Roy jumped back away from the former president. He simply stood there looking at them.

"Isn't that your leader?" Corrin asked.

"Mister president…damn you!" Henry growled. "What did you do to him?!"

"The same thing that was done by others." Zephiel replied. "Those revived by Lord Anankos must serve him. That is the law of Valla. Unfortunately, there are those who could not be convinced to willingly work for him like Mikoto and Greil. But this man…he was unlike the rest. His willpower was very strong. It was hard to put him under our control."

"Why you…!"

"Henry, get a hold of yourself." Ryoma said. "That is not the man you once knew!"

Henry thought back to the last order the president gave him.

"I'm trusting you to carry on the torch. I chose you for this, Henry."

"…You're right. I have my orders." Henry drew his rapier.

John walked next to him. "They ain't yours alone Henry."

"You seem rather confident that you can best all of us on your own." Leo said, glancing at Zephiel.

"Confident or stupid?" Takumi asked.

Zepeil snapped his fingers. An army of Vala troops marched towards them standing right behind him.

Lion sighed. "My money's on confident."

Roy then charged at Zepheil again. The former king blocked a few blows before their swords were locked. They were at a stand still before Roy was pushed back. He lost his footing and fell over. Just when Zepheil was about to bring his blade down Robin stepped in between them. In a bright flash his coat and hair changed colors again and he blocked the swing with his Levin and Brave swords.

"This power…so it's true." Zepheil growled. "You killed a noble dragon and stole his power."

"Grima was many things but "noble" was not one of them. And I plan on putting this power to much better use then he ever did."

"You are not worthy of such strength!" Zepheil lifted his sword again and brought it back down. Robin backflipped out of the way.

"Given a choice I would rather have nothing to do with it. But I need it to protect my friends. I wouldn't have any of them suffer this burden, and I would certainty never let this power go to anyone like you or Anankos."

"Be silent!"

As Roy and Robin began their fight with Zepheil Henry turned back to the president. "Ready John?"

"You know it captain." The two of them charged together. Henry thrusted his rapier, but the all three of his attacks were parried by another. Joh jumped over Henry and brought his hammer and hammer arm down, but the president jumped back. He cut through the handle of John's handheld weapon and then kicked it at him like a football.

John barley ducked in time. "WHOA! I didn't know the president was that strong!"

Roy jumped away from his opponent. "Zepheil…what did you do?!"

"Like I said he was hard to control. Fortunately, once Lord Anankos put his power inside of him, he lost his sanity. With his will supressed he was much easier to control."

"Huh. And you think I'm a monster." Robin scoffed.

Henry threw a furry of thrusts at the president, but all were easily parried or blocked before he was kicked to the floor. Once he was down the president jumped ant thrusted his blade at him. Henry barley had time to move his head out of the way before it was skewered. Three arrows hit the president in the chest and he was flung away. He and Henry got up as Fox, Tiger Lilly and Scarecrow aimed at him. The president sliced through them before pulling out the arrows stuck in his chest and charged at them.

Queequeg and Califia tried to intercept him with their Steel Naginata and Lance, but he blocked Queequeg's attack and flipped over Califia's before charging ahaid. Only this time Lion and Tin Man stood in his way. The president locked swords with Tin Man before Lion threw the man back. He landed of his feet and saw a Dragon-shaped spirit flying toward him that Randolph conjured. He stabbed it, making it disappear, before dagger and a shuriken hurled by Dorothy and Tom came at him. He deflected the dagger and caught the shuriken. But just after he did it exploded in a burst of smoke. While he was blinded, John charged in and smashed him across the room with his hammer arm.

Meanwhile Nina shot arrow after arrow at the charging opposition. But it was if after she took one enemy down two more took their place. "This is getting nowhere…Ophelia! Time for that plan we discussed!" she hollered taking out a arrow with what appeared to be a balloon instead of a tip.

"Okay!"

Nina shot the arrow at a knight. It exploded and sprayed water everywhere upon impact. "Now!"

"Lightning!" Ophelia shot a blast of electrical magic from her hands, electrocuting the soaked knight and a handful of nearby enemies.

Elsewhere Ike pressed Ragnel against a knight's spear before Soren finished his with wind magic. Celica and Alm stood side-by-side as they battled a caviller.

"We can't beat them like this! Leo said. "We need to strike down the commanders now!"

