""Yo." = Normal speaking.
"What do you want?" = Godlike/Demonic being speaking.
"I wonder what this is for?" = Thought's/Narration.
Prologue: Death is only the Beginning.
"...I AM...GRIMA... I AM...DESPAIR..."
"Those words seemed to echo out far and wide amongst the rapidly moving sky, the wind carrying them likely for miles, it was amazing that it didn't simply sweep them away to their deaths at all yet. Being able to even see how far off the ground anyone was proved to be difficult, the hard skeletal like surface was all anyone truly had in order to maintain a foothold in the vast ashen expanse that made up the span style="color: #202124; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"post-meridiem heavens of which this battle they all staked they're lives on.
"My name, is Robin."
;""BREAK THROUGH, DON'T LET ANY OF THEM STOP MILORD CHROM!" The stern order from the heavily armored Horsemen. Even despite the orange hue that covered the entire area, his attire gave off the slick sheen from just how well kept it was. The man's brown hair, while nondistinctive in nature, was cut perfectly in a proper manner to be nothing more then fitting so it would never get in the way nor cause him hinderance on the battle. It would hard to imagine the great knight any other way, the name Fredrick the Wary, would easily go down in history.
"A year ago, I was found unconscious out in the plains of Ylisse, and taken in by a group known as the Shepard's. Heh, it's funny to think that if they'd never found me that day, none of this might've happened at all."
"It would seem they are rather persistent!" The accented voice of the well dressed archer was right in a lot of ways, husks of what once were men rushed to bar there path, take one down and another would take it's place. "Not that I am complaining of course, such a task is nothing before the Archest of Archers!" Virion proclaimed bravely, brandishing his bow masterfully. While many could often be annoyed by the mains dramatics, on the battle field the lilac blue haired man of house Rosanne was anything but a hinderance! Just playing a game of chess together long along let her know that.
"For once Virion, that actually makes sense." A redhead fiercely reared her stead back, the brave beast letting out a warcry of it's own, charging fourth so her lance could skewer through the mindless puppets that stood in it's way. "Bring it on, I'll send all you Dastards back where you belong!" Sully's confidence was perfect in times like this, while brash it easily inspired everyone even more so then before.
"That's right, clear a path everyone!" Magic shined fourth in a swirl of azure light branched out across the forces of the living, wounds stitching back together as if they had never been there to begin with, A feat that was to be expected from the resident cleric, her voice filled with a peppiness to it that only the twin tailed blonde could period, her oddly button filled headdress waving about in the air almost representing how carefree she could be at times, The blonde quickly found himself in harms way however as one of the husks loomed on her, axe at the ready and mere moments away from cleaving into her, or it would have had a blade not met it half way.
A warriors cold brown eyes stared daggers into the moving corpse that threatened to claim the life of the healer behind him, a bold mistake if anything. It's end would come swiftly, "Begone!" sparks flew from his eyes as the raven haired individual swung his blade through upward, slicing through the body in a perfect diagonal arc, as it's remains crumbled departing the mortal coil once again.
Lissa's brief look of horror faded at the sight of Lon'qu serving the foe it's coup de 'grace "Thanks!" why had she even been worried? He'd always managed to be there when she was in peril.
"I served as the groups Tactician both out of gratitude and.. because I had grown to view them as my family, a choice I will regret, they definitely turned out to be more of a real family then what my birth itself gave me."
"Chrom!" A voice called out from above the group on a winged beast bathed in white resembling a stallion with wings, the voice itself belonged to a young woman adorned in currently stained white armor with red accents, not everyone could maintain there the cleanness of there equipment in the heat of battle, but her mane of red hair still proved to be a beautiful site that exemplified her valor. "There's a break in the enemy force, now's our chance!"
"Get going now Chrom. Don't worry, teach has got your back!" A blond, male this time. Charged fourth to dwindle the forces even more, one would not be mistaken in saying that compared to everyone else he could be considered quite underdressed given his chest was bare for all to see, granted given how barbaric Vaike tended to fight, the way he looked was definitely fitting.
