The Valley (VII)

Robin gulped, afraid of what the future had in store for them. The remains of the fallen Risen dragon began to change their shape, into something more anthropomorphic. The tactician understood what was going on. This was also the reason that Morgan didn't bring many units alongside him. The valley was his units. Due to the dragons' substance, they could be used to create any shape and take any form.

Morgan was still being surrounded by the dark aura, making Robin a bit more worried. He was unsure if there was more to it, or only gave him complete control over Risen. At that time, Morgan's immortal army was formed. It was an army consisted of true Risen soldiers. They were fearsome warriors, riders, knights, myrmidons and more, dividing themselves much like how a cell does. Their final number was more than hundred. Nah witnessed their birth and urged to run to meet her friends and fight alongside them. As she was ready to do so, Robin caught her by her hand and told her not to.

"It's a suicide Nah. We must find another way, before the Risen obliterate us for good," Robin said in a dead serious tone. His face was emotionless. He only held his sword tight, before finally sheathing it. The tactician, without wasting time, pointed at the place where their comrades battled. He explained that Morgan wanted to have control where the battle was heading. It was the bridge. This structure was his checkmate move. If he pushed the Shepherds to fight there, then he would force them to step on it and he would then destroy it. Or he would immobilize the Shepherds, because the bridge connected the two ends of a cliff, one that seemed bottomless. White mist prevented from seeing its end. Nah acknowledged the situation and judging from their moves the Shepherds had also.

Robin was left with a huge dilemma. Inside him he knew that he should fight next to his friends, until the end, much like Nah tried to do. On the other, he was sure this wouldn't win their fight. The Risen were ten times more than his team and had a master tactician watching over them and planning their moves carefully, moving them like pawns at a chessboard, without caring about casualties. That being said, he took another close look at the battlefield. One good look.

He saw the Shepherds being backed in a corner, who helplessly tried to match the Risens' force using their strategy and power. Gerome had returned, with Laurent and the mage used his tactics to place them correctly in the battlefield. Gerome and Cynthia, as the only flying units tried to be at a close distance with their comrades and not only fight, but provide them with the enemy's positioning. The Shepherds had formed a circle and to combat the threat of the Risen, which attacked from everywhere. At the circle's center Brady used his magic staff to heal his injured and tired comrades. At the same time, he noticed that although the road to his friends was clear, the Shepherds were being surrounded, which made things a lot more difficult for the tactician and the manakete. Though, he didn't give up. Instead, Robin took another deep breath and told Nah to use her dragonstone. Nah saw that inside Robin's eyes there was a sparkle.

"You've come up with a plan right?" She asked curious.

"Maybe…" Robin replied coldly, a way he never used to talk around her. Nah felt a bit saddened, but remembered that they're in the middle of a fight. Robin would be serious and cold, when the lives of his friends are at stake. Having understood this, the manakete brought her precious stone out. It was bright enough to make Robin close his eyes. It was because the stone resonated with Nah's soul. The manakete was cloaked in a bright light and soon her transformation took place. Nah turned from a young girl into the fearsome dragon she kept inside her. The tactician hopped on top of her back and pointed at Morgan. He had taken his choice. He wanted determined their win was all about defeating him. And that was his goal.

The dragon flapped her wings and flew high to pursue the dark sorcerer. Once, she had reached a close distance Robin ordered her to attack him with her fiery breath. Nah's belly lit and immediately fired at him. Her attack was enough to tear him down, but Morgan saw her attack coming from miles away. By just looking at the fireball coming at him, he spread his arm and while having his palm open, he murmured something. It was enough to make a strange circle of light appear in front of his hand and soon dark streams of clouds appeared. They were trying to surround the dragon and possibly hurt it. At once, Robin shouted her to fly away and dodge them, with Nah doing as he said. The dragon began to maneuver in the air, evading the darkness. Robin grasped Nah's neck and his heart was pumping like crazy. He felt his blood circulating fast, with his head getting redder than Severa's hair. He had chosen to try and defeat Morgan, but he knew Nah's life was being risked. The tactician tried to keep his eyes open slightly, though the air made it difficult. Eventually, once Nah slowed down he quickly opened them and tried to get a look at his surroundings. They hadn't escaped the clouds, but they were left open to attack.