Henry slammed his sword against the President's. After a brief struggle he took his rapier in his other hand and stabbed him. Then he kicked him in the gut and swung his silver sword upward. The impact knocked the opponent's mask off and sent him hurling to the ground.

"Sorry sir…I had no choice."

"That's one down." Hinoka panted. "Now for the next."

Zepeil blocked Roy's blade but was left open to a bolt of lightning from Robin. "Argh! Wretched humans!"

Suddenly Gunnter appeared behind him. "What's wrong Zepheil? Is that all your loyalty to us is worth?"

"L-Lord Gunnter!"

Robin raised a brow. "Lord" Gunnter?"

Corrin ran up to him. "Gunnter! Where is Azura?! Did you really betray us?"

"Ha. No more than you betrayed us. Children like you truly are rebellious."

"What do you mean?"

Gunnter ignored him and held out a palm towards Zepheil. The man gasped as his body glowed purple. "There you go Zepheil. A little reward for your loyalty to dragons. Now use it to smite our foes!" Gunnter cackled before he disappeared.

Zepheil laughed as he stood up. "Beautiful! Truly glorious! So, this is the power of the Silent Dragon!"

"Be carful Roy." Robin said as he drew his sword.

Zepheil roared as he rammed into Robin. Despite blocking the sword, the tactician was still flung into a wall. He then came for Roy next. Roy blocked the swing but his weapon flew out of his hand. Next thing he knew Zepheil was using his free hand to lift him off the floor by his neck.

"Roy!" Lilina ran towards him, but the moment she turned her back to the mage she was fighting she was hit in the back by lighting and fell over.

"L…Lili…na…ugh…" Roy's vision started to blur as he saw Zepheil reel back his blade. He closed his eyes expecting a swift end. "Everyone…forgive me…"

Suddenly his neck was released and he dropped to the floor gasping. He looked up to see a rapier through Zepheil's neck.

John turned to Henry. "Hey! Nice throw cap!"

Henry was bewildered. "Don't look at me." He said holding up his own rapier.

"Wha-?! Then who…?"

Everyone looked behind Zephial. Lincoln was back on his feet breathing heavily. The arm that threw the rapier at Zepheil still outstretched. Henry couldn't believe it. "Sir!"

Robin shot a purple fireball at Zepheil knocking him down and threw Roy's sword back to him. "Finish him off!"

"Right!" Roy ran towards the downed king. "This is where it ends!" He jumped up and brought the Binding Blade down and through Zepheil's chest.

As that happened the last of the enemies were finished off. Roy pulled his weapon out of Zepheil and stumbled back but Lilina ran up and let him lean against her. "Roy! Are you hurt?!"

"I…I'm alright…"

Zepheil was speechless at first as his lower half faded slowly. Everyone slowly came around him. "So…this is it then…A pity I won't see Lord Anankos unite all of the worlds…but I have taken steps to grant him that victory. That is enough."

"Zepheil…Where is Anankos?" Corrin asked.

"He will be in the throne room up ahead …Prince Corrin…you have my sympathies. Even if we are enemies I can understand being forced into conflict with family."

Robin closed his eyes as he returned to his normal state "So, it's true then. This explains a lot about Corrin."

"Impressive avatar…so you figured out the truth behind his lineage…"

"My what? Robin, what is he talking about?" Corrin asked.

"Corrin…remember what Sumeragi said?" Robin asked. "About how he met your mother when the two of you came to Hoshido? Think about it. How could you have existed before your parents even met?"

"I don't…what are you trying to say?"

Ryoma sighed before speaking up. "Corrin…I wasn't supposed to tell you this but…the truth is…my father…isn't really your father. Not by blood anyway. No more than Garon."

Everyone was shocked into silence. "Wh…what?" Corrin's jaw was left gaping. "But then why…who is my father?"

"Yeah, um guys? Maybe this isn't a good time to talk about this?" Inigo said nervously.

"So, you already knew. Somehow." Robin said. "I can understand why you are hesitant but he's Corrin's father not ours. What right do we have to know over him?"

"You knew about this Inigo?" Xander asked. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Perhaps this isn't the ideal time to tell you Corrin." Robin said. "Right before we fight Anankos. But Queen Mikoto herself said you need to know about your past. The sooner you know about this the better."

