Chapter 54: Turning Tide
(Author's Note: Well what was once an 8,000+ word final chapter for Part 2 ended up getting split into two chapters. The final installment for Part 2 is upcoming, after some more edits and revisions! Thank you for reading!)
Robin risked a glance above the waves, breaking above the ocean just long enough to look at her surroundings.
A red sky greeted Robin, along with black waves. The sails of Gangrel's fleet were an echo to that, catching the rays of the setting sun and turning the light into ripples of red on black sails.
The fleet was a savage assortment of sloops and brigs, and even triple mast warships. They cut through the water towards a set of burnt out ruins, the village remains gutted by flames and raids. Robin had a vague idea of where they were going; back to the remnants of the Ylisse capital… Or what little was left of it.
She almost sank back beneath the waves, at the sight of the now desolate, half abandoned coast. Across from them, in the hollowed out harbor of the cliff were Walhart's forces, all bristling in defiance and matching the Plegians ship for ship.
"Robin…?" Chrom's hand drifted over her tail, and Robin dropped back down underwater, pulling Chrom with her. She held onto his wrist, not wanting him to see the gutted remnants of his home town. The place looked like little more than a shadow, devoid of the former life and bristle of activity.
The only ships in harbor now were warships, none of them looking friendly… Or like they belonged in the remnants of Ylisstol.
"We can take them on, can't we?" Chrom whispered at her side, shadowing her. He didn't need to hold onto her for guidance any longer, but he DID stick close to her for support, and some hidden form of strength.
"With Say'ri's forces, that's my hope. Our goal is to fight, and…" The glare of red and gold sun faded for a moment as massive waves tried to roil. It gave Robin a clear glimpse across the waters as they rode a wave swell… And saw across to the flagship of Valm.
Say'ri caught sight of it at the same moment, and Robin could practically feel the rebel leader glaring over her shoulder at the ship.
"I see him…" Say'ri growled, as a figure in red armor walked the ship. "I…"
Robin stilled at the rage in Say'ri's voice, and the way she almost shook with anger. The water trembled around Say'ri, and her voice trailed off into a snarl. For an instant Robin feared Say'ri would go mad, and attack the lead ship with her bare hands-
"Peace." A soft voice rolled over Robin and Say'ri, and stilled the rebel leader. Looking back, she glimpsed Emmeryn drifting close by. It was still strange in Robin's eyes, seeing the leader of Ylisse swimming into battle. Yet Emmeryn held herself steady, not shrinking from the sight of either fleets.
Instead, Emmeryn trailed close to the surface, eyeing up the ships. There was an almost piercing quality to the former Exalt's gaze, measuring each vessel.
"But… Who is that…?" Emmeryn whispered, staring at another figure on the Valmese ship. Robin narrowed her eyes, looking among the soldiers lining the ship… And one out of place, but still familiar looking figure. Her skirts looked faded from salt spray, but still held onto a sunny color. Her hands were bound by chains… But she was doing her best to stand proud, in a way that would measure up to either of her siblings.
At first, Robin was sure there was a mistake. The fading light and shifting waters were playing tricks on her. There was no sensible way that could be Lissa on a Valmese ship… And yet, no matter how Robin blinked or rubbed at her eyes, her sight wouldn't change.
"L-Lissa?" Emmeryn whispered, and Chrom darted forward to hold her steady. Robin's own fins twitched, wanting nothing more but to shoot through the gap and tear Lissa free from her bonds.
"What… What's Lissa doing with the Valmese?" Chrom managed. "Sh-she must've been captured… Gods, I knew something was wrong, but I didn't think it would be this!"
"We… We have to save her." Robin found her voice. How, she wasn't certain quite yet; but she was determined to see that plan through.
-o-o-o-
Morgan tried not to wilt under the sight of so many ships.
Compared to the enemy fleets, the Shepherd and her Feroxi allies felt miniscule at best. Little more than a touch of spit in the ocean, as Basilio put it.
"Frederick, we need less sail!" Morgana called out, walking the decks and examining the ocean. "We can't strike out too far ahead! The Feroxi need us for volley spell fire."