"Great job Nah! We can do i-" Before he could finish his words, a purple light illuminated them.

The attack was so fast, like a thunder on a heavy storm. The tactician couldn't even get a glimpse of it. Everything happened instantly. The darkness had surrounded them and stroke them with a lighting. Robin felt Nah getting weaker and weaker second by second. They had started to lose height. He couldn't believe his eyes. For the first time in his life, he was seeing dragon blood. It was different than of the human. Instead of being dark red, it had an electric light transparent blue color. And the wound on Nah's chest looked serious. Robin breathed heavily without being able to get a grip of himself. He turned at Morgan and saw observed how he was staring back at him. With his vicious look, the sorcerer put a smirk on his face and ordered his griffin to fly with might. He left Robin and aimed at his comrades. Robin knew his next target.

The tactician felt his head ache and immediately tried to talk to Nah. The dragon started being unable to even fly. She told Robin she hadn't being hit by such a powerful dark magic before and wasn't prepared to leave the world. Robin tried to calm her down and urged to point her their safe spot; inside the Shepherds' circle. It was a small opening, but the Risen had no flying units. If Nah managed to get close to them, Gerome or Cynthia could provide them with either concoction, or elixir. But above all they had to get close to them.

Nah used her remaining power, while in dragon form to fly close to her friends. Robin used the spell fire on the air as a signal for help. Having understood the situation Cynthia, once she finished stabbing a Risen to death, rushed for help. The rest of the Shepherds acknowledged something bad happened to Robin and Nah. However, they were on the verge of the same fate. Morgan's plan had worked. His forces had pressed them enough to bring them in a place were there was only one way out; the bridge. If they continued to recklessly fight them they could end up falling on the cliff and learn if it was indeed endless. On the other, they could pass the bridge, once again, and leave the valley. Laurent informed Lucina of their situation with the lord cursing the sorcerer. They had succeeded in dealing with a lot of Risen, but when one turned to ashes, another one was ready to take its place. With this way, the Risen army seemed like it was consisted of infinite units, although it was close to a hundred, but their number had fell short due to the amazing combat skills of the Shepherd army.

Owain's sweat started to enter his eyes and make them burn. He blocked a hit from a Risen warrior and responded with a quick slice on it's neck. On his right shoulder Kjelle pushed a Risen swordsman with her armor and stabbed it with her lance. Next to her, her friends fought hard with Brady always using his staff and taking notice of their surroundings. They were really close to the bridge and had to come closer to get past it. However, they couldn't do this all together. Somebody had to keep the Risen busy to save time for his friends.

Cynthia ordered Sumia to land close to Robin and Nah. She found the two lying on the sturdy ground alone and open for attacks. Though, the Risen forces were all facing the Shepherds. This, meant that Nah could be provided with the help she needed to survive. She had leaned her head on Robin's chest and had closed her eyes. Robin tried to remain as cool as a cucumber. Nonetheless, it was nothing other than Robin's façade. Inside him, he desperately tried not to blame himself for what happened to her. He wanted to stop Morgan forever. He wanted to save his friends, but couldn't. He stroke Nah's green hair, while pressing on her wound and shouted at Cynthia to come close.

"She came. Everything's all right now," Robin said assertively.

The rider opened a small bag from her mount's side and ran to give Robin the elixir. Robin told her not to and said to her it was best if she treated her wounds. It would be better for him, if he fought the Risen. Nah weakly opened her eyes and pleaded Robin to stay at her side. The tactician took a deep breath and said: "I-I can't they need me as much as you do. Plus, Cynthia can take care of you. I'm sorry Nah. This… It's all my fault. But I will make up for it. I can help, before everything is too late." A tear streamed down her cheek. She nodded. Cynthia opened the blue bottle knelt and poured it on her wound. Robin putting a brave look on his face opened his red tome and shot another fireball on the sky. This time Gerome observed it and understood it was his signal of pairing up with him for the battle. The masked man informed his friends of Robin's arrival. They were undoubtedly pleased to hear that he would finally offer his assistance, but responded to bring him here quickly. The Shepherds were really close of reaching the cliffs end. Lucina shouted at them to press forward.

