Chapter 52: Siege

Lissa didn't care for the look of the clouds. They boiled up on the horizon and pulsed with lightning, making the night all the more ominous.

"Lady Lissa, you should get some rest." Frederick told her, concern clear on his face. "I'm certain the sea will still be there when you wake."

Lissa frowned at that, looking over the sea again. She kept hoping that somehow, Robin or Chrom would break through the waves.

"You… You think Chrom is out there?" She found herself asking, hoping Frederick would reassure her. Instead he rubbed at his head, looking uncertain.

"I… If what you saw is true, I've no doubt he can survive." Lissa frowned over the 'if.' Frederick couldn't seem to fully believe her, no matter what she and the Wreckage expedition said. "If that's the case, then he'll appear when the time is right… That's what I hope at least."

Lissa frowned over all of it; Frederick still hadn't shed his cautious nature, and wasn't prone to hope. It made her own prayers feel like a fool's hope, in comparison. She wanted to argue with him… Only for a hand to fall over Lissa's shoulder. She jolted around to see Lucina, trying to give Lissa a sympathetic look.

"I… I'm sure he's alright. I caught glimpses of him battling the pirates, and saw just how tough he was."

'But would all of you believe me, if I told you what else I saw?' Lissa didn't half believe it herself. That Chrom had somehow changed everything she knew… And changed into one of the merfolk. 'Maybe I imagined it all; gods only know how much sea water I drank.'

She forced herself to nod at Lucina, before turning her back to the sea. In it's place, she examined Frederick and the Shepherd.

The wounds from Wreckage had mostly healed, on both ship and crew. She saw Morgan close by as well, shadowing Lucina and still looking worried. She still wondered about them, about their uncanny similarity to Chrom.

"I… I don't think I'm really cut out for this leadership thing. I wonder how Chrom ever managed…" Lissa muttered under her breath. Then louder "But I'm also getting tired of Valm and Plegia thinking they can harass us, and bleed us out. I want to take the fight to them for a change."

"I-Is that truly wise milady?" Frederick asked, while Morgan gave Lissa a surprised blink.

"N-nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, I'm pretty sure even Ferox is getting sick of fighting them all the time. We can't just cower on our island, while they keep sticking their necks out for us. Not if we want to keep the alliance intact."

As she spoke, Frederick drew in a sharp breath, and Lucina's hand went to the blade at her side; suddenly a tense mood settled over the Shepherd, as everyone but her braced for a fight. Lissa twisted around, looking over her shoulder; ships were riding in on the early storm winds, and scythed through the evening mist.

"Do we call everyone to battle stations-?" Frederick asked, and Lissa could feel him tensing up.

"W-wait." Lissa told him, trying to get a closer look at the approaching ships. "I… It's hard to tell with how dark everything is, but… Those sails don't look like they belong to Valm, or Plegia."

Morgan darted forward, a looking glass in his hands; Lissa took one look at it, and had a notion on where Virion's telescope had ended up. Morgan ignored her suspicious glance, perching on the railing instead and training the glass on the ships.

"I… I think the sails are blue! And the lead one has… Wolves on it, I think? And something black and white-"

"Wolves and sea wolves." Frederick named the heraldry. "And only one nation claims those symbols."

"Ferox!" Lissa finished the thought, and whirled to Frederick. "We need to bring the Shepherd in close to them, quick as we can!"

The Shepherd all but surged forward under Frederick's guidance, while Lissa rushed to the prow, ready to great the Feroxi ships. They drew closer with each breath, until they were within shouting distance.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes!" Came a familiar voice; one that lifted Lissa's spirits.

Flavia was at the helm of her own ship, with fresh chinks in her armor, but still standing strong.

"Sounds and looks like you've been through some prize scrapes." Flavia told them, appraising their ship with a grin. "Almost makes me wish I was there."

"Ah, woman… You've got some bloodlust." That was Basilio as well. "But… You've also got a point. What in the depths have you lot been up to?"

