falls. Validar's laugh echoes inside his head, and Cat can't breathe anymore, can't think, can't feel. He's hardly even here anymore; hardly a part of the physical world. As Grima beats him back into submission, all he can feel is the weight bearing down on him, heavier, and heavier, until he breaks. Then he's shattering, falling to the floor in a million pieces of glass.
Without Chrom, he's nothing.
Nobody.
I don't know what happened here. It got kinda stream-of-consciousness towards the end there...
Well, anyway, hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading!
Please drop a review if you can.
*Note: BY THE WAY, GUYS. I'VE STARTED A NEW CHROMxCAT PROJECT. FOR ALL OF YOUR ANGSTY, INKY TACTICIAN NEEDS. Check out 'As The Past Flickers Out' if you'd like. It is more of a cohesive narrative taking place after the game (and all the events of Stumbling). Don't worry though, I'll still be updating with drabbles here every now and then, though my main focus will probably be on Flicker (as I will probably come to refer to it-stupid long titles, I don't know why I picked that one.)