Chapter Thirty-One

Darkness. I felt this before. The Outrealm gate took me to the empty void. This was the same dark arena the fell dragon sent me before it met his demise. However, the terror-inducing blackness held no power. Grima's bondage were weak once again. The mental torment was not existing. The bonds of hopeless despair shattered, giving way to blissful resurrection. Light came into the world and all who bore witness confirmed. Light overcame the darkness. The light was ethereal for a moment, then went by as quickly as it arrived. A body appeared, yet still had that aura of heavenliness. The light won.

"Phil!" Chrom cried out.

The Shepherds got up from their knees and found renowned inner strength. The confidence built up in their hearts as their tactician moved with every step. Phil made it out alive and if he can survive wherever he went, they could make it through anything, they thought. Or perhaps they saw the new giant sword at my side and became intrigued.

"Phil! The hell, man?" Vaike exclaimed.

"Not quite, Teach, but close enough," I answered calmly. I looked behind and saw awe and determination in the eyes of the Shepherds. "Now, draw your weapons and follow me!" I paced briskly then went full-on sprint towards the fell dragon's head.

A rush of wind to my back trailed the roars of battle cries. Ignoring the Grimleal slaves, I had a bigger fish to fry. Trusting in the Shepherds was well placed as Chrom, his exalted Falchion, and his allies tore apart the cultist zombies to purple mist. As my eyes fixated to the doppelganger, I noticed in my peripheral that the enemy didn't charge after me. That was a mistake not questioning as the other self stood stoic. I took out Ragnell and flipped it around to show I meant business. Lifting the blade over my flushed face, I screamed murder upon reaching striking distance. The sword came down…slowly. The target motioned its hands and morphed into the opposite of a grotesque entity.

"Cor…Cordelia?" I asked, trembling.

Grima either became the pegasus knight or created an illusion. The crimson haired woman stood motionless in front of me.

"Cordy?"

This time, it responded.

"Hello, Darling."

She swung her hips as she glided to me. Using her index finger, she picked up my jaw. Was this really happening? My neck creaked as it rotated but was hindered by a set of warm hands. I put away Ragnell.

"No, look at me. It's me, your love."

The pools of red dazzled in her eyes. I soaked in all her features to confirm it was her, but it didn't feel right. I had to look back and find the real Cordelia. But the grasp of hands still on my face was too strong.

"Stop! It's me! Don't you love me?"

With no hesitation, I spoke a word that was painful, yet necessary.

"No."

Her hands dropped and her face scrunched up. "No? Excuse me, what do you mean 'no'?"

My lips curled, "You heard me. I love someone else. I always have. She's-"

"His wife," A female voice barked out in the distance. Turning around, I saw the Shepherds behind me making way for a brunette woman in a yellow cardigan with a grey undershirt and red scarf. Her pants were dark blue jeans and she wore brown boots. This was a typical outfit my wife would wear. She even sounded like her. All my senses told me this woman approaching me was my spouse, but my heart didn't.

I pointed at her with a shaking finger, "My love…you…you are supposed to be dead."

"Honey, it's me!" She skipped forward and cupped my cheeks. "I didn't die! I was only unconscious when you found me. If only you were around for a while longer, you would have realized…but I'm fine! See?"

She took my hands, grasping them. They felt freezing to the touch. Her breath of cold air tickled my neck. The clothes and skin were clean, no trace of blood from the last time I saw her. Her scent smelled of lavender.

"Sweetie," she continued. "Don't you see now? I'm here for you!" Her hands loosened and snaked around my back. I reciprocated.

"Now, come, let's go back home. You don't need her. You belong to me." she whispered into my ear.

The wording was eccentric; she would never say anything like that. I wanted to confirm one more thing. My head tilted and stared into her eyes. The first time ever I gazed into them, different shades of blue swirled together. I told her many times that her eyes sparkled like the galaxies. On this day, they did not. The blues were absent and replaced with greens. Then I saw the final tell; a translucent red growing. My fingers gripped Ragnell.

"Not going to fall for it, I have a purpose, to stop you, once and for all."

I smirked as I spun and walked over to Cordelia. The pace was methodically slow. The tip of the blade focused on the crimson woman.