"Oh, you know." Lissa felt a laugh go into her voice. "The usual; picking fights with Plegia and Valm, getting saved by freak sea patterns, sometimes fearing for our lives…"

"We've got a lot to catch up on. What say you jump aboard my ship… We can relay what's going on while our ships sail."

Lissa quickly discovered that Flavia kept a pristine cabin. The lanterns cast a warm glow, and Flavia served up a mulled wine that further warmed the body and chased away any evening chill. Lissa gladly sipped it, though her escorts choked a little on the flavor.

"Looks like you've been collecting tide touched while I was gone." Flavia said, looking over Morgan and Lucina.

"Y-yeah. They're also short on memories, sorta like Robin." Lissa told Flavia, and quickly found herself explaining everything that had transpired. Flavia listened with rapt attention… And noticed when Lissa faltered, as she discussed falling from the docks.

"So how exactly did you survive your dip in the ocean?"

"It… It was Chrom. He plucked me out of the ocean. And I… I don't really know what else happened. It all blurred together." She wondered if Flavia could tell she was half-fibbing, with the piercing look the commander gave Lissa.

"I know it sounds crazy but… I KNOW it was him! No one else could fight like that, and it looks like he learned how to swim, thanks to Robin."

That was as close to the truth as she wanted to get.

"And now… I want us to head into Valm. They… They've got to be reeling from the last couple of skirmishes we've had. So now is the perfect time to strike at them, and really knock them back! I know it sounds crazy but…"

"Oh, we've seen and done crazier things." Flavia said. "With all our scuffles between Valm and Plegia… It's a wonder we keep getting out by the skin of our teeth."

But for all that, Flavia was still grinning.

"If you don't mind me asking… How did you survive?" Morgan asked.

"Mostly with a little help." Came a new voice, as the door of the cabin creaked open. Lissa stared at the newcomer… And at the uncanny resemblance she had to Robin. They shared the same pale hair, even the same taste in coats. But this stranger had a few more years on her, a little more wisdom lining her face than Robin.

But even with those differences, a jolt moved through Lissa all the same. Just like when she'd first met Morgan and Lucina.

"Who… Who is this, exactly?" Lissa asked, staring at the newcomer.

"M-Morgana…" Lucina named the figure. The way she was looking at Morgana, Lissa had the feeling they'd met before.

"Yes. I'm afraid I've been busy with the Feroxi and advising them." Morgana admitted. "We've also had our hands full, fighting skirmishes up and down the coast line."

"She's been invaluable." Flavia provided. "We would've lost most of our ships without her strategies and tide reading. And she's had a knack for letting spells fly and hit home perfectly."

"Be that as it may, we've still been hard pressed… And I'm inclined to agree, with what I've heard from Lissa's plan. A strike into Valm might well cripple them, and give us all some much needed breathing room."

Morgana gestured to the eastern window, and the faint starlit islands. Lissa gazed out the window as well, wondering if they were looking at the border of Ylisse. "You have a kingdom that needs rebuilding, after the scars it suffered from Gangrel. And as a consequence, we need to do something about Valm and Plegia."

"Well, my men are still spoiling for a fight. We're good for this plan!" Flavia turned to Lucina and Morgan. "You two mind playing courier, and get a message to the Shepherd? We need all the ships we can get, and we need to move swiftly if we're going to catch Valm with their trousers down!"

Morgan snorted at Flavia's words… But also hesitated. A similar pained look crossed over Lucina, and both their gazes rested on Morgana.

"Please?" Lissa added her voice. "Flavia's right; we need to move fast, now that we've got enough ships."

"I… I guess we can…" Morgan still hesitated.

"Don't worry; I won't up and vanish again; our goals align right now." Morgana told them; and there was an odd gentleness that filled her voice. Lucina bowed with a stiff neck, before putting a hand on Morgan's back and nudging him out the door. Leaving Lissa alone with Flavia and Morgana.