"FOOLS...YOU ACEEPT...DEATH...BY APPROACHING..ME" Black spikes shot across the area, spiraling out and attempting to render anyone in there path an impaled bloody mess. Narrowly a young man who didn't particularly look the part of a solider, more akin to a villager especially with his helmet being nothing more then a large cooking pot. Was able to evade one while a woman who definitely looked the part of nobility given her blonde curls and fashion choice was able to have her horse evasively maneuver to get out of the way.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips seeing Donnel and Maribelle secure there safety, feet continuing to urge themselves forward as fast as they could go. Brown eyes locked forward on the pair of blue haired figures running together towards the imposing presence at the other end of the platform they all clung too. It was almost sad to think that all that came from hrt own lips weren't shouts filled with vigor, instead all they could muster were breaths of exhaustion, as platinum blonde streaks of hair did their best to obscure vision, not even the twintalis that her hair was often kept proved any help in preventing that. But her resolve still stood strong, she couldn't let them all down now.
"What were their names? There were a lot of us so I won't go into all of them to avoid wasting your time. But our leader was a man named Chrom! He was my best... friend. Ahem, and we all fought to stop a great evil, one that would've destroy everything we worked so hard to protect. Chrom, had the power to put a stop to it."
How long had they been fighting? Days upon days all led to this moment, to prevent a ruined future, all it hinged on the blade held within the fist of the great Lord that kept pushing forward, cutting through each enemy. They all stood no chance against the golden sword, nor it's counter part held by what many would say looked the splitting image of what a daughter of the older man could look like, blue hair waved through the air as they approached the shadowy aura. The ground they stood on shook as overhead, the head of the beast upon which they made there stand against came into sight, the dragons maw letting out a vicious roar, as the figure that stood at the base of the creatures neck, clothed in a fiery purple aura that defied any inkling of light. Within? Baring red eyes, was a the visage of a woman, her hair a platinum blonde edging towards being pure white, a baggy robe hung over her, it's coloring matching the flames around her.
An identical appearance, to the Tactician that did everything in her power to keep up with her cloeset friend.
"I come to end you, Grima!" Chrom's voice rang out, as he sprung on the vessel that gave life to the monstrosity beneath them, it would end here, for his friends, family, everyone!
"...ARROGANT MORTAL...I AM THE END!" While the vessels body spoke, more spikes came to life from it's feet, intent on purging Chrom's body from it's sights, it did not expect to see the mans blade break right through and crave into it's own flesh. "ARGH...!"
"Well, sort of. Chrom in the end, would've only been able to force the dragon back into it's slumber. It would return at some point."
"I lost to you once, monster. I shall not lose again! Die now, that our future can live!" Lucina's voice rang out next as her own Falchion reflected the suns rays, slicing into the vessel with all her strength. Just one more strike from her Father's Exalted blade, and the nightmare would be over.
"UGH..." The Fell Dragon's eyes fell on the form that appeared to be it's own twin for all intents and purposes, Robin. "...RETURN TO ME... COME... WE ARE ONE... AND THE SAME..."
""..."
Robin woke up with amnesia the day the Chrom and Lissa found her, not a single memory to her name, even that hadn't been something she knew at first. If she had known that her birth was the catalyst to causing everything that had happened. The death of Chrom's sister Emmeryn, the revival of the Fell Dragon, the ruination of the future Lucina had come from. Then would of asked for death before even leaving the womb. A life born purely to enable this foul creature it's own existence made her sick to her stomach, to think it and her were suppose to be one and same...
"I... was the only other one that could put an end to it for good."
"Your end has come-urk-" Chrom began to move forward to end it all, his blade ready and everything, never did he expect something to get in the way. Let alone did he expect it to be his closest comrade "R-Robin? What are you-" the words of the man she viewed as her best friend, Chrom. Fell on deaf ears as she dashed with all the strength she had left to her duplicate..
"WHAT...WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" The being seemed to sense her intent, as fear began to fill it's words. If the situation had been different, perhaps she would have chuckled, alas, the lightning encased dagger in her palm had other ideas, there would be no time to gloat as it plunged into the flesh, "HURK-...A-ARG...D-DAMN...YOU!" The words struggled to escape their users lips.
