DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Kingdom Hearts nor Fire Emblem: Shadows of Valentia characters, Square Enix, Nintendo, and Disney are the owners.

Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: I'm gonna get both Deen and Sonya to join the team, of course. And about Mathilda, I have one explanation to this: despite It mostly follows the plot, that doesn't exactly mean this is the original Shadows of Valentia timeline but Kingdom Hearts one instead. Which means everything is different in a way or another, also, I think she is a strong unit that could help override the hordes of heartless and every dark creature making the journey simple.

/

CHAPTER 8 – ATTACK ON GRIETH'S CITADEL

After managing to rescue Mathilda, Roxas and the others got out of the stronghold to resume their quest against Grieth. They either had to take the north or south, any of the two paths could lead them to his hideout.

"How 'bout we take the north?" Saber suggested the army. "It's said we should always follow the north, right? You know, to follow the wind."

"I guess… that's what a compass would tell us where to go with the white arrow." Kamui made a comment in curiosity. "I hope we aren't in a wrong direction."

Their walking looked very good for the team as they seemingly noticed the said Grieth's hideout, but suddenly, Deen appeared from nowhere in front of them pointing his sword at the party!

He was the biggest obstacle for Roxas and his comrades.

"Get out of our way! We gotta defeat this asshole!" Saber snarled telling him to let him pass.

"I will when any of you defeat me… if you can of course." Deen challenged the whole party, then he turned his gaze towards Roxas, choosing him as his opponent. "Something tells me that you are worth for a sword fight, isn't that true, young boy?"

As an answer, Roxas summoned his keyblades gazing at him with serious determination.

"Roxas, this man is super strong! He's gonna cut you down your throat!" Boey warned him looking frightened by Deen's intimidating glance.

"I'm not going to lose to this guy." He replied glaring at Deen with strong mentality and determination. "You wanted me to be your opponent? You got it!"

"Very well… Nothing personal though, but I have to kill you." Deen said preparing himself to fight.

"Same, but not if I defeat you first." Roxas talked as he walked towards his enemy.

[INFORMATION: Defeat Deen!]

[KINGDOM HEARTS 0.2 Birth By Sleep BGM: Wave of the Darkness II]

The two engaged a tremendous swordfight in front of everyone while glaring at each other intensely.

Deen leapt above and tries to land a strong slash on his rival, but Roxas countered guarding himself with his keyblades, though he felt a huge strength coming out from Deen's sword.

They clashed their weapons again with such a brutal level that they both slashed each other without falling to the ground. Deen tried to pierce Roxas but the latter quickly reversed aside and retaliated slashing him few times.

"Heal!" Roxas casted the Curaga magic healing his wounds.

Deen also drank a little portion to heal himself and resume their fighting. "I must admit you're quite good at using two weapons, those really hurt."

"You're a quite good fighter too." Roxas also praised his skills getting ready to strike.

The two surged at each other clashing their respective weapons ferociously, at this precise second, Roxas saw that Deen left himself open to be finally struck by a strong Ars Arcanium combo.

"You're finished!" Roxas exclaimed as he performed a critical Zantetsuken finishing move on Deen, defeating him in the process.

[Music stops]

"I guess, that I must be eliminated by your own hands…" Deen said as he saw his death coming, however, Roxas didn't look like he had any reason to kill him.

"No… you didn't seem evil that had to be eliminated, I mean, you were just following orders from Grieth, I take it?" he said as he showed his respects towards his rival.

"That's right… You're correct." Deen was taken aback for his merciful attitude. "Now I am not so sure if I should work under Grieth any longer…"

"Why don't you join us?" Celica attempted to persuade him. "You don't look like you are willing to work for that man after all."

"Really? I thought I was doomed to be his lapdog forever… Fine, I'll join you guys, but only because I have no reason to be that man's bitch." Deen accepted her request stating his biggest reason to change sides. "Any way, you Roxas?"

"I am. And you are…?"

"Deen, I worked under Grieth, the northern dessert was my watch." He talked dryly without caring about his former boss anymore. "I have to say that, you refrained from killing a tough rival like me, seems that you know when to show respect, quite the gamble. You got a lot of stones, and I like leaders with stones."