"M-Morgana, you said? If you don't mind me asking, where are you from?" Morgana's arched eyebrow prompted Lissa to continue. "Y-you see, you remind me of someone. A girl named Robin-"

"Robin!" The name left her as a gasp. Morgana clapped her hand over her mouth, looking abashed that the name has leaked out.

"You know her?" Lissa found herself pressing. Desperate for some sort of answers, after so many mysteries.

"I should… She's my daughter." This time it was Lissa's turn to gape. She tried to find some form of words, but a dozen questions crowded her tongue; where Morgana had been, why her daughter had lost her memory, if Morgana knew why or how everything had happened-

So all she could manage was "Whatawhyhow'd-?"

Morgana barely cracked a smile at that jumble. There was clear regret lingering in her eyes.

"I've been unable to see her, for so long…" Morgana whispered. "I had to leave her behind, and I'm not proud of that. But it was the only route I could think of. And the only way to spare her from a king's wrath, until she was strong enough to weather that storm…"

Morgana trailed off.

"That's what I continue to tell myself, but sometimes I… Doubt, and worry if I made the best choice-"

"Sh-she turned out pretty well, if you ask me." Lissa blurted out. "And… I think she did pretty well for herself. She became our navigator, and found a home among our crew. Maybe we'll get to meet her again. I know she's out there…"

Though Lissa didn't want to bring up that the last time she saw Robin, she'd also somehow become part fish.

Morgana didn't comment on her hesitation; instead a hopeful look had crossed her face.

"So… She did make friends among the other kingdoms. Maybe that means…" Morgana trailed off, turning to the door.

"H-hey! Where are you going!?" Lissa chased after her.

"I'm going to ready the plans with our crew; I have one more thing to fight for now. One more thing to hope towards."

-o-o-o-

Chrom wiped the rainwater from his eyes, staying low to the floor as Robin put her ear against a door. The tower loomed above them, standing firm against the storm. Robin shut her eyes to better hear over the patter of rain and surf.

Chrom grit his teeth as she listened, trying not to shiver or chatter his teeth. It wasn't just cold seeping into his skin and past the rags. His form felt watery and the storm was only growing worse.

He was ready to face a battalion of soldiers if it meant getting out of the rain.

"I don't hear anyone on the other side." Robin told him, testing the door handle. The door swung inwards, taking Robin in with it. Chrom rushed after her, and together they scrambled through the hallways. Chrom's heart felt like it was crawling into his throat with each step, ready for an ambush at any moment-

And yet, he hadn't found anyone with the look of a soldier. The fortress was like a ruin, with how sparse it was. Water dripped in through the wrought iron windows, and left moss on the stones. That pattering of water was the only sound; no footsteps, no voices… Not even a trace of breathing, outside of himself and Robin.

"It looks like they don't have a lot of soldiers or guards to spare." Robin murmured. "They must be spread thin… Particularly if Walhart wants his navy at full strength."

"Right…" Chrom murmured. "And… We haven't been doing him any favors, with the attacks on his ships-"

A loud slam from a door echoed through the hall, pushing a wince through Chrom. Robin's head snapped towards the sound, eyes narrowed.

"It came from there…" She pointed to a large set of doors, half shrouded in shadow as the torches burned low. Chrom only had to share a look with Robin, before they both prowled forward and eased the door open.

A cavern of a hall waited for them on the other side. The ceiling bent up in a curve, looking unnervingly like the throat of a sea serpent. It was almost as dark as a throat as well, save for the collection of candles wanly supplying glimmers of light. Those candles rested on a long table taking up the center of the hall, and gleamed off the armor of two figures seated at the far end.

Even from this distance, Chrom could recognize Walhart's red armor. He darted behind one of the columns with Robin close behind. But Walhart never noticed them, his gaze fixed to something on the table. A silver haired man stood by his side, gaze trained to the same spot.

