Before we begin, I would like to thank a Guest writer who shared their opinions on why the foreshadowing with Riam didn't go so well. I appreciate the feedback and will keep your opinions in mind for future writing. In other news, I have posted the results of the pairing polls, as well as my own choices for the upcoming story on my profile, for those who want to see.
The Shepherds have finally arrived on Mount Prisim. They were amazed by the wondrous sight.
"It's beautiful..." Lissa smiled.
"This place makes me feel like running wild!" Morgan said, spinning around.
"Uh, oh. Even more than usual?" Robin asked, with a smirk.
"The divine dragon's power flows through every blade of grass here." Lucina added.
"I never though I'd see this with my own eyes…" Riam smiled.
Chrom smiled to himself as well before a sense od dreed washed over him.
"Wait...Something doesn't feel right."
"Nngh..."
Everyone saw Robin clutch his head. "We must prepare for battle! Grima has sent servants here. I can sense it. They'll be on us soon!"
"Are you serious?!" Brady asked.
"How could Risen infiltrate this sacred place?" Lucina asked.
"Their power must be linked to Grima's." Chrom replied. "We must destroy them!"
Sure, enough the Fell Dragon's army rose from the horizon.
"Riam, Suiglez, Mustafa, with me!" Robin ordered.
The first monster came on a gryphon.
"...Naga...nemesis...you will...never..."
Robin opened fire with a thunder spell. The leader flew back up to avoid it. Riam followed up by shooting the wing of it's mount with his crossbow, making it crash to the ground with the ridder.
"Riam, look out!"
Mustafa blocked an assassin's attack before cutting it in half with his axe. Suiglez was next to block an arrow from a Bow Knight before Robin pirced him with a bolt of lightning with his Levin sword.
"A larger variety of enemies. Grima's thinking this through…he really is me…"
Aversa stared at the mountain.
"They have already reached the top. I suppose it's only a matter of time before the ritual is finished…How futile…"
The Griffon ridder came at Robin from behind with his axe but he blocked it with Sol Katti.
Riam then shoulder charged it, knocking it over, before Suiglez and Mustafa came down on it with his weapons.
"...ne...ver..."
As it faded away Robin noticed that the others were just about finished.
"It's already over? I suppose it was a small force, but…"
"This army has come far." Chrom added as he approached. "Hard to believe the Shepherds have evolved so much from the small band we once were."
Robin put his swords away and turned to him.
"Let's go start the ritual."
It did not take long after the battle to find the temple for Naga. Chrom entered alone with Robin, Lucina, Lissa, Fredrick and Riam. The others waited outside in case more Risen attacked.
"The layout looks similar to the alter in the Dragon's Table." Robin said.
"But there is a peaceful air in this room." Riam added. "Last time I was here was when Naga opened the gate to the past."
Lucina nodded, thinking back to the event.
"Wait here..." Chrom ordered. "I'll be back."
"Be careful, Chrom..."
"We must believe in him, Aunt Lissa." Lucina said.
Chrom walked up to the alter and held up the completed Fire Emblem. The Gemstones started to glow.
"Hear me, Naga! I bear proof of our sacred covenant! In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power! Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true son!"
The alter was engulfed in a bright light. Green flames suddenly swallowed Chrom
"Hrrraaagh!"
"Father!"
As the flames died down Chrom was still standing.
"I'm...I'm all right!"
"Be welcome, Awakener. Your heart has been tested and deemed worthy. Cleansed in my fire, your desire has proven to burn the stronger."
Everyone looked up. Above the alter a figure of a green woman with long hair floated above them.
"So, this is the Divine Dragon…" Robin said.
"Then you will grant me the power to defeat Grima?" Chrom asked. "...The power of a god?"
"Yes. But know this: I am no god."
"But milady, you are the divine dragon!" Lucina said.
"So do sons of man name me. But I am no creator. I possess not the powers of making or unmaking. And neither does Grima. Neither of us bears the power to destroy the other utterly."
"Then what power can you grant me?" Chrom asked.
"With my blessing, thou may draw forth Falchion's true might. The blade of the exalts shall again strike like the dragon's fang. Your strength will then be my equal."
"But not strong enough to destroy Grima?"
"Alas, Grima cannot be slain. Sleep alone can be your victory. Just as your ancestor put the fell dragon to sleep a millennium ago. But you must weaken him first. Only as the final blow can my power be used to bind his."
"Isn't there ANY way to destroy him for good?" Lissa asked.
