Lucina clutched the rapier close to her chest as she sprinted towards the castle's entrance. She threw open the door and her face lit up as she saw both of her parents standing outside.

"Are the rest of the shepherds ready?" Her father asked as he straightened out his gloves.

Her mother nodded, "They should be waiting for us just outside the city."

"Right," He turned his head towards the dark clouds swirling in the sky.

"Something wrong dear?" Her mother asked.

"Are you sure about this, Sumia?" He looked back at her, "This battle will be incredibly dangerous and…"

Her mother crossed her arms and frowned, "I thought we discussed this! I'm coming with you whether you like it or not!"

"I know I know," He raised his arms in defense, "And I realize it's pointless to argue when your mind is made up but still...if something to were to happen to you…"

"What are you so worried about?" Her mother laughed "It's quite unlike you."

"You're right, it is," He smiled, "It's just that after what happened to…"

"Mama! Papa!" Lucina called out to her parents.

"L-Lucina?!" Her father nearly stumbled off the steps as he noticed her approach. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanna come with you!" She said with a bright smile, "I wanna fight too, so I can help protect you and mama!"

Her mother laughed, "That's very sweet."

Her father shook his head to regain composure, "Are you sure?"

Lucina nodded, "I brought my Rapier, see?" She lifted up the rapier in her arms to show him.

Her father sighed and knelt down in front of her, "Listen, Lucina, I hate to tell you this but...you can't come with us."

Lucina felt her heart stop, "B-But why not?! I'm strong enough, aren't I? I can wield Falchion just like you so-"

Her father shook his head, "It's not that I don't think you're strong Lucina."

Lucina puffed out her cheeks, "Well then what is it?"

"Well, it's because…"

"It's because he's worried about you, sweetie," Her mother crouched to her level and smiled.

"Yeah what your mother said," Her father nodded.

"B-But you don't have to worry about me! I'm strong enough to fight for myself!" Lucina boasted as she unsheathed the rapier and performed a few practice swings with it, "See?"

"I can see that." Her father said, "You're definitely strong but what about Cynthia?"

"Cynthia?" Lucina raised an eyebrow. "She's not old enough to go."

"That's right, so who's gonna protect her while we're all gone?" He asked.

"I…"

Lucina didn't answer. Truthfully, she hadn't thought about that.

"That's why we need you to stay here," Her mother smiled, "To protect your sister and everyone else."

"B-But what about you and Papa?"

"What? Are you worried about us?" Her father laughed, "I would think you'd have more faith in your old man. We'll be fine, Lucina."

"You promise?" Lucina hugged the rapier in her arms as she looked into her father's bright smile.

"Of course!" Her father placed his hand on her head. His hand was warm, strong, and most of all comforting, "We'll be back before you know it so just promise me you and your sister will stay safe until then."

Lucina simply nodded.

"Good," He rose to his feet, "we should be going now."

"Right," her mother nodded as she moved toward her Pegasus.

"Goodbye Lucina," they both smiled back at her before flying off.

"Goodbye mama, goodbye papa," Lucina muttered to herself as she once again clutched the Rapier in her arms.

"Lucy!"

Lucina was pulled from her thoughts and looked down at her younger sister. Cynthia stared at her with wide-eyed concern. Her hands clutched to her chest.

"So what'll we do?"

"Are you sure this information is true?" Lucina asked.

Her sister merely nodded, "I doubt Owain would lie about something like this..."

"Yeah, you're right…" Lucina's eyes glided to Falchion.

Her whole body stood stiff in the thick loud silence that echoed around them. She should've known considering they never brought back his body. Even still hearing of this now…

Her heart nearly stopped at the realization. Was that why Falchion….

Lucina shook her head and looked at her sister again.

"Does the rest of the council know this?" She asked.

"Well not all of them but archbishop Lucas is organizing a meeting to inform everyone," Cynthia explained, "He told me to come and get you right away."

"I see…" Lucina picked up a few of the scattered books and put them back on the shelf. "And how is Owain?"

"He, Inigo, and Yarne are all in the medical ward unconscious from their injuries." Cynthia picked up some books from the floor and handed them to her sister. "They were all hurt really badly, but Brady is looking after them so they should be okay..."

Lucina put another book on the shelf and looked down at the book in her hand. The hero king Marth posed boldly on the cover surrounded by his allies. Falchion and the shield of seals in hand as he faced down the shadow dragon, Medeus.