"…Damn Naga, and her strife with Grima. The fact that we're dealing with this now means she wasn't strong enough to finish her own fight." Walhart said.

'Blasphemer…' Chrom's thoughts growled, and he bit the inside of his cheek.

His thoughts were stilled by a glimmer of something green, and Chrom glimpsed an object resting on the table. It could have been Azure's twin, colored emerald.

"Vert…" Robin whispered in his ear. Chrom felt himself tense, staring at the gem; Say'ri's goal was almost within reach… But he didn't like the look of Walhart, or his companion. They'd be capable of putting up a fight, if he and Robin lost the element of surprise. And Chrom didn't fancy his chances, without any armor or weapons… And the bits of cloth they draped themselves in suddenly felt all the more threadbare.

His breath shuddered in and out as Chrom watched Walhart… And an old memory boiled to the surface. A memory of being chained to the floor, and having his breath and strength stolen one wave at a time. The memory drove Chrom to his knees, hiding in the shadow of the pillars.

'That was before I could cross between waves and land… But I'm also not in a hurry to find out what else Walhart could do to me.'

"Sir, if you don't trust the gods, then why-?" The silver haired man asked, gesturing to the emerald gemstone.

"Because we can use the tools of the gods, better than they ever could. That slavish devotion is what cuts into your swordsmanship, Yen'fay."

"…I'll make a note of that, sir." Yen'fay lowered his head, hiding his glare as her watched Vert.

They had to do something, and his fingers itched and twitched. The gemstone was within arm's reach… But the candlelight made a ring of light, and he'd be exposed in seconds if he tried to reach for the prize. He also wouldn't be able to manage much in the way of defense, if he didn't want to take Walhart's axe to his back. He twitched, wishing he had a sword at his side.

Yen'fay rested a hand over the hilt of his own sword, easily resting his hand over the grip. Ready to use it at any chance… and Chrom wasn't exactly easy to give him that chance.

'Even with ragged clothes on, I feel naked without the sword.'

"There has to be an opening, if we got this far…" Robin whispered, an odd hitch in her voice. "We're not going back empty handed, I know that much."

Something else lurked in her words; something that was a whimper and a hum all at once. The beginnings of a spell, and he wondered if Robin even knew she was casting.

The storm rumbled again, pushing the sense of urgency… And making him fight back a note of his own, pushing against his throat. The storm was trying to find a foothold in them, he realized; trying to use them as vessels for its power, as it raged against the fortress.

Walhart stepped away from the table and paced back and forth, glaring out the window to the flickers of lightning. It was like the storm was a personal affront to him.

"We still haven't caught any Ylisseans in our net, despite our best efforts… And Gangrel has proven remarkably stubborn with refusing to die."

"Aye, sir…" Yen'fay's voice remained downcast, the same as his eyes. "We seem to be at impasse."

"And we're running out of time. We need to make our stand against the abominations coming out of the sea." Chrom froze at that; so Walhart was well aware of the merfolk… And the threat posed by Validar's forces.

"Still, at least I don't have to worry about you sticking a blade in my back, on top of everything else." Walhart glanced at Yen'fay. "Honor runs in the family, it seems."

"Sir… I realize that you're the only thing standing against the Mer, and the devouring waves." Yen'fay carefully chose his words. "…Though I still…"

He glared at the floor… Before transferring that to the emerald gem. The colors seemed to gleam all the brighter to Chrom… And the gemstone almost rang the longer he looked at it, filling the air with an odd echo. One that begged him to respond.

"I won't ask for your friendship. Only your loyalty." Walhart's response was gruff. "I need that over anything else."

The storm shrieked again, furious at being left out of the discussion, at the fact that the fortress was still standing. Walhart simply glowered at it… All while the hum of the storm settled into Chrom's bones, and made voice hum as well. And he knew that if that spell song grew any louder, Walhart or his guard would pick up on it.

'Quiet.' Chrom begged his voice, tightening his fingers around his own throat. But even the feeling of his fingers bruising his skin wouldn't stop his voice. It was determined to leak out, and resonate with the emerald in his sight.