"Anankos? What does he have to do with…my…" As Corrin looked around almost everyone's faces were frozen in shocked or horrified expressions. "No…don't say it…"

"I'm sorry Corrin." Robin sighed. "But I see little point in sugar coating the facts. Anankos…is your father."

"You have…my apologies as well milord." Zepheil coughed. "The reason why I didn't tell you when we first met was because…I didn't think it was my right to say so…if I didn't hesitate…maybe…maybe we wouldn't have been enemies…but perhaps…this is fate…while half blood…the nobility of dragons still courses through your veins…maybe if not Anankos…you can properly…guide…this…world…"

With that the former king disappeared without a trace.

Corrin was still in shock. "Anankos…is my father?"

"Robin…does have a point. This explains a lot." Takumi admitted. "Like how you can turn into a dragon unlike us who also have Dragon's Blood."

"Or why they seem more interested in capturing you alive instead of killing you off even though they had plenty of chances." Henry added.

"What…what do I do now?"

"This should change nothing." Soren said. "It is still your responsibility to strike him down for the better of this world."

"How can you be such a jerk?!" Elise yelled. "He's his father!"

"So? Ike had to fight his own father just now. So, did Ryoma. Not doing the same thing they did for his cause is both foolish and selfish."

"Actually…" Everyone turned to Severa as she spoke. Next to her Owain and Inigo had their eyes on the floor. "There's something we should tell you Prince Corrin."

"What is it?"

"The truth is…we lied about something earlier. We do know who it was who brought us to Valla to help."

"Who?" Leo asked.

"Anankos."

"What?! My father…the one who started all this…sent you here to stop him?!" Corrin asked.

"Well…more accurately it was the good side of him." Inigo said. "Your real father."

"What do you mean?"

"You see…Anonkos wasn't always like this. He used to be a kind-hearted being who always shared his wisdom with the people. He also was good friend with Valla's former king."

"Azura's father?"

Severa nodded. "That's right. But Anankos had tremendous power. And with it he had these wild instincts that gave him destructive thoughts." She then turned to Chrom, Robin and Lucina. "Kind of like Nah but on a much larger scale. He even destroyed a entire forest once. After that the people of Valla tried to kill him, believing he was dangerous. That's when he took a turn for the worst. He tried locking himself away from humans. But there were those that still believed in him. Mainly his closest friend. Princess Azura's father. But one day…it happened."

"Anankos killed him." Henry said grimly.

Owain nodded. "That was when this all started. But right before he went out of control, he tore his soul from his body. That soul took a human form with his own consciousness. Lord Corrin…that soul was your true father. He was saved by Queen Mikoto who he fell in love with and had a child with her."

"Mother…"

"And he was the one who sought us for help." Inigo said. "He brought us to Valla and told us everything. We learned you were kidnapped by Nohr and he asked us to go find you. Of course, at the time we didn't know which of the Nohrian royals you were."

"So, you decided to apply as retainers for all of us." Leo said.

"That's right. But make no mistake! Even if none of us ended up with Corrin as planned, we were all happy to serve all of you."

Xander, Leo and Camilla smiled.

"So, wait…that means the Anankos we're after isn't Corrin's father!" Scarecrow said. "Maybe he's still alive somewhere in Valla!"

Owain sighed. "I fear that is not the case."

"What do you mean?" Corrin asked.

"We were attacked after reaching Valla. It turns out the evil Anankos had a child as well. The good Anankos sent us to Nohr while holding her back. Some time after we became retainers of Nohr, we met his daughter again who was hired as a maid. She told us that the evil half of Anankos tried to kill her for her failure…but the good side died protecting her."

Corrin's eyes started to water. "No…"

"Where is this daughter now?" Xander asked.

"You all know her. She sheltered us during our battles, right up until we came to Valla."

Everyone needed time to think about it. But Robin was the first to figure it out. "Lilith."

"That's right." Severa replied. "Lord Corrin…I hate to be the one to tell you this but the truth is…your father is dead. The Anankos we're fighting is an empty husk of who he once was. Your father sent us to help you stop him. He must have known Azura was going to meet you someday too."

"What do you mean?"

"In preparation for this Anankos made a powerful song to stop him."

Shigure's eyes widened. "The song that was passed down through our family!"