What should I do?

She felt Cynthia tug at her sleeve. She glanced back and saw an expression on her sister's face she hadn't seen in a long time. It was almost indescribable. Her pigtails sagged to the side of her head. Her eyes dropped to the floor as the rest of her body scrunched inward trying to find any semblance of comfort. It really was just like that day.

"Lucy Wait up!" her little sister called out before face planting into the floor.

The six-year-old pushed herself from the ground and wiped the blood from her nose. A loud ear grating sob erupted from her sister's mouth.

"Cynthia!" Lucina called out and ran over to her little sister.

Lucina knelt beside her and placed a hand on her back, "are you okay?"

Cynthia rubbed the blood from her nose and nodded, "I think so…"

"That's good," She smiled.

Cynthia rubbed some of the tears from her eyes and looked around.

"Where are mama and papa?"

For a moment, Lucina froze. She once again gripped the rapier in her arms. Her father's words seemed to echo in her head. She looked into Cynthia's bright blue eyes. The words tangled in her throat. Why was she so hesitant? She's answered this question dozens of times before so why now? Why couldn't she answer? She felt her stomach churn.

"Well, they're..." She hesitated.

"They're what?" Cynthia cocked her head and blinked.

"They…"

Why couldn't she answer?!

"They left already, didn't they?" Cynthia's pigtails wilted as she spoke those words.

"Yeah…" Lucina nodded.

Lucina looked at that same heart-wrenching face once more. She felt sick just looking at it.

"Lucy...I'm scared…" She said as she tightened her grip.

For a moment, those words echoed through her head.

A flash of lightning followed by a thunderous roar then suddenly exploded outside. Cynthia nearly jumped and immediately threw herself onto her older sister.

"Lucy!" Cynthia cried out as she wrapped her arms around her older sister.

"Cynthia?!" Lucina flinched at the sudden embrace.

"I'm scared…" She said as she wrapped her tiny arms tighter around her older sister.

Lucina turned around and patted her sister on the head just like back then. Cynthia's pigtails perked up as she glanced up at Lucina.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright," She smiled as she began to repeat the same words she spoke back then, "No matter what happens, I will protect you. We'll find the strength to get through this, I promise."

Cynthia looked up at her and smiled, "Thanks, Lucy."

Lucina nodded, "Anyway, we should be going."

"Oh right! The Archbishop should've gathered the other councilmen by now." Cynthia said as she rushed towards the door, "we gotta hurry!"

Lucina stood still for a moment and looked down at the book in her hand.

"We will find the strength to get through this, I promise..." She repeated those words to herself.

It felt that she needed to hear those words more than Cynthia did. When she spoke those words, it was as if the hero-king was giving her strength. Perhaps just maybe...

"Hey, Lucy!" Cynthia waved to her from the hallway. "Come on!"

"Right, I'm coming!" She dropped the book and followed her sister.

"Damnit!" Severa slammed her fist against a wall.

Why did it have to be her?! Why did she have to find those idiots half-dead on the side of the road?! She should've just left them there to die then she wouldn't have known about…

She gripped her chest as her heart throbbed in a painful rhythm.

"What's so special about him anyway!" Severa glared up at her mother with tear-stained and amber eyes, "What's so special about him that daddy had to die for him! That you have to risk your life for him! Huh?! Who matters more to you, me or Chrom! Why don't you just MARRY him!"

"Severa I…"

"Well, answer me!" Rapid puffs of breath sputtered out from Severa's lungs as she continued to glare at her mother.

Her mother remained silent.

Just as she figured, her mother didn't care. She would rather go fight for Chrom than stay with her daughters. She loved him more than her. A rush of tears began to rush from her eyes as she moved to cover her face.

"E-Even daddy died for Chrom…" She sputtered out.

Severa then felt her mother's arms wrap around her. Her tears seemed to stop as she gazed up at her mother's warm, loving smile.

"Severa, I'm sorry, but I have to go in order to protect the thing that matters to me most, I hope you understand" She placed her ring in Severa's hand.

Severa looked down at the small accessory.

"Keep a hold of that and watch over Morgan while I'm gone, okay"

Severa looked away, "O-Okay…" She sniffed.

"Good now you two better get along, I'll be back before you know it"

Her mother ended the embrace and once again began to walk out the door. She made a quick glance back and smiled.