'Please! We have to stay hidden! I can't give us away like this-!' Chrom desperately tried to tell himself. At his side, Robin gave a shudder… And he realized that she was clutching her own throat, trying to mute her voice. And much like him, she was having mixed success. Something about the gem was conspiring with the storm, pulling at their throats, trying to raise their voices.

And trying to stay silent was like trying to hold back the tides.

Walhart stilled, finally hearing the whimpers and pitch of their voices. Robin clapped a hand over both of their mouths, desperately trying to will it to stop-

Something rumbled outside. A growl of thunder shook the tower, and it seemed to almost echo their voices.

The wind shifted, driving a howling gale through all the windows, throwing them open with a shattering of glass, and brought a razor cold rain with it. The wind paused only when Robin exhaled. The candles snuffed out from the wind, dimming the light. Walhart squinted, grumbling as he stared at the windows, and turning to latch it.

It was the best opening they'd have.

'Come on, get ready!'

His legs were turning to jelly, and with a start, Chrom stared down to the flesh of his knees. The skin had been scraped and melted away by the raindrops, replaced by familiar blue tinged scales.

The keening in the air reached a fever pitch… And a shock traveled through Chrom's half changed legs, throwing him forward. His balance was horribly off, however, and his path took him away from the gemstone. He landed with a crash. Directly into Walhart's path.

He got the feeling Walhart wasn't used to being surprised. Least of all by a merfolk. His eyes widened, the skin painfully stretched as he stared. At Chrom, and his half changed form.

"You-!" He spat out, right before Chrom threw himself forward and into Walhart's legs. He saw Walhart reach for the axe at his side, winced, waited for the blade to fall-

Robin gave a shriek of panic, and the notes in the air reached a crescendo, almost deafening Chrom-

But that was nothing compared to the blaze in Robin's eyes. Vert pulsed once, like it was rippling under Robin's voice. Then the world turned white.

Lightning crashed into the tower, turning the shadows to blinding light. The windows shattered in a hail of glass, and spit of electricity. The lightning streaked the hallway and struck Walhart squarely across the back, turning his strike.

Chrom rolled to the side and felt the axe bite at his ribs; a cut burned its way across his skin, and he wasn't certain how deep the wound ran. His breath burned in time to the injury, but he managed to get just enough air in his lungs to shout.

"ROBIN, NOW!" His answer was a smack of footsteps against tile; the world was slowly blurring back into focus the more he blinked, and struggled to stand. Robin dashed across the floor, snatching up Vert.

She ran to Chrom, her free hand out as she tried to pull him up. Chrom took it, and found himself staring over Robin's shoulder. Yen'fay was whirling, drawing his sword on Robin and lunging at her.

Chrom threw himself upright and into Robin, knocking them both aside as Yen'fay struck. He was fast, and savage as a serpent with steel teeth. Chrom's back burned as he fell forward with Robin; he barely managed to catch himself and stumbled forward, feeling the red of his blood mingle with his rags.

His feet skid on the stones, and no matter Chrom pushed himself, he couldn't manage a run; it was only a matter of time until Yen'fay ran them down, or Walhart shook off the spell-

"We… We need to run!" He wheezed out, risking a glance over his shoulder. Yen'fay and Walhart were already rallying, ready to give chase.

He trailed blood as they ran, Yen'fay and Walhart's strikes leaving spatters on the stone. Leaving an easy trail to follow. Chrom tried to clamp a hand over the wound, but his blood simply trickled between his fingers.

The storm outside seemed to howl… But there was also something else thundering through the air-

This time it was Robin's turn to throw herself and Chrom flat. She desperately tried to shield him, heedless of how his blood smeared against her skin… And at the same moment, the tower exploded around them.

-o-o-o-

Lucina nervously walked the length of the ship and squinted through splashes of rain, watching as the night and the waves both traced by. She knew of the plan; had even relayed it to a cautious Frederick.