As Morgan listened to the orders, he kept his feet fixed to the spell circles, drawing up magic, storing it in his hands, and letting it crackle impatiently and visibly across his arms. Nearby, Miriel, Ricken, and Maribelle all did the same.
The Shepherd fell in with the Feroxi ships, forming a pack. Morgan counted down the spaces as the rival fleets drew in.
"Mages, loose!" Morgana called out, and the magic left in a storm of fire. The burning trails painted the fading sky red for an instant, as the magic arced up and fell upon the fleet.
Their spells impacted the ships with an explosion, and a flash of fire and lighting robbed Morgan of his sight for an instant… Timed exactly with when the spells found their marks. An explosion of sparks rumbled across the air, equal to any thunder. His body shuddered from the impact, and from the sudden glut of magic soaking the air.
For a second Morgan's legs trembled, ready to collapse out from underneath him. Like for a moment they didn't know how to work in favor of-
'In favor of water. Something's stirring in the ocean again… And it's still calling to you.'
Pain on his neck followed, and Morgan found it hard to hiss his breath in through his teeth. He fell to his knees, while the world turned to chaos.
The roar of the spells felt like it could shatter the Plegian fleet from sound alone. Smoke flew off the fingers of dozens, if not hundred of mages, giving them a cloud to sail through.
When the smoke cleared, Morgan heard Ricken gave a low "yes!" at the sight. The damage had been done to their portion of the Plegian fleet; caught flat footed with how they raced to face the Valmese, they'd been left exposed, and the ships had paid the price. The masts of several wavered, like trees left with a threadbare amount of bark holding them together… And a well timed follow up spell from Ricken pushed them all the way over.
"T-timber, then." Morgan found himself joking through gasping breaths, though Lucina's face was already fixed into a concentrated scowl.
'What's happening to us?'
-o-o-o-
"What's…?" Robin clutched at her head, stopped short in her swim. Chrom slammed into her and sent them both tumbling, but didn't protest… Because he seemed to be coping with his own pain, as he shook his head back and forth and rubbed at his forehead. There was a strange ringing in the water, that pressed uncomfortably into the ears and fins, and made every scale ache.
'Come on, move!' She screamed at herself, trying to break out of their odd spin… But her thoughts were getting drowned out by a strange hum overhead, pitching louder and louder with each spell strike, and each flash from the storm-
And they weren't the only ones hearing the strange song. Something pulsed beneath the sea, forming a roar that she didn't hear in her ears, so much as it slammed into her chest and stopped her tumble short.
It was a strange echo of what she'd heard in drowned Plegia. An all-encompassing sound that chased her thoughts from her head, made her want to cry out-
"Come on Robin… Stay with me. It'll be okay." Chrom sounded like he was trying to reassure himself, as much as her, while his hands skimmed over her arms. "And we've got a job to do, right?"
"R… Right." Her own voice felt like it was coming from miles away, but Robin still managed to raise her hand and motion for the others to follow. The ships were almost in striking range, and well crippled by the spell work overhead. It wouldn't take much to sink them, Robin hoped.
They swam closer, Say'ri's troops fanning out around them while Chrom and Robin did their best to lead the charge-
'It's almost too easy to gut these things-'
Robin's only warning was a dark shape fanning out of the water, and then almost enveloping her. Only a fast movement from Chrom shoved them both out of the shape's path. Glancing behind them, Robin glimpsed a strange, mesh wall closing her and Chrom off from the others.
"Nets?" Chrom managed. "Say'ri, stay back! They're not-"
The Valmese and Plegians hadn't come unprepared. Robin scanned the surroundings, and picked out more traps trailing the ships. The fires ovehread picked out a sharp gleam; metal hooks were fixed under the prows, waiting for hapless Mer to blunder in to them.
Robin darted well beneath the various hooks and net traps, trying not to imagine them digging into her flesh.
'Just like before… And what you did before.' Her eyes strayed to Chrom. His scar barely showed in the gloom, but the sight of it still left her sick. Her stomach twisted into a heavy knot, threatening to pull her down-
Something skimmed along her scales for the briefest moment. It was little more than a whisper of a touch, but it made Robin flinch. But that flinch wasn't enough to carry her away, when the skimming touch was replaced by a deep, jabbing pain settling deep into her scales.