Although, the number of Risen was decreasing, Robin's friends were close on being trapped and not having anywhere to go. The masked man gently touched Minerva's back with his hand. His black glove made it difficult for him to feel her rough skin, as she flew with speed. His bright red hair strongly waved as he soared the sky with his mount. The wyvern roared in her path, while she flew above the Risen soldiers to meet with her old friend.

Robin saw the beast flapping its wings with determination and got closer to him. The tactician quickly turned his head back. Nah was still being taken care of Cynthia. He sighed and waited for Gerome. The rider soon came and helped Robin to get on Minerva's back.

"What's your plan, tactician?"

Robin was vacillating whether he should attack Morgan again. The sorcerer proved too much for even Nah to handle and she ended up severely wounded after Morgan used a powerful dark magic spell. He shook his head in discomfort.

"It's better for us to go back to them. He's also after them," Robin responded with his eyes sparkling. Gerome nodded and slightly touched Minerva with his boot as a signal for her to take off. The dragon obeyed its master's order and began running before powerfully flapping her wings and fly. The tactician took a hold from Gerome and observed the battlefield once again. The Shepherds were only a matter of feet away from the cliff. The Risen had served their roles. The stage was set for Morgan to make his final move. Robin and Gerome were flying at a high speed to catch up with their comrades.

Brady saw the two coming and immediately urged to inform his friends. Lucina for a second looked behind her and acknowledged the fact that their defeat was close. Feeling her heart beat rate increasing and the sweat in her fore head and body she raised her Falchion and rushed to attack once more. She slashed her blade with might, while she blocked the next hit.

"We must move forward! We're close on the cliffs end!" She screamed to her comrades.

"That's ma' concern!" Brady shouted. "We should give all we have to this fight! Let's go everyone!"

Feeling motivated the Shepherds fought harder than ever. Their array took a semi-circular form with the members fighting side by side. In front of them there was their enemy, the heartless, cruel warriors of the darkness. However this time it was different. Morgan aiming to break their formation flew with his griffon above them. He closed his eyes and let his black aura intensifying.

"Laurent!" Brady yelled in fear. The sorcerer stretched his hands and whispered the Shepherds' words of doom. Instantly, a wave of a thunder, shining with purple light targeted Brady. The lighting exploded near him, as he barely avoided being hit dead on. The explosion was strong enough to leave him unconscious and away from his comrades. He fell on the ground with force and his black rope was filled with blood strains.

As a result from the attack, many of the Shepherds lost track of their enemy and found themselves blocking their enemies attacks rather than going all out against them. On the other it was a shock for everyone. Without the priest to heal them, they knew the fight would end soon.

Morgan found himself dodging a stream of fire which aimed at him. He looked down at the person who dared to attack him. It was Laurent with his eyes full of rage. He broke his formation and focused on attacking Morgan. His attacks looked like a rain of fire, which was about to strike only one person. Letting his rage take control, he screamed the words needed to cast his spell over and over again.

The sorcerer laughed at his attempt. The griffin maneuvered in the air and either evaded the hit or Morgan blocked it with magic. Although, Laurent intended to finish Morgan once and for all, Shepherd's line had an opening and this fact created a source of troubles. Having to fight multiple enemies Owain shouted at his attempt, only to fail.

Realizing that the fight was on the verge of being lost, Lucina knew that she had to risk everything on her next move. She immediately shouted everyone to cautiously retreat from the bridge, as they were close in hitting a dead end. The bridge was the narrow path for them, which could lead in their escape. If they managed to pass and then destroy it the Risen wouldn't be able to reach them. In addition their goal was to survive, as the gemstone was impossible to be found.

Robin and Gerome had finally arrived at the battle scene. Minerva came close to the Risen and gave Gerome the chance to decapitate his foes, while Robin contributed in creating chaos of fire along with Laurent, slowing Morgan down.