She still remembered how the knight had frowned over the orders… But ultimately bowed his head to Lissa's authority.

"…Think everyone is still angry at Valm? Or that they're spoiling for a fight?" Morgan asked, shadowing Lucina's footsteps. The rain pattered off his hood, and soaked into Lucina's hair. She could only give a shrug at that; the Shepherd crew didn't talk much about Valm, but she knew that the rival nation had stolen away important people from them.

'Even people like your father.'

"Do you think… They also hold a grudge against all merfolk?" Morgan pressed.

"I'm not in a hurry to find out… I think it's better to focus on the upcoming battle, instead." Lucina told him. "We should focus on one thing at a time."

At those words, she paused at the spell circle and focused on taking deep breaths; steadying herself. She could just feel the hum of magic and power underneath her feet.

"Besides, I don't want to sit back and let you fight all our battles." She told Morgan. He gave a nervous chuckle at that, neither confirming or denying her statement.

"Well… Thanks for backing me up. And working on those spell circles." Morgan told her. "I'm sure with you helping out, we'll have the Valmese on the ropes in no time!"

"I see it was a good call, assigning you to Ylisse." Lucina turned with Morgan to see a familiar robed figure watching them. Morgana had drawn her hood against the chill of the night.

"Morgana… What are you doing here?" Lucina tried to meet Morgana's eyes, even while the night gloom and hood obscured her face.

"You mean what am I doing onboard the Shepherd? Or what I'm doing with the Feroxi? Or what I'm preparing for?"

"All of the above." Morgan answered for Lucina. "It's… Well, it's been a while. And we've been stumbling our way through everything!"

"But for all that, you've been keeping the Shepherd afloat, along with her crew." Morgana tilted her head and pulled her hood back, just enough so Lucina could see her smile.

"But even so… I wanted to lend you a hand, now that we're traveling together, and getting closer to trouble." As Morgana spoke, she glanced off the boughs of the ship. A collection of islands loomed up, crowned by an ominous looking fortress peeking in and out of mist and sleets of rain.

"Plus, since the Shepherd is taking point, I want to keep an eye on the tides and the storms." Morgana said. "And lend my skills to the fight."

"You… Really think we can stand up against that?" Morgan asked, peering through the mists. Lucina frowned as she followed Morgan's gaze. The castle was blackened and bruised, while the ships were little more than gaunt skeletons.

"The Valmese have taken damage… But if they catch sight of us, we won't stand much of a chance." Morgana whispered, and the humming in the air intensified… With a jolt, Lucina realized Morgana was weaving magic, shrouding the fleet with mist and masking their progress.

"A good trick but… Do we even stand a chance?" Morgan asked.

"If anyone is capable of standing up to Validar, it would be Ylisse and Ferox." Morgana told them, looking back over the assembled ships. "I prayed they'd forge a strong alliance… And it seems like with your help, they have."

A wistful look entered Morgana's face as well.

"I… Hope that Robin and Chrom have helped with that as well. And I hope… I hope that my daughter has found a place to belong, and a person to love."

Lucina stilled at that, and gave Morgana a long look.

"Morgana… I… Does this mean that you're our…" Her words wouldn't quite work correctly. Though at least Morgana understood the question behind them.

"It means that we're kin… Even if we've been displaced by time and form." Morgana said. A strange chill moved through Lucina at that, mingling with an equally odd warm feeling in her heart. "You deserve to know that; that you truly have been thrown through time from your future, thanks to an elaborate spell."

"But… Why?" Morgan spoke up, and it was clear he longed to know more. Lucina shared that feeling, praying Morgana would give them more answers. "Why were WE chosen, and taken through time?"

"Because of your ties to Robin an Chrom… And to the gods." Morgana jolted her head up, as a clanging of alarm bells rang across the ships. Stahl rang their own ship bell, urging the Shepherds to arms. A quick glance across the bow showed a collection of ships, massed just in front of the fortress. "I'm sorry, but the rest of our conversation must wait. It's time for a battle… And hopefully a decisive one."