Robin's first fear was that the hooks had found her fins; that they'd sunk into her and would drag her through the waters, then up onto the deck of the ship where swords and axes waited to carve up her flesh. Panic and pain both conspired to freeze her in place, even as her head screamed at her to fight back, to find a way to twist free.
Her eyes darted about, expecting to see barbs dug into her, metal clashing with violet scales-
Instead, she found talons. Long, dark things fixed to hands that were little more than gaunt bone and sickly webbing. The sight kept her fixed in place. She couldn't move… But Chrom was like lightning. Desperation gave him a certain grace in the water, as he rushed past Robin and slammed into the thing that held her.
Chrom drew blood, with how desperate his strikes were. He was shouting something lost over the roil of bubbles and an angry screech from the creature. The claws sprung away from Robin, giving her just enough time to move.
"Wh-what was that-?" Robin managed. Chrom didn't answer her, instead placing himself between Robin, and something stirring deep in the water. Robin picked out dark shapes cutting through the water, rising from the depths and circling them like sharks. Her heart pounded desperately, as she stared at the gaunt, half human and half sea creature shapes.
Those creatures that were a match to the things she and Chrom had fought, many moons ago on the shores of Ylisse and the Feroxi arena. Feral Mer. There was a bloodlust in their eyes, all of it focused on her and Chrom.
And all the while, the scream of magic tried to drive knives into her ears and head.
-o-o-o-
His fleet was looking threadbare. And yet the sight shot a strange ecstasy through Gangrel; dozens of others had died, from magic or sent to a watery grave, but he still survived. And he'd send more to rest at the bottom of the sea before the battle was through-
Gangrel stilled at the sound echoing up from the ocean. It somehow dwarfed everything, the clash of steel and the crash of spells… Even stilling his own heartbeat for an instant.
It was a roar from something sleeping at the absolute bottom of the ocean… And Gangrel flashed his teeth at the sound, grinning as he turned back to the battle. Whatever that roar was, it didn't mean anything good for his enemies; he was certain of that much. And there was the Shepherd, doing its best to close with him… Even as the waves battered the hull, the storm venting so much fury on that eyesore.
But still, it fought towards him.
'Let them come. I can face all of them… And I know my reinforcements are due soon, as well.'
-o-o-o-
Lucina froze at the strange sound, and the way it shook waves and sky… And seemed to rend the sky in two, with a sudden claw of lightning. Black clouds bled out in answer, and a cry went up amongst the crew.
"Incongruous. There was no hint of storm…" Miriel muttered, narrowing her eyes on the storm like it was an affront to all her observations. Morgana was staring at the sky in turn… And her face had gone oddly pale, her mouthing out a single word.
'Grima.'
And something about that word set Lucina's heart to hammering.
The storm opened up all its fury on them, drenching them to the bone. She glimpsed Morgan and the other mages slipping on the ship decks, yet Lucina managed to keep her feet. She hurried along, ignoring the cling and sodden quality of her clothing.
As she watched the storms tear into the ships, Lucina knew that all their plans were also getting torn asunder, as surely as the Shepherd was shredded against the winds.
Her sails were turning to rags… But worse was happening to the distant Valmese ships. Their ships were lightning rods to the storm, claws striking down from the clouds… And hitting the very heart of the ships, with how they blew apart.
'This storm feels like it's trying to…' her eyes blurred, as the Shepherds flinched back from the spells, retreating from their spell battles and regrouping on the Shepherd. 'Trying to fray reality-'
Scales prickled along her flesh, in answer to the rain and magic lacing the air. Each one was like a lance settling into her skin. The magic wore away a little more at her humanity… And going by how Morgan winced, it was also trying to drive him into the ocean.
"Gods, what's going on?" Morgan choked out, desperately tracing another spell. Trying to make a warding gesture. His magic wavered around him like a bubble, warring with whatever arcane energy was driving the storm.
"I… I'm not giving in… Not to this…" Lucina fought to say, and fought to stand. All around her, the other Shepherds fought a similar battle against the tempest.
