Chrom and his army stood not far from a mountain. Red rock that looked like it could erupt at any time. The skies were dark and were growling above them.

"Origin Peak..."

A voice spoke to all of them.

"The fell dragon is indeed here. Remember, Awakener! The power I gave you cannot destroy Grima."

"It can only put him back to sleep..." Robin said.

"Correct, Fellblood."

"So, you know of my lineage?" the tactician asked in an ashamed tone.

"You possess power not so different from my own."

"There must be something more we can do!" Mustafa said. "Suiglez, did Validar ever mention anything about Grima that could help?"

"I fear not."

"Well, there must be something we can do!" Riam insisted. "Say we sucseed and put him to sleep, who's to say nobody like Validar will wake him up again in the future! No one else should suffer what we have…"

Robin thought for a few seconds before he spoke up.

"...I may know a way."

Chrom turned to him. "Yes, Robin? You have some strategy?"

"The other me claimed the dragon and I were the same, yes? If I strike the final blow, he'd be killed by his own hand..."

"Robin! Ingenious! Naga? Will it work?"

"...Perhaps. But there would be consequences. Grima's heart and Robin's are inexorably linked. Dragon and man can no longer be separated. Therefore, slaying Grima would also cause the end of Robin's life."

Robin did not hesitate "...I realize that. I am ready."

"Robin, no!" Lucina cried. "You can't just throw your life away!"

"There is...a chance he could survive, but it is small indeed." Naga said. "Robin, you have bound your heart to those of many others in this world. If those ties prove strong enough, they may yet keep you in this reality. But I would not give you false hope. The chance you would live is insignificant. In truth, you will almost certainly cease to exist."

"I'm not taking chances." Riam said. "I'll let Grima sleep before giving away my brother's life to end his."

"I agree!" Suiglez added. "I allowed lady Reflet to die, I won't fail her again by letting her son share her fate!"

"Think about it Suiglez." Robin said. "My mother said she would do anything to assure peace. If I'm to fulfill her wish I must be prepared to do the same."

"Reflet was nothing like Validar!" Mustafa said. "Unlike him she would never sacrifice her son for her ideals!"

Lucina took Robin by the shoulders and looked him in the eye.

"Robin don't do this! I don't want to lose anyone else to Grima! Promise me you won't do this!"

Robin hesitated when he saw the pain and fear in her eyes.

"I'm sorry my love. You have been so very kind to me despite everything I've done...But this is my decision."

"Robin..."

Chrom stood there for a moment.

"We're setting camp here for the night. You have until tomorrow to decide."


Lucina sat quietly on the bed she and Robin slept in many times. Would tonight be the last? She did not want to think about it. But it kept popping into her mind.

"Lucina? May I come in?" A voice asked from the front of her tent.

"Sir Riam? Yes, come in."

The former masked man stepped inside and walked over to her.

"Where are Robin and Morgan?"

"Sir Fredrick came telling him that father wanted to talk to her. Morgan is out with Nah."

"Oh dear. I hope they aren't still at the whole sword catching thing." The man smirked.

Lucina let out a faint chuckle.

"No. They learned that would get them nowhere."

"So…does she know of Robin's plan?"

Lucina shock her head.

"No…I couldn't bear telling her."

"I see…"

"Sir Riam…can't you do something?"

"Both my father and I tried talking to him. But he seems insistent on going through with killing Grima."

"Oh…"

"Lucina…I think you need to talk to him. If anyone can convince him it's you."

"I know…It's just…"

"You're afraid you'll fail."

The princess sighed. She knew he was right.

"You won't know until you try. Please Lucina…for my brother."

With that he left her alone to ponder.


Robin was on his way to see Chrom. It was dark out. He saw a few of the Shepherds nearby. He could tell which ones were aware of his plan, by the way they looked at him as they passed by. So far more were aware than he thought.

Hearing a loud clang brought his attention to the sight of Yen'fay and Walheart sparing. He stood there for a moment watching them in battle.

"Hard to believe they are your comrades now, isn't it?"

From behind him Suiglez approached.

"Did you need something?"

The knight stood next to him.

"Have you decided?"

"No."

"Then I have a story to tell you that might make up your mind. If you listen then I promise after that I won't say another word of your choices."

"Very well."

The knight sat on a fallen log.