In the meanwhile, Cynthia was able to catch up with her friends. The Pegasus knight urged to help her friends, while also taking care of Nah, who seemed to have recovered, but without the ability of being able to fight. Lucina saw her sister flying from above and immediately ordered her to retreat to their safe zone, at the bridge's other side. Cynthia told Nah to hold tight once more and proceeded to cautiously get past the Risen and take shelter away from the valley. Sumia was hardly flying and the cover of the distance from the one side of the cliff to the other seemed like an impossible feat.

However, as Morgan was able to deflect the incoming attacks from his foes he ordered his griffon to chase after Cynthia. The rider unaware of being followed was nearly flying above the bridge. As Sumia soared the sky to escape, she became an easy target for a master tactician. Without hesitating Morgan attacked her from behind. Sumia was unable to avoid being hit. Cynthia, along with Nah, nearly fell from the Pegasus' back. Sumia withstood the hit, but could fly with difficulty. Before Morgan could deliver his final blow, Robin attacked him. The tactician took advantage of the fact that Cynthia acted as a decoy and along with Laurent began their attack. Morgan's griffon was close of being immolated by the fire.

With his legendary creature deadly damaged from the fire and him being weakened he decided to fight from the land. Robin knew that it was time to finish him. Suddenly, the sorcerer jumped in the air and landed on the solid ground. Filled by hatred his aura his emotions entered a fever pitch. Out of nowhere surrounded by his army, Morgan began shooting lighting bolts everywhere in the air in an attempt to find target, before falling on the ground exhausted.

"They're everywhere!" Gerome said frightened. Minerva unable to dodge the strikes got hit. Both riders felt their bodies burn from the hit and Robin noted that the lighting left deep scars on Minerva's skin. Following the same fate as Sumia before her, Minerva was left with no other choice than of trying to pass on the other side of the cliff.

As both mounts were desperately trying to achieve the same goal, Sumia got closer on the end. At that moment, the Pegasus couldn't continue. Being above from what seemed a bottomless canyon, she stopped moving and slowly began to lose height. Having understood this Cynthia pleaded her to continue. Nah held Cynthia tighter than ever, begging Sumia to recover. The Pegasus did. An act that seemed a miracle, Sumia overcame her body's weakness and exhaustion and kicked the air with determination to move forward. Nah, feeling her heart ready to explore from the stress, witnessed the power of Cynthia's partner. With anything that was left for the animal, immediately after stepping on the solid ground the Pegasus knelt and fell.

Next to them, they found the other two riders having overcome the same problem. Robin gasping, got down from Minerva, thanked her and rushed at the bridge. Before leaving he ordered his comrades to stay there.

Robin felt weak enough to collapse. Every step he made was a difficult one, but his friend's safety pushed him forward. He arrived at the bridge. In front of him, he saw the narrow wooden path and what expanded beneath it. His body shivered at the sight and by the fact that there was no end to it, as clouds covered the bottom. Suddenly, he heard a man's voice telling him to step away. It was Yarne, who had taken the role of carrying the unconscious priest. Moving cautiously and slowly, with the fear of falling, Robin switched places with Yarne and both of them were able to safely continue walking. Feeling his heart pumping like crazy again, Robin knew he ought to go on and make sure all of his friends crossed the bridge for one last time.

Fortunately enough, Robin found no other member of the Shepherds' until the bridge's end. This time it was Inigo. The mercenary had escaped from the battle scene and safely retreated. Robin nodded at him and continued to catch up with the others.

Ahead of the tactician, Lucina after slaughtering another Risen ordered Kjelle and Owain to retreat. Robin stepped forward.

"You have to leave now!" Robin yelled at them. "I can keep them busy!" He said determined and unleashed another stream of fire towards the Risen.

"You're not going anywhere, you idiot!" Severa responded as she prepared to combat her enemy.

"We're all here for you Robin! If we're to fall, we'll fall together!" Laurent replied as well.

"We have to retreat! They're way we can handle as many of them. Please! Retreat and I'll keep them busy," Robin said unsure of how to handle the situation.

"That's what we're trying to do Robin!" Lucina told him and pierced the zombie fighter.