-o-o-o-

Morgan braced himself as the ships surged forward. The storm winds lent an extra snap to their sails, and sent them racing towards the enemy ships. The Shepherd surged forward, leading the Ylisse and Ferox pack, eager to draw first blood.

And now there was a ferocity to the crew, with how they eagerly and silently drew steel, or readied the spell circles. Morgan found himself wincing, remembering the last time they fought the Valmese; the way Lucina and he had almost plunged back into the sea realm.

Lucina bumped against him as the Shepherd veered, making the deck slide under foot.

"Stay steady!" Morgana told them. "The Shepherd is counting on us to soften up the Valmese, so the Feroxi can fully cripple the fleet."

All around them, the other mages took up their posts, and the storm air gained a new crackle of power. There was an aura of magic settling across the entire ship… And then that aura became visible, as even the mast tips began to crackle and glow.

"Exalt's Fire." Morgana named the phenomena. "When you've got that much magic in a storm and in spells… It starts bleeding into the air. Which hopefully means our spells will have some kick!"

"Mages at the ready!" Frederick barked out the orders. "Pick your targets!"

Morgan narrowed his eyes against the sea spray, and focused on one of the lead ships. He took one breath, and at Frederick's shout, Morgan snapped his hands out, letting the fire fly from his fingers. The blaze leapt eagerly from him, and it shot in an arc like a comet over the ships.

"…Oops. Sort of aimed wide." He mumbled, as the fire thudded into the fortress instead.

-o-o-o-

The world lit up, as lightning and fire crashed together. The blast knocked Chrom from his feet, and he heard others go tumbling into the floor; there was a clatter of armor from Walhart and Yen'fay… And he knew that Robin had hit the floor when her elbow dug into his back.

"Sorry!" Robin blurted out. Her hands found his shoulders, pulling him back up.

"Wh… What was that!?" Chrom shouted over the crumbling of stone. The air had gone scalding and seemed to bite at his skin, while an entire section of the wall crumbled away and into dust-

And beyond it, just in front of the fortress sea wall, he could see ships circling and lobbing volleys of spells. The rain and storm obscured their flags… But he still recognized the trim of the Shepherd.

Robin dragged him to the gap in the wall, and Chrom found himself looking down. Straight down, to the ocean and the two Mer waiting below. Henry had decided the battle was a signal to start gathering magic.

"HENRY!" Robin screamed out. "We could use some help!"

Henry nodded at that, while Tharja called down lightning on the troops trying to rally at the sea wall. Henry started to pull at the tides, to give them something to jump into. But he was also fighting the storm as it twisted the currents.

An odd impulse filled Chrom as he watched, and he dug his fingers into his wounds. He stretched his hand out with a fresh coating of red, and let the rain wash it off his hands… And carry his blood, and whatever magic was in it down to the tides. Down to Henry.

His ears hurt a little from the laugh Henry gave; but that must have been what he needed. The ocean seemed to swell and thrash in answer to Henry's voice. Waves raged against walls and towers both. The patrols racing along the paths were caught up in the teeth of the currents… And never surfaced, once they were pulled down.

In another breath, a wild wave crashed into the sea wall and cracked it like a eggshell. And other waves roared up, trying to pull down the tower.

"We… Have done this before." Chrom knew. And he had to trust that Robin would fall with him, and be safe when they hit the water.

"Right, but that doesn't make it any easier." Robin told him… Only to glance over his wounds, a hurt look crossing her face. "Gods… You need to get into the water and heal. And we're out of options."

Robin pushed forward, and sent them both falling forward, well out of Walhart's grip.

"Ready my ship!" He just heard Walhart's voice, before Chrom plunged off the side of the tower. The waters crashed around him, and swallowed the sounds of storm and battle both.