"Thanks, I have gone through a lot of tough battles." Roxas explained him the reason of being a strong warrior.

"Heh. I can see why." Deen said showing sort of respect towards his former enemy and now an ally.

[Deen joined your party]

/

GRIETH'S CITADEL

Meanwhile, one of Grieth's henchmen came to him to let out the worst of the news for his boss. "Grieth! Boss! That girl and the boy in black coat are here along with their band of idiots!"

"What the hell are the rest of the men DOING?!" Grieth snarled expressing anger. "I need 'em to FIGHT!"

"Um, it doesn't look like they're moving, boss." His henchman said in frustration, and he came to notice Deen coming among Roxas's army. "And… it looks like Deen has sided with those assholes…"

"WHAT?! What the fuck did you say?! …Fucking shit! So I've been betrayed, have I?" Grieth snapped out in a huge dismay. "Gah! Fine. Just… fine! I'll just go out there and crush this fucking girl and that stupid boy ALL BY MYSELF!"

Grieth was more than mad that he had been betrayed by Deen, and maybe Sonya, who had retreated to hide somewhere else, he was determined to finish off Celica and Roxas to try to fulfill Desaix's wicked business and all…

Roxas and his party finally reached Grieth's citadel, the true stronghold they all had to seize and take control over.

"Looks like we made it." Atlas talked with determination.

"That's right, this is Grieth's citadel, guys." Deen affirmed the team. "We have to watch our backs, he's got a great army with him.

"Good to know." Celica realized of the amount of the henchmen that Grieth had at his arsenal.

Suddenly, Grieth showed up in the entrance with a wicked smile gazing at the girl. "Well, lookie here—it's Sofia's crown princess! Ain't you just FANCY!"

"How…" Celica was shocked upon hearing a compromising information by the man's mouth. "Who told you that?"

"Well, lemme think a second… Who could it have been?" Grieth ignored her question in a challenging gaze. "You know what? It don't matter. Fact is, I owe you my thanks. While you royals were lounging about ignoring your own kingdom, I was becoming a VERY RICH MAN! You people turned Sofia into a place where only the strong survive. Shit, now it's the splitting image of Rigel itself, doncha think?"

"You may think yourself something fine…" Celica replied being upset for his brutal statements, sentencing him. "but your days as a predator are done!"

"Let's get him!" Boey exclaimed as the whole party stormed in Grieth's stronghold.

The whole stronghold was filled with archers, arcanists, and axe holders.

Roxas, Mathilda, Catria, Palla, Atlas, Deen, Kamui and Saber took care of the arcanists and the axe holders while Celica, Leon, Boey, and Genny dealt with the archers using their respective techniques they had.

Then, they came to meet with some mysterious masked women with long reddish hair. "Who are those women?" Celica asked in intrigue.

"Ugh… Witches." Saber answered her question in disgust.

"Do you know them?" Roxas made a question in the same manner as Celica.

"This whole thing is a bit outta my realm of expertise, but apparently offering up your soul to Duma buys you enormous magic power" Saber state them an ugly truth about those type of women's capacity. "Problem is, you basically turn into a living-husk sort of… thing."

"No way…" Roxas said in shock after hearing that frightening statement.

"That's horrific!" Celica seconded in dismay.

"it's also why the empire's so strong. I'm sure the Deliverance has its hands full." Saber was somewhat aware of the biggest problem the Deliverance had to overcome.

"Alm…" Celica's gaze was written in concern about the guy who had been risking his life every day as a leader of his own army.

"He will be fine, now let's focus on defeating those girls." Roxas said asking her to not worry about Alm for now and focus on their survival.

The witches tried to hit them with the black magic, but the three swiftly dodged their attacks and retaliated striking them down with their respective skills they had.

Roxas and Atlas finished the remaining Grieth's henchmen off until they eventually stumbled into the last but toughest enemy they have known… "You must be Grieth, aren't you?" Roxas confronted him.