Frederick staggered back from his share of the battle, with a bloody mark tracing over his face where a bit of ship timber had bit him. Sumia was at his side, going pale as she looked over his wound. Lucina staggered to his side, trying to staunch the bleeding and keep Frederick on his feet-
Frederick flinched as a new trail of red traveled over his cheeks, right where Lucina had brushed her fingers. And her own hands were now rain streaked with rivulets of red… And there were talons growing at the tips of her fingers.
A part of her screamed in horror, the rest stared in numb fascination. The rain and storm winds seemed to blind Frederick's eyes, as he looked over Lucina.
"We are… Poorly pressed." The knight rasped out. "I don't know-"
"…This is a grim picture to sail into." A voice pierced the madness taking hold of Lucina's head. There was a note of magic in the voice as well, drowning out the din of the storm for an instant. And in answer to the voice, Frederick's cut lessened its bleeding.
It gave Frederick enough room to stare, his mouth hanging open at someone.
Lucina lifted her eyes to stare at Morgana… And a green haired figure standing next to her. And Lucina knew that green haired figure wasn't part of any fleet. Neither Ylisse or Feroxi. And the stranger somehow seemed more at home than any of them, regardless of the storm and crashing waves.
"My name is Tiki… And I'm here to help."
-o-o-o-
Chrom's head pounded; anger, blood, and magic all mingled together. Anger over what had been done to Robin. Blood, shed in the water from her and the wild merfolk… Along with his own blood pounding in his ears. And last was the magic; a strange hum and that churned through him, fiercer than everything else.
"What's… What's going on?" Chrom just managed to rasp out. He kept Robin behind him, even as the feral mer twisted around them. The monsters flickered like there was lightning under their scales, and each time they cut through the water it looked as though they were working themselves into a frenzy. Getting ready to strike. And the strange rumble of the storm and sea did nothing to calm them.
"Robin, what's going on-?" He tried to ask, around a tension in his throat. The water almost boiled with magic. It seemed to seep in from the sky, and rumbled up from the depths of the ocean.
Robin could only make a strangled noise in the back of her throat; like she didn't dare speak aloud.
"I-I don't-" she could barely manage even that. There was a strange reverberation in Robin's voice, even as she wheezed out those words. It was an echo of what happened in drowned Plegia; he could still remember that near scream creeping into her voice and scattering the merfolk.
He remembered what it had done to her, as well-
"Chrom!" Her voice hissed out again, and the waters trembled from just that one word. But he heard the desperation in it. He twisted just in time as the lead mer charged them, talons stretched out and ready to snag into them. Chrom surged to meet his enemy; they clashed shoulder to shoulder, and the impact shoved the mer backwards. Chrom bled from where the talons had scoured his arm… But worse happened to the half-wild mer as it twisted through the water. Utterly blind to the traps hanging from the ships. The jagged hooks pierced scale and flesh alike, holding the mer fast and only digging in deeper as it struggled.
Chrom twisted away, before those hooks could bite him in turn. He grabbed Robin, pulling her along with him, and desperately tried to remember every swimming lesson she'd ever gave him… Even if Robin herself couldn't speak at the moment.
'Flow with the current,' that had been one of the first. He let himself go slack for just an instant as another group rushed him. He felt a brief tug on his hair and his fins, and all but fell into the direction of the water. It sent him shooting between the traps, leaving the other merfolk to fall afoul.
'Focus on where you want to go.' That had been the next lesson. He trained his eyes upwards, back to the ships… But he found his eyes drifting away from the Plegians, towards the Ylissean ships instead. And he let himself push towards them, desperate for a place to regroup.
'Know that you need to speed along, and can't turn aside easily-' He could barely remember that, as he swam quickly towards the ships. And he didn't have to take the last yards alone; Robin helped him weave and twist through the last of the traps, as the Shepherd came into view.
-o-o-o-
Morgan tried to study the patterns Morgana and Tiki weaved with their fingers and the glowing trails that followed their gestures. The spell wards blurred in his vision, but their effects were undeniable. The Shepherd gleamed bright as lightning for a heartbeat, almost wreathed in a spectral fire that intensified at the edges of the masts.
Naga's fire blazed brighter than ever, and drew a hush over the crew. Through the stillness, Morgan was vaguely aware they all were looking a touch less bloodied.