Robin was about to prepare for his next attack when the Risen began to move backwards, much to his surprise. The lord told them that this was their opening. She immediately ordered Severa and Laurent to follow the steps of Inigo and Yarne, and soon both her and Robin stepped on the bridge. However, the Risen hadn't stopped fighting for no purpose. None other than Morgan himself appeared in front of the lord and tactician.

Robin judging from his rival's appearance he could make out that his dark aura had begun fading. The sorcerer approached them. Robin stopped moving and decided to head for the bridge's front.

Morgan giggled evilly. "You're exactly where I want you to be Robin. You see I'm always one step ahead of you."

"This fight is pointless Morgan. You're after me! So, let's end this once… and for all," he said with fire in his eyes. At that time he felt someone touching him at his back. He turned and saw Lucina at his side.

"Everyone has crossed the bridge safely," she told him calmly. "Now the only one that's left is us."

"Farewell, Robin!" Morgan said and used his purple tome aiming at the bridge. The tactician grabbed Lucina from her hand and began running to reach its end. He heard his friends' voices and tried to move forward. However, at one moment he felt he wasn't stepping on a solid surface. Robin then took a hold of one of the bridge's side ropes.

The tactician found himself in the worst nightmare imaginable. Robin freaked out, as he couldn't find of any scenario to escape from their situation.

"Robin! Let me go! Save yourself!" Lucina desperately yelled, as cold tears ran through her white cheeks. Her heart beat fast, because she couldn't remember herself being closer to death. Robin, though, could.

"N-Never…" Robin tried to say in order to calm her down, with his teeth gritted. In the meanwhile his right hand was aching so much that he couldn't even feel it and he started losing hope as well.

"Robin! Let me go! You need both arms to climb! Please…" She cried with droplets falling down to the unknown. Robin knew she was right. And as he was looking upwards he saw the rope stretching more and more, telling him that time was not on his side. Without realising it the rope broke.

Fire Emblem: The Man That Never Was
Chapter 8: The Valley

A/N (Author's Note): Hello again everybody! Before you say anything let me just start by saying that NO this isn't the whole chapter VII. I will update again with the rest of it (plus, I'm positive it will be as long as the first half). The reasoning behind this is simple. I'm not done with writing it and between 0 chapters and half chapter I will always choose the later.

Secondly, I honestly feel the need to apologise for the half-month delay. The last thing I want is to let all of the readers and 82 followers down, by uploading again late. But I won't lie. I reached bottom. Life's really pressuring me and reaching me to my limits. It's so hard and I've yet to stabilise my schedule in a way to know when I'm free to write. And I'm not the person I was when I began. I mean that I don't have the strength to stay awake until late at night and finish writing. I get so drained from my work that pretty early at night I just feel the need to lay on my bed and sleep. Moreover, there was even times that I was considering taking a hiatus from writing. But after rereading your amazingly warm comments, I remembered why I write. I want to thank you for your amazing support. So, I won't give in to my problems. I will continue to fight back as hard as I can and in the meantime I want to repay you for all the great comments and support you've given me. I continue trying to achieve my dream, to have 100 friends following my story. I will!

-Replies to recent reviews:

-Guest: Haha, there are indeed a lot of Robin!Lucina ones. Personally, I don't like my readers to already know who Robin's pair will be. I feel that in a story what matters in the protagonists relationship with his partner is the "journey." How they met, how they fell in love, how he confessed his love to her. If someone already knows the outcome, this short of magic vanishes, because the reader is sure that the pairing will become cannon at one point. But when he doesn't he speculates and experiences the "journey." Keep in mind that's my personal view. Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I hope you stay along the ride until you find about Robin's true pair.

-Iron Mario: Thank you so much for your amazing review. I'm really glad you liked the story. Also, I can't but get excited when I hear that my readers speculate about the story and it's small mysteries. Don't worry everything will become clearer in the newest instalments, plus trust me, I have some great ideas about the next gemstones. ;)

Please don't mind any grammatical errors. No copyright intended. Also please keep in mind that there is a problem with the site (at least for me) and bold text isn't showing up with the default font. Change the font for bold text to appear. :)

As always, until next time, please have yourselves a darn good one ;D

J.D. King

Dedicated to some friends, who without them I wouldn't be the person and writer I am today.