"That's right. But the song on its own is powerless. Not only does it require someone with his blood, but one also needs a fragment of his dragonstone. Hence Anankos smashed his into pieces and left a fragment with the royal family."

Shigure took out his pendent. "My mothers' memento…this is part of Anankos's dragonstone?"

Inigo nodded. "That's right. Do you see now Lord Corrin? You have to stop Anankos. It's what your real father wanted…and…you're the only one who can…"

Corrin was confused and saddened. Was there really noting left of his father in Anankos? Did he truly need to fight him?

"If I may." Everyone was surprised to hear the President speak. "I won't pretend to understand your situation son. But I do know this. A true leader can go far by following one simple equation: What helps the most people. Trust me. I based all my decisions by that thought alone. And I don't regret even a moment of it."

"What helps…the most people?"

"Your father must have lived his life that way too. That's why he prepared for his inevitable madness. Now he is trusting you to carry the torch." Corrin went silent. "Look around you Corrin. Look at those who brought you this far."

Corrin turned around to see all of his friends staring right at him. All of them looked confident in him despite what they had just learned.

"These people believe in you just as Anankos did. Now tell me. Are you going to give up now that you're so close to the end? Or will you respect everyone's wishes and see your journey through to the end?"

Corrin closed his eyes and wiped his tears. He took a deep breath as he spoke. "Let's go everyone. It's time we fulfilled father's final wish and end this!"

Everyone cheered.

Henry turned to the President and saluted with a smile. "It's good to have you back Mr. President."

"Yeah, about that." Takumi said glaring at the man. "You were brought back by Anankos. How do we know you're not trying to fool us?"

"Don't worry, we know him." Lion said. "He'd never do anything like that."

"Yeah, funny story we knew Queen Mikoto too!" Hana retorted. "And she tricked us! That's how Prince Corrin, Princess Azura, and their twins wound up in chains and brainwashed! She nearly killed Lady Sakura and her other kids too! What if this guy is doing the same thing?!"

"But remember what Zephial said?" Roy asked. "The President was the only one who could resist Anankos's control. I bet when Henry knocked off that mask it freed him from the spell."

"That could just be what he wants us to think." Xander replied.

"He had the best chance to kill us while we were talking." Ike said. "And he certainty wouldn't have tried to cheer up Corrin if he was still working with Anankos."

"It is as you say." The President said. "I apologize for all the trouble I caused and thank you all for saving me from that beast's control. With that said I can understand that there are those who don't trust me. But honestly…I find that comforting."

"Why is that?" Ryoma asked.

"Because I too fear I may fall under his control again. So, I ask all of you…if you get even the slightest indication that I will betray you…" The president looked at them with determined eyes. "Strike me down at the first opportunity."

Corrin was amazed. Such confidence and dedication. He was learning now why Henry and his friends thought to highly of this man. "I understand…Thank you…Mr. President."

The man smiled in turn. "I believe it is I who should thank you Corrin. You are indeed the hero this world needs."

"Gunnter took Azura. Is she alive?" Marth asked.

"Indeed. He said he wanted to keep her alive so she could witness the fall of Corrin and their comrades."

"But why did he betray us for Anankos?" Corrin asked.

"That I do not know. But I do know this. Gunnter is not simply working with Anankos. Rather…he has become Anankos himself."

"What?! Gunnter is Anankos?!"

"It seems he has willingly become a vassal for the Silent Dragon. Why he would do this is beyond me. But he won't stop until he has seen the destruction of this word. After that he will go after Robin's world, so he won't see any more intrusions like before. And then he will go after our home world. And after that he will keep going and destroying until there is nothing left."

"He really is insane." Alm said. "Er, no offence Corrin."

"We have to stop him. And we need to go now." The President turned to Henry. "Captain Fleming. I was quite surprised to see you all here. But I was overjoyed to see that you were leading the team well."

"Just carrying the torch sir."

Lincoln smiled warmly. "Very good. Now then…care to do the honors?"

Henry smiled and looked at S.T.E.A.M. "Let's go everyone! We've got us a dragon to slay and worlds to save! Including our own! Full S.T.E.A.M. ahead!"

"SIR, YES SIR!"

Final battle is approaching. I always wondered what Corrin would think if he knew Anankos was his father. I figured it would shock him, but wouldn't stop him from doing what needed to be done in the end. Next up, the confrontation with Gunter!