"It was when I was a little boy. My parents were simple villagers. I lived a very casual life. Then one day I met a girl. Your mother. She was the first friend I ever had. Like you her dream was to always be a tactician. When she told me this I told her my dream to become a knight. We swore on that starry night that one day we would fight along side each other when we made those dreams a reality. Not unlike you and Riam."

Robin took a seat next to him. "That happened, right? You two fought against Valm when they invaded."

Suiglez gave Robin a surprised look.

"You knew?"

"Walheart told me. He said one night he kidnapped my mother. He said she was saved by a knight fitting your description."

Suiglez went silent.

"With that and everything you knew of my mother in mind…I know now. It wasn't a simple friendship. You had feelings for her."

The knight didn't say anything at first.

"I knew it was never meant to be. She was raised in a Gremleal family. She had to marry someone who could make the vessel for Grima. But as long as I could protect her…make her happy…that was enough for me. So, I accepted the brand to earn my place as her personal guard."

"Suiglez…"

"When Validar killed her, I was helpless to avenge her death. No love…no chance of vengeance due to my curse…life felt meaningless. I was alone."

"Why tell me this now?"

"The pain I suffered all these years…no one else should suffer it. Certainly not Lucina."

The knight stood up.

"Your death could have more consciences then you realise. Please put that into account before you decide."

With that he left.

Robin sat for a bit longer before leaving himself.

When he finally arrived at Chrom's tent he was standing there.

"You took longer than I though."

"Sorry. Suiglez wanted to talk to me first."

"Have you decided what you're going to do?"

Robin shock his head.

"I didn't think so. Well at any rate I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Yes?"

"Remember what you asked of me when we go back to Yillise?"

"I remember you saying you wanted time to think first and never getting back to me. But is now a time for that?"

"Just hear me out." Chrom smirked. "I have a deal I would like to offer you."


A lone woman stood on a hill overlooking the camp.

"Really, now—still at your little schemes? Butchering Validar wasn't enough? Do you SEE what your great struggle has won you?! ...NOTHING! Master Grima has returned! The world's fate is sealed! Or perhaps you simply seek a tender embrace here at the end? Hmm? I'm not completely cruel, you know. Come, I have a kiss for each of you..."


Lucina was laying down, looking at the ceiling of her tent.

"What should I even say to him…"

She parted from her thoughts when Robin stepped in.

"Lucina?"

"Robin!"

The princess embraced him. "Please Robin! Don't do this!"

"Lucina…"

"We promised, didn't we?! We would live to raise our daughter together! I can't do it alone! She needs you! We need you!"

Robin returned her embrace. "Lucina…I've made up my mind."

They parted enough to look into each others eyes.

"I-

"Robin!"

Both turned to the sound of Riam's voice outside. They ran out to see the man fighting off four Risen.

"Risen?! How did they get here!?" Lucina asked.

The flapping sound of Pegasus wings got their attention.

Robin glared at the Dark Flier.

"Aversa."

"Murderer! You'll pay for taking Master Validar from me!"

"You really are obsessed with Validar, aren't you? Why? He's weak. Foolish. Deluded. Detestable."

"Oh? And if your dear father was all that, then what does that make you?"

"Someone who takes after her mother. You know it will take more than this to stop us. Why bother?"

"If I can't stop you…then I might as well kill as many of you as I can!"

Riam shot another Risen with his crossbow before Lucina slashed into another.

Just then two more figures entered the Fight. One of them on her Pegasus.

Lucina saw them approach.

"Cynthia! Severa!"

"Lucina, Cynthia and I can handle this!" Severa said. "You two warn everyone!"

Riam turned to Robin.

"They can do this, we should go! There could be more of these around the camp!"

"Alright."

Aversa laughed as the two of them left.

"Oh, how I missed it when it was just the four of us. Well, us and whoever was keeping watch outside your cell while I made you scream."

"Thanks for reminding me!" Cynthia said. "It's time to serve you justice for all those shocks!"

"Oh? Shocks will be the least of your concern."

"Whatever! Severa and I got stronger armor since we last met! It'll protect us!"

"How, nice, though honestly, I think the slave look suited you three better. Hmm…Maybe I can turn you three over to Master Grima. He enjoyed watching you curs suffer such humiliation."

"Dream on witch!" Severa growled.

Cynthia took the skies and flew at Aversa while Lucina and Severa fought her remaining Risen.