-o-o-o-

Lissa braced her feet against the deck, focusing against the storm and the screams. There were shouts from the Valmese fleet, and answering war cries from her fleet; Vaike and Sully in particular were doing enough cursing for two full crews, as they worked the rigging and guided the Shepherd in close for a second volley.

The other mages were rallying, trying to ready their spells… But Lissa already had the feeling they'd need more help. Especially if they were going to truly wound the Valmese fleet. She could see one of the lead flagships ahead… One that according to Morgana had been bleeding the Ylisse coast.

'That ship isn't sailing away from this.' She bunched her hands into fists, focused on the ship, and felt the spell book at her side.

"Frederick, I'll leave the Shepherd in your hands." She told him, and darted forward before he could object. Lissa raced to the prow of the ship, where Morgana and the two tide touched stood. The raging storm and rainwater made their hair almost black, a match for the night and storm wracked sky.

"Let me try!" Lissa shouted out, clawing out her book; her fingers were already going cold, and needed a jolt of magic to warm them up. Morgana started only once at her voice… And there was something in Lissa's eyes that made Morgana step aside, pulling Lucina and Morgan with her.

For a moment Lissa marveled at how the three almost moved in synch, or the similarity the trio shared-

'Can't dwell on that right now!' There was an attack she needed to land… And a sharp anger burning in the back of her brain. Lissa had never felt a heat like that, and wasn't certain she enjoyed the feeling. But her emotions wouldn't dim, as she looked at the Valmese fleet; the people who had tried to rob her of her family… And now she was going to pay them back.

The rage in her head matched an odd singing in her blood. One that matched the swell of the tides and cry of the storm… And it made Lissa wonder if this was what Chrom sometimes heard.

The winds shrieked around Lissa as her fingers ran across the book script… And the elements of the storm twisted and answered her call. The winds turned sheer, and shrieked across the water and into the Valmese flagship.

The crimson sails strained and broke against the magic. And the masts fell like a collection of rotten trees. Even the hull splintered from the onslaught and the waters rushed in to flounder the ship. Lissa felt a surge of satisfaction travel through her-

"BRACE!" Frederick shouted out. That was when Lissa realized that her attack had set the flagship on an unwavering course; one that would send them crashing together.

On instinct she shoved at Lucina and Morgana, and sent them both staggering back and away from impact. Even Morgan was swept up and sent away-

But Lissa couldn't do much for herself. Something held her legs fast, like they'd suddenly gone clumsy. And there was something else shuddering through her skin… And pushing an odd pain along it, in pinprick points. The wind pushed back Lissa's sleeve, and she found herself staring at something strange covering her skin. Something that looked like flecks of green sand… Or like scales.

'Mermaid scales?' Lissa froze at the sight, her world lurching. She thought Frederick was shouting out something, a warning of some sort; one that Morgana echoed. She turned slowly at their words, to see what they were pointing at.

The flagship was almost on top of them. She tried to shout a warning, but her words were lost in the scream of the storm; all around her, the winds grew worse, tearing into and pushing into the ships and scattering them like leaves in a gale.

The Shepherd and flagship crunched together, and the world turned upside down, spinning around Lissa as she lost her footing and went rolling across the deck. She shot over the side of the Shepherd, clawing uselessly at the air before crashing down on something.

It was darker than that Shepherd's deck, painted in black and mahogany… And with familiar ruined scarlet sails overhead. Lissa screamed at herself to stand, to get back to the Shepherd somehow-

Even though the Shepherd was already torn away by those same gale winds, easily churning out of reach.

'Ohhhh, that's not good…' She had just enough time to think, as she weakly raised her head.

A figure in armor greeted her. But the armor wasn't the sky blue as Frederick's, and matched the scarlet sails. The face that met hers was stern, and utterly merciless, while the hands easily held a great axe. One lobstered gauntlet reached down and plucked her up, like she weighed nothing at all.

Lissa froze, going slack under Walhart's grip.