"Goodbye, Severa, I'll be back, I promise" She slammed the door behind her which left Severa alone in the cold unending darkness.

"Severa?" She heard her sister's drowsy voice as she walked beside her. "Did you and mommy fight again?" She yawned and rubbed her eyes.

Severa didn't answer only opting to stay silent as the heavy rain and wind whipped around outside. She bit her lip and slammed her fist against the wall.

"You did, didn't you?"

Severa continued to remain silent. She simply got up and moved towards her bedroom. She clutched the fresh salve on her arm as it began to sting once more.

"Where are you going?"

"To bed…" Severa spat, "I'm tired…"

She wiped the tears from her eyes as those memories bubbled to the surface. She stood still enveloped in the cold dark hallway just outside the medical ward. Severa clutched her shoulders as her body scrunched in like a frightened infant. Why did she have to die such a worthless death? Why did she have to leave her all alone…

"But Severa…" Morgan ran up and grabbed her sister's sleeve.

Severa felt a tug at her sleeve.

Severa glanced back at her sister. Her red hair practically popped out in the darkness. The air stood still as the wind outside continued to howl. Morgan's eyes dragged across the floor as her other arm scrunched into her chest.

"What is it?" Severa frowned.

"I-I'm scared…" Morgan spoke quietly, "i-is mommy not gonna come back b-because you fought? Like daddy?"

Severa's heart practically shattered at those words. She looked to the floor. Her body froze as tar once again filled her throat. How could she answer such a question? No, it was more like she didn't want to answer. Another muffled boom of thunder rumbled through the cold stiff air. The howling wind echoed through the walls.

"Severa!"

Severa spun around to the pitch dark hallway. No one was there. She was alone as always. The scar on her left arm began to sting as her birthmark once again began to glow. She clutched her arm even tighter.

"Keep a hold of that and watch over Morgan while I'm gone, okay"

Severa sighed as those words echoed through her head. She turned around to see Morgan look up at her with wide tear-stained eyes.

"F-Fine, I guess I'll protect you…." She crossed her arms, "Andit'snotbecausemomtoldmetooranything…"

Morgan's face lit up as she practically tackled her older sister with as big a bear hug as she could muster.

"Hey, Mo-mo!" Severa flinched at the sudden embrace.

"Thanks, Sev," Morgan said with a bright smile.

Severa's face flushed a bright red before she quickly looked away.

"Y-You're welcome...you better be grateful…"

Severa once again wiped the mist of tears from her eyes with her left hand.

"Mo-mo where are you?" She whispered to herself.

"And then after that, we'll trap them with a pincer move like this…" Morgan finished drawing the arrow on the map in her tactics book.

She took a moment to inspect her battle plan and nodded.

It looked perfect. And now that everything was in place, it was time to begin the attack. She closed her tactics book and looked up at her old house. The howling wind flapped through her cloak. A black pegasus trotted up beside her and nuzzled her cheek.

"Isn't it nostalgic Aura?" She giggled as she stroked its snout.

Aura merely shook its head with a snort.

"Yeah too bad Sev's not here but oh well." Morgan climbed onto Aura's back and pulled out a thoron tome. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Just watch me father, I won't disappoint you!"

Elsewhere, Grima laughed, "It looks like things are finally starting to fall into place." He rose to his feet, "Now then, it's about time I do something to silence that obnoxious voice."

A giant pillar of purple light shot from the dragon's table into the dark heavens above. The clouds swirled like a vortex as six massive feathered wings stretched out across the sky. Six blood-red eyes pierced through the thick clouds. The light of the crimson moon dripped onto its violet-colored scales like waterfalls of blood cascading down the mountains of hell itself. Giant bull-like horns stabbed the blood-red sky as the dragon opened its maw and let out an earth-shattering roar.

"I AM THE WINGS OF DESPAIR! I AM THE BREATH OF RUIN! I AM THE FELL DRAGON GRIMA!"

Yeah sorry, this one took a while. I had a bit of writer's block with this one. I cannot begin to tell you how many drafts this chapter went through. I kept rewriting scenes, deleting scenes, adding new ones. It just wasn't coming together and combine that with all the irl stuff I have going on and yeah. This one took a while but I can say I'm at least happy where it's at now. So anyway, I hope you all enjoy this one and take care.