"I asked that to the Naga of my time." Riam said. "There is one way. But it's impossible."
"What would that be?" Robin asked.
"There is, perchance, a power that could end Grima. However... 'Twould be his own."
"...He has to kill himself?" Fredrick asked.
"Yes. And never would he do so of his own volition. He seeks only to add to his power, and set ruin upon the world. Now come. There is little time..."
"Where is Grima now?" Chrom asked.
"To the west lies a volcano known as Origin Peak. You shall find the fell dragon there. But first…"
Naga held out her hand. A white light emanated from it.
Chrom held up his Falchion and saw the blade glow. A blue light surged from the hole between the blade and the hilt and an orange light surrounded the edge.
"So, this is Falchion's true form."
"Indeed. You will need this to seal away Grima."
"Can you do the same for Lucina's Falchion?" Robin asked. "Having an extra may come in handy."
"I fear not. Hers is an article from another time. That would require her Naga and her Fire Emblem."
"You know where I'm from?" Lucina asked.
"Indeed. I have observed many timelines."
Something then came to Robin's mind.
"Wait…then do you know of Morgan's origins?"
"I do…"
A light shone above them. A image appeared over their heads. It showed Robin and Lucina holding hands.
"This time line is not the first that required the Awakener's daughter to save."
"There was a time where we conquered Grima?" Lucina asked.
"Yes. In this one timeline, you went to the past. You fell in love with the man named Robin. And you're love produced new life."
Then they saw something bundled in blankets in Lucina's arms.
"Is that…Morgan?" Robin asked.
"It is. After the Valm war, Vaildar took five years to put his plan into motion. When he called you to Plegia, Morgan waited alone in the castle of Ylisse."
The image then showed the young girl as a toddler. But the child was crying. Clinging to what appeared to be her father's coat. Chrom embraced the girl with a saddened look of his own.
"In this time line…The Awakener sealed away Grima…but not before it claimed the life of her parents."
"What? Lucina and I…died?"
"I fear so. With Validar and his son gone…a new king rose to power."
Then they saw a familiar man with long brown hair.
"Emotlav."
"Indeed. He used threats and manipulation to seize the throne. Years latter he declared war on Ylisse. The Awakener and his companions pushed away the threat. But not before they took the girl prisoner."
"They kidnapped our daughter?!" Lucina asked.
Then the image showed a familiar young man carrying the young girl and riding on horseback.
"Is that…me?" Riam asked.
"Indeed. The you of this time took pity on his dear friend's daughter and snuck her out of the capital. You then learned of the Ruins of Time."
The image then showed a Riam kneeling before Naga with Morgan in his arms.
"Riam met his time's Naga. He begged her to find a new time to put Morgan in. But before that…he had her erase her memory."
"Why would he do that?" Lissa asked.
"Because the trauma would still linger." Robin replied.
"Indeed. Riam believed that it would be the only way she could live a happy life."
"So, you sent her here." Chrom said.
Then they saw Riam fighting off a horde of Risen.
"Indeed. However, the new Plegian king was on to Riam's plan. He stormed the temple. He sent Risen after the girl. Despite Riam's best efforts to stop them, they got into the portal chasing after Morgan. But it ended…with the kings death.
Then they saw Suiglez, impaling Emotalv from behind with his sword.
"The knight know, as Suiglez arrived just in time to save Riam. After that Riam's father became the new king."
And then the light was gone.
"That is how the one you call Morgan came here."
"I see." Robin said. "Thank you, Naga."
Chom turned to him with a sad look.
"Robin…Lucina…I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"I couldn't protect either of you…or Morgan. I failed as a father, a friend and a grandfather."
"None of it was your fault, Chrom. It's not even the same you…I just can't believe we left Morgan all alone in the world."
"Then live." Riam said. "Don't fail her in this time too."
Robin turned to Lucina.
"Let us both live. To Be the parents our daughter deserves."
Lucina locked hands with his. Her eyes welled with tears.
"I would want nothing else."
The group stepped out of the temple with the others waiting to greet them.
Morgan was first to run up to them.
"Well? How'd it go?"
Robin and Lucina knelt down to embrace their daughter.
"Morgan. Know that we're very proud of you and will do whatever it takes to keep you happy."
The girl looked at Robin in confusion.
"Huh? Where's this coming from?"
The three of them stayed there for another minute. They were a family. And they wanted to savor every second as one.
And here's my version of Morgan's origins. Hope you all enjoyed it. We approaching the finale fast, so look forward to it!