"It's over, you filthy bastard!" Atlas sentenced him.

"Oh, yer Highness… My kingdom may fall today…" Grieth said in threatening voice. "But I'm GONNA DRAG YOU ALL TO HELL WITH ME!"

[INFORMATION: Defeat Grieth!] *inserts Roxas's KH2 original PS2 audio clips*

"Not gonna happen!" Roxas said as he surged against him and clashed their weapons with such brutality.

Grieth almost lost balance and retaliated giving a horizontal swing on Roxas, but he didn't fall on his knees as he immediately got back up.

"Fire!" Roxas shouted as he casted his magic on Grieth, who freaked out feeling the heat on his skin.

"What the hell was that?! Are you trying to FUCKING burn me?!" Grieth screamed in fury as he managed to put the fire out.

Grieth surged against Roxas to clash their weapons running around the stronghold, Roxas guarded himself with his keyblades to protect himself from his attacks until he managed to counter and stagger Grieth making him lose balance.

Roxas didn't waste his chance to attack him with a streak of fast-paced slashes on Grieth until with one last sent him to the ground.

"I will not die… I will not die until I fuck you up!" Grieth got back up showing a huge madness on his face, he was desperate, he was so desperate to kill Roxas and take Celica with him.

"He's become insane!" Kamui said in shock. "Roxas, be careful!"

"I'm aware of that!" he replied paying attention to his enemy.

Roxas prepared himself to fight one last round however, Grieth's insanity took over and this made him surged against Roxas furiously, much to his shock.

Grieth swung his sword madly against him while the latter was dodging most of his attacks as he read his movements.

Suddenly, Roxas lost his balance and fell to the ground, however, he quickly reacted picking up his keyblades and protected himself from Grieth's incoming slash on his face. The keyblade wielder soon retaliated using the power of Reflega to surge against him and proceeded to strike giving him a strong number of slashes sending him flying above, and then Roxas leapt and finished him off with Zantetsuken and sent him back to the ground, crushing the floor.

"You didn't… win nothin'…. There's gone be… another me… There's always… another me…" Grieth said in weak voice before eventually closing his eyes and dying.

"Is he dead?" Leon asked in surprise for his actions.

"Seems so." Roxas assured him.

"Course he's dead." Saber assured the team after checking his pulse. "To think you have guts to face tough foes and not be quite intimidated."

"Yeah, I have gone through tough battles, to be honest." Roxas stated remembering his hardships he went through long time ago.

"I can tell that; therefore, you are humble, going through many harsh situations can forge any man." Saber comprehended his words.

/

INSIDE GRIETH'S CITADEL

After killing Grieth and his henchmen, Roxas and the team entered inside the dungeon to look for anyone to rescue, especially Palla's and Catria's sister Est.

The whole party searched everywhere in the citadel for any clue of Est and anyone else. "Atlas! Did you manage to find your brothers?" Celica asked him if he had found his family.

"Yeah, they're safe. Everyone's safe." He happily replied assuring her. "You and Roxas are our saviors, m'lady! Fron this point on, I am yours to command. You just say the word. Now, want me to bust the skulls of any of Grieth's men we might'a missed?"

"N-no, that's… Thank you, Atlas, but I don't think that'll be necessary." Celica kindly denied his request to inflict any means of violence. "Why don't you go spend some time with your family instead?"

"You sure? …Well, all right. I'll do whatever you think it's best." Atlas accepted her suggestion sighing in defeat.

Meanwhile, in the war room, Roxas was looking around the place when he encountered an unexpected guest sitting down the chair. It was Sonya.

"You?" Roxas said in surprise.

"My goodness. These black clothes… You really are but a child." she replied in the same manner.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Roxas asked her a question trying to hold back his blushing, all right, Celica having him as his bodyguard wasn't enough, then, he had a little crush on Mathilda when she joined his team, and now he encountered the Grieth's former henchwoman sitting there.

"Sonya. I assume you've heard at least the name?" Sonya introduced herself in a suggestive voice, trying to tease him.