"However my method, would come at a price."
And soon, the same would be true for her.
"You... heh... Should already know what I'm... Doing." What a double edge sword this turned out to be, but she didn't mind the pain, in a way it felt deserved, clutching the very same spot she'd just stabbed her double in, both of them stepped back, one in shock as it's aura started to struggle to even stay alight, while the other did so from the pain.
Silence spiraled across the skies, could she even hear voices at this stage, perhaps not, just seeing the form of her enemy begin to tear fall apart from the pain proved satisfying as her own legs gave out, the blue hair of her best friend was all she could see as she assumed he wa holding her, what a way for this all to end, awaking to his face and now the last thing her eyes would see their final moments would be him.
"thank you.. for everything."
"My last thoughts, were of all of them."
"My name is Robin, the grand Tactician of the Shephard's, this is my stories end."
"Chrom, we have to do something!"
"What do you purpose we do?"
Memories were her company, each one playing playing out, almost like a greatest hits in a sense. The first time she fought with Chrom, Lissa and Fredrick to repel the Brigands that overtook Southtown. Accepting Flavia's agreement and engaging the masked man in Arena Ferox followed by... Emmeryn's death at Plegia's Castle Courtyard, a scene that still made her chest ache, if only she could of done more, she was meant to be the Tactician, one who could find a solution to save everyone, but not that time. The final confrontation with Gangrel at the Border Wastes played out next, Chrom's anger came out full force in that battle, he'd been more of a Berserker then a Lord in that fight, wanting nothing more then the head of the man that brought his beloved sister to her death.
Her best friend's wedding with the Pegasus knight Sumia came next, seeing Chrom in formal marriage attire still brought a chuckle to her, he never really fit the image of a gentlemen but in that moment, it suited him. If only the memory didn't feel so bittersweet, maybe if she'd expressed herself to him she could have been the one standing beside Chrom on that day...
It was useless to lament what could of been. Ha, she'd died both unmarried and a virgin, who would've guessed.
Meeting Lucina at the Carrion Isle and learning of what would happen to the future. The final siege to put an end to Walhart's conquest at Valm Castle. And then after all that, to learn of her heritage and the purpose she was meant to fulfill from the man that claimed to be her very own father, which even led to Lucina confronting her, maybe Lucina should of killed her that day, the only satisfaction they'd gained from extending Robin's life further was slaying Validar at the Dragon's Table and even then, Grima still stood before them.
So many accomplishments, in the end, she'd likely be written about, whether it be books detailing her strategies or songs telling of her courage. Or would she be forgotten? No, Chrom would never allow that. Maybe she should of tried to find a partner in life, to behind a legacy like many of the others had been confirmed to have, alas, maybe it was for the best she didn't.
"ARE YOU FINISHED NAPPING YET" Her thought's instantly vanished as Robin's eyes snapped open in fright. That booming voice, it couldn't be, had she failed somehow and instead been merged into the abomination!? No! This is what she fought to protect!
Her first sights were of the dark void that seemed to be her current location, they were practically akin to the shroud Grima had consumed her mind in before, nothing but black across all that the eye could see, and within it was the dark form of the Fell Dragon's sickening decayed body. Her words could barely escape a quiver due to how horrified the sight made her. "No...does this mean I...failed?"
"FINALLY AWAKE I SEE." She glared daggers into the being, seeing the doppelganger body that it called a vessel standing not to far from her vision, part of her just wanted to get up and finish the job if she could, Grima seemed to sense her anger, scoffing as it proceeded to commit to an action she didn't quite expect, it clapped. "BRAVO, BRAVO. YOU DID IT. YOU'VE SLAIN BOTH THE FELL DRAGON AND YOURSELF, FOOL."
The beasts insult meant nothing to her, the far more interesting part of what it said was clearly the point about having slain both of them, so she had succeeded? Thank the goddess Naga, Robin had bet all her chips and that final gambit believing in the God's words that it would bring an end to the beast. But a far more pressing concern came to mind, if they were dead... "Where are we?" Her tone was far from civil many spoke of what the afterlife held, but she had an aching suspicion that there was more to this then meets the eye.