The woman shot three waves of dark magic. Cynthia dodged all of them as she came at her. She flew past her steed and knocked Aversa off. She fell to the ground with a painful thud.

"That…could have felt better…"

"We're just getting started!"

Severa charged at Aversa with her sword. She blocked one of Aversa's spells with the shield on her arm before ramming into her with it. The dazed woman looked up to see her sword at her through. Looking in the direction of footsteps revealed Robin and Riam with Chrom and most of the Shepherds.

Aversa smiled to herself. "Ahh...finally... Sweet...death... Finally...the pain... F-finally...it ends..."

"You bet it is!" Severa growled ready to execute her.

"Hold it!" Riam ordered.

"Sir Riam?"

The man walked up to them with a bowl and a gourd.

"Hold her still."

"What's this?" Aversa asked. "Going to poison me?"

"This isn't for drinking." Riam said pouring the water. "This is from the Wellspring of Truth. I got it during my visit there with Robin."

"Wellspring of Truth?" Chrom asked.

"Apparently it shows you a reflection of who you really are." Robin shrugged. "What are you going to do with it?"

"I learned something of you in the future, Aversa." The man said. "The life you knew was a lie."

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I thought that would be your answer." Riam said. "That's why I got this. Severa, show her the reflection."

"Fine." The girl replied as she dragged Aversa towards it. "But you better know what you're doing."

She put her on her knees and pushed her head in front of the bowl. Aversa growled as she looked at it.

The others watched as her reflection slowly changed from anger to shock.

"Aaaah! No... NO!"

"What is it?! What did you see?" Chrom asked.

"I s-saw...myself...A girl enslaved mind, body, and soul by Validar..."

"Enslaved?"

"I thought I was so clever all this time...In truth, I was nothing but a tool. Validar stole my memory and filled my mind with a false past. Saving my life? Taking me in? ...All lies. An entire history invented just so he could use me like a puppet."

Robin stared in shock. "That dastard."

"I was a girl like any other before he met me. Well, a bit gifted, perhaps, but otherwise I led a normal life. Fate alone led Validar to my village, where he first learned of my talent. But cruel design saw him kill all who knew me and strip away my past. Then he had the audacity to play the role of savior..."

"How depraved..."

Sevrea slowly let Aversa go.

"After that, I became the woman you all know and love." The woman smirked. "Say what you will about Validar, the man knew talent when he saw it. But in the end, I was just another pawn in his game...A pawn working in the service of her parents' murderer. Gods, I could not be more of a fool."

"Huh. And I though you played me for a fool." Gangrel said. "But it looks like we were in the same position the whole time."

"The truth can hurt." Riam said. "But you needed to know it. That's why I looked for this. The real question, is, now that you do know…what will you do?"

"Validar is dead, but the one he served still lives. I'll bury Grima deep, and perhaps my past life with him. Puppet or no, I have wrought terrible atrocities. Slaying Grima will not unwork that evil, but perhaps it may spare others my fate."

"If you would fight, fight with us."

Everyone looked at Chrom in shock.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Robin asked.

"We'll stand a better chance together than going it alone. I've seen you fight, Aversa. You'd be a most welcome ally."

"Heh. Even after all we've been through, you'd still have me at your side...Hmm...Very well, then. They say politics makes strange bedfellows, but surely this war trumps all, no?"

Robin and Lucina were still warry. But they knew they needed all the help they could get. There was too much at stake.


The next morning everyone made their way to the top of the mountain.

A loud roar got their attention.

"Yikes! What was that?!" Lissa shrieked.

"The dragon's call!" Lucina replied looking up. "Grima!"

The dragon was flying overhead, not even looking at them.

"We can defeat him!" Chrom said.

"Milord, how does a man challenge a mountain?! Where would one even strike?!" Frederick asked.

Naga's voice spoke to them. "The fell dragon has a weakness on the nape of his neck. But that weakness will be guarded by his servants. I can send you onto the dragon's back, but the rest is in your hands."

"Then please, milady, and quickly! We would ask no more of you." Chrom said before turning to the others. "Everyone, gird yourselves! One way or another this ends here!"

"It's time to end this bloody war against time!" Robin added as he turned to his team. "Let's finish this once and for all!"


Well, here we are. Next up is the final battle. Look forward to it next week!