"Ah, so that's you." Roxas deduced remembering the moment when he came to hear Grieth commanding her and Deen from afar. "I owe you thanks. Had you pursued us, we couldn't have defeated Grieth. You did fine in staying where you are."

"I get the feeling you knew all along that's how I would react." Sonya comprehended his statement before resuming her teasing attitude. "Quite the clever one, aren't you … it's a bit infuriating. Still I'll wager your friends are seldom bored. Maybe I'll just have to join up and see. If there's room for one more, that is? I'm certain you won't regret it. Besides… I like men with guts, and you do have guts."

"Well, that shouldn't be bad after all, you can join us if you want. "Roxas gave her the green light to be part of the party.

"Thank you, handsome guy, Roxas, was it?" Sonya happily accepted.

"Yes, that's me."

[Sonya joined your party!]

Meanwhile, Celica and the others were searching around the citadel for Est to get her out of the cell, she wasn't so far enough as to disappear from the Earth, no, she must be there nearby.

"Hey! Over here!" Est called them making them turn their gaze at her behind the bars.

"That voice… Est!" Catria said as she noticed her. "Thank god she's fine!"

Celica managed to open the cell set Est free and make her reunite with her beloved sisters with their open arms. "Palla! Catria!" Est said smiling at them.

"Est! Oh, I'm so glad you're safe!" Palla said happily. "Do you have any idea how much worry you've caused us?"

"I'm sorry, Palla, but I… I…" Est apologized weeping in her sisters' arms. "I was so scareeed! Catriaaa!"

"Wha—? Hey!" Catria calmed her down. "Stop this at once, Est! You're not a child anymore.

"B-But… But I… Can't I be the kid sister just this once? After everything I went through?" Est request them to behave like a child.

"But it's not just "this once."" Catria said seeing some problems with her childish behavior. "That's the problem. You're never anything but the kid sister."

"That is totally not true!" Est whined annoyed by her statement, almost starting to argue, if not for Palla who stepped in the middle. "Enough, you two. We're reunited for five minutes, and already you're at each others' throats? Honestly…"

"Hee hee." Celica left out a light chuckle and the sisters turned their gaze to her and the others. "Oh, Celica, Roxas!" Palla said asking for apologize with her sisters' behavior. "I apologize for the scene my sisters caused."

"Don't be silly—I'm just glad the three of you are all right." Celica made her see that her apologize was not necessary.

"We wouldn't be if you guys hadn't help us." Palla acknowledged their actions that saved their lives. "There's no way Catria and I could have done this by ourselves. Thank you, Celica, Roxas. Truly."

"That's what we are for." Roxas nicely said back.

"Thanks so much for saving me! My name's Est, by the way." Est thanked them before introducing herself and explained the situation. "I was kidnapped by pirates in Archanea and brought here."

"The pirates kidnapped you?" Roxas asked her out of curiosity.

"Yeah, they did it. I'd really like to hurry home, but… Well, it wouldn't be right to run off before thanking you for your help." Est assured him expressing her interest join the team. "I'd like to fight with you, if you have me. What do you say?"

"That's cool! Welcome to the team, Est!" Celica accepted her request, making her part of the army.

Roxas and the others looked for some more people to flee the cells, and then, they came to find a female cleric and get her out of the cell.

"I owe you thanks beyond measure for saving me." The cleric thanked them for their good actions. "My name is Irma, and I serve at the Temple of Mila. …Or I did, I suppose."

"You serve at the temple? How did you end up here?" Roxas spoke while asking her how did she end in the cell.

"In truth, this place has been my only home for many a long year." Irma replied with a lot of melancholy on her voice. "I fear greatly what may have been transpired at the temple…"

"So you're an attendant to Mila? Interesting…" Celica said being amazed at her explanation. "We're actually making our way to the temple right now."

"Is that so? Then might I ask—" Irmas was about to interrogate Celica when she noticed something, something that got her attention, her hair, eyes, her body, everything… "By the Mother! Are you…? No, you couldn't be…"

"Eh, I'm sorry?" Celica said out of puzzle on her face, why was Irma reacting this way?