The vessel body shrugged as it laid back lazily against it's true bodies skeletal head, strange did dying bring fourth a laid back attitude in the monster? "SOME FORM OF LIMBO I WAGER." She gave the draconic being a look of confusion, limbo wasn't exactly a term that Robin was familiar, given the irritated look she received in kind however, she started to think maybe she should of just taken that at face value.. "WERE YOU NOT REOWNED FOR YOUR INTELLIGENCE, TACTICIAN? OR HAS DEATH BROUGHT A NEAR FORM OF STUPITY TO YOUR FEEBLE MIND?" Okay, fine. She wasn't going to bother, if the Fell Dragon was going to act like a petulant child then she didn't have to acknowledge it, be butthurt over dying sure, but learn to talk to a woman that was able to kill you with at least some form of respect, seeing Robin about to try and ditch though, Grima spoke up again. "FINE, I SHALL EXPLAIN LIMBO, AN UNCERTAIN PERIOD OF AWAITING A DECISION OR RESOLUTION. YOU COULD SAY WE ARE AWAITING JUDGEMENT WHAT YOU CREATURES REVERE AS A GODDESS" Hmm, okay, that made sense. Thank god it had decided to put it's ego aside and be cooperative with her, Robin happily nodded at the Fell Dragon's answer, while it's response did raise further questions in the Tactician's mind, she still had to at least award it for being able to shove a sock in it's ego and give her a proper answer by showing it how you actually treat someone, sure it's probably made she killed it, did she care about it's feelings? Nope!
So with the new knowledge that she was supposed to be waiting for some form of judgement, likely from Naga, Robin waited, twiddling her thumbs as a little tune she use to hum with Lissa all the time went through her head. It helped that such a thing invoked memories of the twos constant little prank wars, gods those proved to be so much fun! Damnit, she was gonna miss those.
And so she waited.
And waited.
And waited...
And- okay geez Robin was really started to get bored and Grima's company was not something she was a fan of, constantly tuning out the dragon whenever it spoke up at this point, it never seemed to say anything she wanted to hear anyway. Now come on Naga, she knew plenty of people died recently but she at least deserved to like, hop the line or something for being responsible for the fricking Fell Dragons death right, right?
Oh god she was starting to get an ego too, wasn't she?
It was at that moment however that a divine light shined through the void, blinding her in the process, when did it get windy here? There was no wind to speak of prior and now her hair and coat were being blown about like it was nothing.
"IT'S ABOUT TIME, NAGA."
A child's birthday was meant to be one of the best day's of their live, wasn't it? A day they could always cherish, many waited for it all year for the joy of presents, treats, cake? You name it, a date of birth almost seemed synonymous with such things.
Not for Naruto Uzumaki.
The young blond, sat by the stream, like many other days, the sun illuminated the surroundings perfectly as the winds breezed brushed through all of the area. The grassy hill accompanied the nearby stairs that led to the footpath below connecting to the wooden piece of ledge that the six year old used to gaze down into the water, the sound of other children playing nearby could be heard. If only he could join them, although given the earlier rejection, hearing them have so much felt just caused another ping of sadness in Naruto.
No the only company Naruto got to call his own today was his own reflection in the water, his bright blue eyes looked at home in the water, if only they could of contained any joy today then they'd look a lot more natural compared to the depressing gaze that no one should want a child to have at such a young age. The most interesting thing about his appearance though, was easily the odd whiskers marks that his face laid claim too, such a unique detail that most would likely never be able to naturally replicate, too Naruto they were just a collection of birthmarks.
"Happy birthday too me I guess..." The young boy let out a sigh, taking a nearby pebble and getting ready to hurl it out into the river before him, unfortunately, he leaned a little to far forward and found his eyes widen in horrow as the reflection came closer and closer. "N-nonono-"
In mere moments he was under water, struggling to get his body to submerge again, he hadn't quite picked up the art of swimming yet, so right now the blond was fighting a battle for life and death in that river.