"I have had enough with your games, Grima. You think you can toy with me?" I grunted, gnashing my teeth. "You killed the one I loved the most. Many more suffered and perished under your wings. You entered my mind and played games with me. The nightmares, the dreams, the mirages. It was all you! I will not submit to you! Your reign of terror is over. I have been given another chance and I won't waste it. You don't mess with me, you understand!?"

I felt a bump in my pocket and reached in with my empty hand. The 3DS reflected the red skies. I looked at it for one last time and smashed it on the back of the dragon. A rumble in the skies roared and Grima screamed.

The illusion showed its true colors with a deep hiss. What was at one moment a woman, now reverted into a man with glowing eyes.

"What!? But how?"

My face drew red with sweat, "You gave it away with her eyes."

"What are you doing?!"

I answered the beast, "For once, I'm glad you and I are the same. Now I can give my life to protect those I care for. The evils you would visit on this world are unthinkable. In some way, I—we share the blame. It's only right we meet our end together!"

Ragnell flipped up and buried its way into Grima's stomach. The aberration shrieked like a banshee, bleaching out a blast of wind. I continued to thrust the sword inward so that the tip exited through the back. A waterfall of blood spilled out while the monster dropped the spell. The illusion of my wife vanished. I jerked Ragnell out of the body and raised it above the head of Grima.

"No regrets!"

A quick swoosh of the sword. The blow was so great, the blade got caught on the ground. It didn't matter. The head rolled off the back of the giant dragon and disappeared into the clouds. It was over. Grima was finally defeated forevermore. The body went up in black smoke then disappeared. I collapsed to my knees after expelling all my energy.

"Phil!" Chrom yelled while running over. "It is over. You did it!"

An otherworldly voice echoed in the skies, "Well done, Awakener and friends." Naga used her powers to teleport us to the grassy field below.

"My services are no longer needed," Naga's humanly form appeared in front of the Shepherds. "May you enjoy everlasting peace with the demise of the fell dragon. I suppose I will be seeing you soon, great warrior."

She pointed at me before she disappeared back to her throne room. No doubt all of us would meet her again, but I knew why she specified me out of all the Shepherds. I struck the final blow on Grima. I knew what the consequences were, and I accepted.

For Ricken. For Maribelle. For Emmeryn. For my wife and all future generations. For the Shepherds.

"Phil?" Chrom cried out, holding onto his wife and daughter. They saw it, all the Shepherds watched with watery cheeks.

"Chrom, it's ok," I looked down and watched as the fingers withered away first, "I'll be ok. We did it, friend."

The hands and arms went next. I glanced up to see a wall of beloved people surrounding me. Each one embraced me tightly.

"Thank you for giving me purpose, all of you. I'll never forget the bonds we forged and share." My tears flowed as much as everyone's. The torso withered away next, with my face last. I smiled once time.

"Please, smile." I requested, "This is not the end, but a beginning…for you all. May we meet again, in a better life."

Wiping their faces, they reciprocated. My final images were of Chrom and his family before turning to the blue sky above. The mouth moved but spoke no words. If one could read lips, they understood what was breathed out.

I love you.

His last thoughts were of his wife.

And with that, Phil was no more. No one dared to move away for a minute. Reflecting on all that transpired, the Exalt ended the silence.

"The war has ended, my friends. Never again will the fell dragon trouble our world. I owe you all far more than words can ever repay. Especially Phil, who gave himself to save us all. To save all the worlds to come."

Lissa ran around to her brother and hugged him, still crying. "Poor Phil, after all he did for us…"

"Don't cry, sister. Have faith we will see him again. If our bonds are strong enough, we will. This isn't over. I believe Phil is out there, somewhere. And I'll find him, if it takes me the rest of my days, I'll find him."

Lissa dried her eyes, "You're right! He has to be out there somewhere and we'll find a way to bring him home. Even if we have to search every open field in this whole stupid world!"

The Shepherds nodded in agreement. Each member muttered to themselves acknowledgement of the heroics of the man from the future.

Cordelia ended the banter with a declaration, "Too many times now have I watched loved ones give their lives for me. I must hold on to faith that this time will be different. Let us grieve for today, for tomorrow, we will begin our search." The queen sighed and her tears ceased.