"Ah… F-forgive me." Irma apologized by her sudden change of humor, before finally explaining her. "It's just that you bear a striking resemblance to Lady Liprica.

"Liprica?" Celica and Roxas said in unison in surprise. "That's… my mother's name." Celica spoke confirming the cleric's suspicions.

"Then it's true! You're her!" Irma figured out Celica's kinship with that woman. "You're Princess Anthiese!"

"Anthiese?!" Roxas had his face written in surprise, who thought that Celica had her real name hidden from everybody? "Celica's real name is… Anthiese?"

"Yes! She is!" Irma affirmed him with a warm smile. "Mila be praised, you're alive!"

"Are you saying you know my mother?!" Celica nodded to their affirmation before interrogating the cleric. "Please, you… you must tell me everything you can about her. I never had a chance to know her, you see…"

"It would be an honor. Your highness." Irma agreed to explain everything to her. "Where shall I begin…?"

And then… she proceeded to tell them the story of Celica's mother… "Like myself, Lady Liprica was a sister in the service of Mother Mila. But all that ended once King Lima's royal procession arrived at the temple. Lady Liprica's beauty caught his eye, and she was stolen away in the night. He took her to this castle and forced her to join his seraglio of countless brides. Despite the luxury, I expect life in the castle proved most difficult for her. She soon took ill, and left this world shortly after bearing Your Highness."

"Mother…" Celica sniffed while hearing her mother's story, her face was full of sadness.

"I'm sorry…" Roxas comforted her showing empathy as he placed one hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, Celica."

"I am so very sorry, Princess Anthiese." Irma offered her condolences for her late mother. "But I would implore you to spare your tears. Lady Liprica thought only of your health and happiness until her final breath."

"She's right, your mom wanted you to be happy, don't be sad." Roxas said with a smile to cheer her up.

"Lady Liprica also left something for you, Your Highness." Irma handed her over an important object leaving her stunned.

"For me?"

"Aye, milady. It is a circlet that proves your royal standing." Irma showed her something that turned to be a ring which proved her to be the true princess. "She asked that it be given to you once you were of age."

"A circlet…? You can't mean the royal crown?!" Celica was taken aback that Irma had given her the ring, and confused. "Surely my mother had caused to hate the monarchy above all else?"

"I fear I know not what her intentions were, milady." Irma admitted she didn't have any clue about her behavior towards Lima and his monarchy. "Nor have I the means of asking now. But, Your Highness… I know a time will come when your mother's heart grows clear to you.

Celica felt like she wanted to cry, but, she wiped out her tears and looked forward the Cleric. "The circlet is stored in the temple vault. I shall make my way there now. I must tell everyone that Her Highness Anthiese has returned to us! I will await your arrival at the temple. May Mila's blessing be upon you always."

"So… let's head to the temple, shall we?" Roxas invited her to resume their quest to Mila's temple.

/

Valley Approach

While Celica's army were on their way, Berkut and his Rigelian army had taken approach in the valley, given that they were tasked to storm the temple of Mila and everything, however, Berkut had a better idea.

"We will stay here for the time being, men." He commanded them longing to meet Roxas in person. "There's a rumor that an honored guest of us is coming…"

"Really? Are you sure he will come here?" Fernand questioned him if he was certain.

"Rumors do flow everywhere, genius." Berkut gave a strong statement expressing a strong interest in fighting Roxas, aside of letting out an evil laugh. "If this boy is as powerful as the rumors say… then maybe I can have some fun messing with this guy instead of this asshole prince Alm…"

Unbeknownst to everybody, the mysterious hooded woman was hiding between the grass, trees and shrubs to avoid being seen, she was such a sneaky girl to watch over everyone's steps. What was she doing there?

END OF CHAPTER 8

Aaand so this is how the chapter ends, Roxas and his army head to the temple of Mila but they will encounter lots of obstacles to get there. Also, it seems that Berkut is gonna make his move against Roxas, which means in this version, he will become Celica's route antagonist although he may still play with Alm but he will mess with the keyblade wielder mostly.

Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Any good feedback is welcome. See you.