H-He couldn't die like this, he hadn't even made good on his promise to the old man, or even managed to make everyone stop looking at him with pity, disgust or disdain, he couldn't die yet, not until he fulfilled atleast one of those! Please? Kami are you listening-
Fortunately for Naruto, it seemed a god was listening because now he could feel something pull him up.
"BLEK!" Water gushed out of his mouth as breathing suddenly became a lot easier, granted anything's easier when you're not drowning.
"Well aren't you lucky that I just so happened to be coming by!"
Naruto's eyes looked up in surprise, standing above him with a delighted looking smile was a woman, with hair that looked white to the long boy's perspective, but also seemed to hold streaks of purple throughout it's strands and she also had a pretty weird looking robe, she didn't look like a Shinobi, nor like an average villager, maybe she a merchant or something, he did remember the old man saying that word before to describe people!
"Gee, no one teach you manners kid, most people thank they're saviors." He was quickly broken from his observations of the lady, quickly bowing his head, she was right. You don't just ignore people that help you! God now he just felt bad, "Hehe, woah woah kiddo, it's all good."
Naruto's head tilted back up, his blue eyes meeting her brown, she was offering him a hand up, one that he did quickly take this time, she'd already mentioned him being a little rude so he definitely didn't wanna come off any worse. "T-Thank you! I-I'm Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto!" Yeah that was right! Introducing yourself was good manners, this lady couldn't call him out for forgetting that!
"Naruto huh? That's a pretty cool name haha!" She helped the boy up chuckling in the process. Before she brought a hand to her chin, almost akin to a redheaded secret seller she'd known as she just tiled herself down to have her head be level with the boys, a cheeky smirk on her face. "Now were are Mr and Mrs Uzumaki so I can go tell 'em their little boy was drowning just now~"
"Parents..." Just saying the word hurt in a sense for the young boy.
The youngster swallowed as he looked downward, he was used to the question by now, anyone that didn't know always asked, why are you alone? Where are your parents? Same old thing every time, and it was always a harsh reminder. "I...don't have any."
The woman's own eyes softened in an understanding manner, if anyone were to understand what it was like to not have anyone, it was her. Granted, she was sure the circumstances were different, but that changed little. "That's a real shame." Her tone didn't contain pity, but a sense of companion ship that the boy had never really heard before, "I never really had any either."
"Naruto was left speechless as he looked at the pale haired lady, she said that, with a smile? It almost seemed unreal to the lad. He'd always wish he had parents to call his own, to him up when he feeling down, and this person just said that she never had any too, was this what it was like to feel kinship with someone? He had no time to speak up again though, as her lips moved again.
"Gosh, look at me, lecturing manners when i haven't even given my own name! Hehe, my name is Robin, would you like to hear my story, Naruto?"
Authour's Notes.
It's been awhile since I've done anything on this site, huh?
For those unfamiliar, back in 2015 too I believe 2016, I wrote a story called Tactician, which was a revival of a story called Konoha's Orange Tactician, I was about 18 when I started those stories, geez, how times fly eh? Regardless, I was a young immature writer back then who gave up too easily. I ended up kinda quitting Fanfiction for awhile midway through 2016 after my first relationship came to an end. Honestly It wasn't even just Fanfiction I gave up on, I gave up on writing period because it always reminded me of that relationship, that along with the fact that I never thought I was any good at writing in the first place, that led to my..4 years away from this site.
But, I want to try again, looking back on everything I want to continue doing stories that people enjoy, alas it doesn't feel right returning to the original works, my minds in an entirely different place compared to back then, so it's incredibly difficult to even try working off what I originally wrote, hence, take 3.
Why return to this idea again you might ask? Because this idea holds a special place to me, Naruto and Robin are two characters I feel are similar in a sense, and as such I want to try seeing the idea to it's completion if I can, so if you're along for the ride, I hope you enjoy my work.
Any feedback is very much welcome, I hope you all enjoyed this entry, and until next time, Fare the well.
~Magnum L,Hawk