"Who… What are you?" Frederick finally managed to speak, staring at the green haired stranger. There was an odd note in his voice; something demanding, but also reverent.
"I… Came to Morgana's call. And I act as emissary of the waves."
"Gods, she… She looks like a match for the cathedral windows." Phila spoke, staring at Tiki. The stranger didn't answer, focusing on a gentle melody that seemed to strengthen the ship… And even gave Morgan strength to stand up, and stagger closer.
Morgana had her eyes on him, and something about her gaze seemed to pull him forward and into arm's reach.
"We're going to need some help." Morgana rested a hand on Morgan's shoulder. "I won't take from you… But I will ask, will you lend me a touch of your magic?"
Morgan managed a shaky nod. In the corner of his eye he glimpses Lucina draw close, and nod in turn. He felt a chunk of his energy leave him, and send him onto his knees. Morgan stared up from his new place on the deck, to see the waves turning into a frenzy. They battered the Shepherd, and pushed it towards the lead Plegian ship.
Morgan felt a flash of satisfaction when the lead ship staggered from the impact. Even the storm seemed to turn its wrath onto the Plegians, snapping masts and toppling them over, and knocking the pirates to the floor.
'We might just make it.' Morgan thought, as the ships listed… And then drifted right together with a splintering of wood.
It brought them close enough to see the crew. He also glimpsed the lead pirate commanding them. It was the same man from Wreckage, and there was murder in his eyes when he saw the spell casters.
'I… I think he remembers me and Lucina.' Morgan tried to give a raspy cry, to alert the fighters… But they were already hard pressed as the pirates pushed back, battle raging across the gunwales of the two ships. There wasn't a blade free to stop Gangrel.
"I'll tear you, all of you to shreds. And I won't stop until your entire fleet is tinder, and 'Ylisse' becomes a byword for destroyed." Gangrel vowed, drawing his blade as he leapt aboard.
A steel blur moved past Morgan, as Frederick tried to meet Gangrel… And he was rewarded with a vicious cut and a crackle of lightning for his heroism. The blow sent Frederick skidding backwards. Fresh blood wept out of a rent of his armor, and Morgan was vaguely aware that Sumia was screaming.
Morgan in turn screamed at his limbs to help him stand, to find a weapon and fight back… But his body felt numb. And Gangrel was bearing down on him-
It was Lucina who met him, crashing her sword against the lightning blade and drawing thousands of sparks.
"I'll hold him back! HURRY! Finish your magic!" Lucina shouted over her shoulder.
-o-o-o-
The nets kept roiling around them, trying to ensnare Chrom and Robin and keep them from the Shepherd. He grit his teeth against them, remembering how last time they'd almost torn Robin away from him-
'I'm not letting that happen.'
There was a startling clarity in his thoughts, and a humming that centered on his arm. And he knew exactly what to do with that magic in his blood. Chrom lashed out for an instant, and a gleaming light pierced the storm wracked waters. The nets parted with a snap, letting them swim free-
But the magic wasn't finished with them yet. The waters surged around them, turning into a wave swell that they didn't have a hope of fighting against. Chrom snapped his arms around Robin, knowing they'd crash into something and trying to shield her from it.
The wave surged upwards and crashed down. Onto the deck of a ship. The waters slid off the prow, leaving them both exposed and ungainly in dry air. His tail lashed by reflex, slapping uselessly against the ship deck.
-o-o-o-
Morgana raised her voice, and with it the waves seemed to swell to the size of mountains. One of them crashed down on the deck, soaking everything the rain hadn't touched. Morgan blinked the rain and salt out of his face, to see that the waves had pulled something up from the depths, something that made Morgan's blood go cold-
He spotted fins and scales in the sea foam, matched to human forms.
These had to be merfolk. Merfolk, who were always a danger to landwalkers. Yet Morgana look satisfied by her work.
"It's okay; trust me." At her words, Morgan forced himself to take a closer look… And saw something familiar to the Mer. Something that dredged up half forgotten memories from his head. He'd seen these faces before in his visions, in his patchwork memories, encouraging him, teaching him, and doing the same for Lucina.
"M-mother? Father?"