Chrom held her body against his. "Phil has secured for us all the most precious gift: a future. Now it falls upon our shoulders to protect what was given. I vow to give my all to healing the damage this war has wrought upon the realm. When Phil returns, I want him to see what his sacrifice bought." The lord released his wife and looked up, whispering, "Phil, if you can hear me...you will always have a place here with us. Remember that. Always."

The path to recovery was slow. The markets were up and running in a matter of months, along with basic home structures. But the castle of Ylisstol would take many years before full restoration was complete. The official coronation of Chrom and Cordelia was expedited immediately in order for the rebuild process to go smoothly as possible. Everyone from commoner to nobility attended the massive ceremony, streaming with blues, reds and whites. Full peace and tranquilly ushered in a new era under Chrom's rule.

The Shepherds either returned to their homeland or stayed within the city limits. As Ylisse's new knight captain, Frederick took charge of keeping the peace and training new recruits. Few ever forgot his glowing smile and idle quips, even as he doled out tasks that would break a wyvern. Kellam departed Ylisse for a long journey. Of course, it took Chrom and the others several years to notice his absence.

Donnel returned to his tiny village and built a happy life with his mother and Lissa. Still, the latter insisted on breaking up the monotony, and the couple often traveled to far-flung markets.

Gaius never lost his sweet tooth, though he ultimately returned to less savory enterprises. His wife, Sumia, raised pegasi, and her flower-petal readings were said to bring good luck to all.

Vaike returned to the streets that raised him and was welcomed as a hero and brother to all. Still, he was no match for Sully, who dragged her poor husband on countless missions in the name of Ylisse.

Lon'qu returned to Regna Ferox and served as Basilio's right-hand man. Cherche knit many wool caps to shield her husband from the bitter Feroxi winters—and, of course, a cap for her dear wyvern, Minerva.

Stahl continued his service as an Ylissean knight and led crucial missions across the realm. Olivia spent years trying to get her husband to pay attention, but the two still built a fine life together.

Gregor briefly sank into a life of excess. It was his wife, Panne, who broke the cycle and invited him to see her warren, after which the two traveled from land to land as mercenaries.

Virion returned home to Rosanne, where he was labeled a traitor and a coward, or else ignored entirely. Thankfully, his wife Nowi's flair for drama was entertaining enough to keep the mob's pitchforks at bay.

Henry settled down with Tharja and turned out to be a surprisingly good husband. Their antics of magical prowess amazed the locals during their rare times of bickering.

Many an unfortunate child found joy in the small orphanage Libra and his wife built after the war. The children were said to love Libra like a mother but flee in terror at the sight of Miriel.

Basilio and Flavia came to realization of mutual love and united Regna Ferox as one country. They ruled together with an iron fist and unlimited amounts of beer at their disposal.

Lucina left without a trace, but not without saying a teary good-bye to her father and mother. No one knows where she ran to. Some speculated into the future in her own timeline.

"My lord! We have a report of most urgency!" A man in silver armor approached the throne of the Lowell's.

"Speak," calmly exclaiming the Exalt.

The messenger unrolled the scroll and proceeded to read out loud. The findings of the search were fruitful, causing the king and queen to jump out of their seats.

"Send me my horse at once!"

Cordelia took a hold of his hands. "Please, let me come!"

Chrom shook his head, "No, my love. You stay here. Someone must fulfill my duties while I am away, and no one better to do so than you, my sweet Cordy."

She let him go. "Ok, my love, I understand. But can you not go alone? Please, take your sister with you."

The lord rubbed his chin and smiled. "Ok, for you, I'll take Lissa."

"Please be safe!" Cordelia held onto her husband for as long as he permitted.

"I will return safely, I promise."

"Chrom, we have to do something."

"What do you propose we do?"

"I dunno."

A man, sleeping in peace in the field, was awakened by two familiar faces. The puzzled looks turned joyful when he yawned.

"I see you're awake now," stated the smiling blue-haired man.

The blonde lady giggled. "Hey there!"

"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know," Chrom offered to bring the stranger to his feet, stretching out an arm. "Give me your hand."

The man accepted, revealing a hand free from any tattoos and markings. When he got his footing underneath him, the short man gazed into Chrom's eyes before glancing around. Comprehension followed suit after checking his surroundings. He smiled when the memories of the two came flooding back.

"Welcome back. It's over now."