Rigged from the Start

Chapter 99

The Price of Immortality

My boots shifted through clumps of cracked earth and dust. The road out of the Hoshido Range, toward the Mila Tree, was a dead artery that cut through a wasteland. The skeletons of trees, choked to death by the lack of vibrant sunlight marked our path, acting as grim guides through the Zofian forests to the Mila Tree. Their gnarled limbs, crumbling and dry, pointed the way like the fingers of an aged wanderer. It made my heart swell with sadness and pity as I emerged from my tent to the dull dawn of a new day.

So far, we have been traveling for three days. Our progress was slow, thanks to some of us still recovering from injuries sustained in the skirmish at the Black Door Inn. Our pace was not helped by the dreadful road conditions. Ash choked the roadway when it hadn't been reduced to hardened rock, making Anna drive her cart cautiously forward. We were always on the lookout for Risen ambushes that never came, making our nights restless. The lack of sleep caused our march to slow to a crawl, our weariness close to overcoming our collective will to push forward.

But push forward the Shepherds did, and the sight filled me with admiration.

I drew in a deep breath. Trying my best to make the morning a decent one as I trudged to Anna's cart to crab a couple of hardtack biscuits for me and Severa. Around the campsite, the other Shepherds were already up and moving, deconstructing their hastily erected tents and storing them in the cart. Anna was already in the back, rearranging everything so they would not jostle around so much.

"Good morning," I grunted, covering my mouth as I yawned.

Anna snorted. "Sleep much?"

"Did you?" I countered.

"Like a baby," Anna replied. However, the dark circles around her eyes betrayed her. She looked like she barely caught a wink.

I shivered as a cold wind brushed through the ruined forest, moaning through the scraggly tree limbs like a mournful song. My arms shrugged beneath my cloak, allowing me to grasp it and wrap it a little tighter over my slim frame.

"How much food do we have?"

"Cordelia and Frederick both already asked me that question," Anna grumbled, setting a tray of jams to the side. There were eight in total. Yesterday, there were twelve.

"What did you tell them?"

"I told them the same thing I told them yesterday. If the Prince and Miss Dragon don't pick up the damn pace, we're going to starve." She turned to a burlap sack, opened it, and withdrew a couple of biscuits. I caught them out of the air when she tossed them to me. "A most nutritious breakfast."

"Better than nothing," I replied, raising a biscuit before nibbling on it, feeling it crunch between my teeth like a cracker. I shook my head. To think I thought hardtack was a delicious meal; the me from Wisconsin would have been bemoaning this terrible fate for days. Now, I hardly flinched. "Thanks for the update."

"Be ready to move. I'm about to start setting the pace if the royals don't get their asses into gear." Anna's eyes darted to the ashy fog around us. "I don't like moving slowly through this shit."

I pursed my lips. Anna made a good point. We were moving too slowly. Yet, the pace was being dictated by Chrom and Tiki. I deferred to their judgment when it came to our movements. However, I could understand Anna's nervousness. At any moment, a Risen horde could ambush us, and we would be in for a desperate fight. One I wasn't sure we could win.

I shook my head. There was no point in following that line of thought. All it would do was ruin my already teetering mood.

"Better go wake Severa," I muttered, stepping away from Anna's cart. As I walked away, I heard Anna grumble something that made me chuckle under my breath.

"Damned future kids and their ability to sleep in this shit. Why can't I…" Her voice faded behind me.

The rest of the Shepherds were quiet as I passed by their tents. Chrom, Robin, Cordelia, and Frederick were already conferring, talking about the state of the troupe and what to do once we reached the Mila Tree. Say'ri and Cherche were busy brewing some tea for everyone out of what few tea leaves we still had. Virion was already helping himself to a cup. Kjelle, Sully, Vaike, and Kellam were busy helping Nah and Nowi take apart their tents. Gregor was doing the same for Henry and Tharja.

I had to pause as I watched everyone work. For the first time ever, I realized how momentous such a small moment was. All of these people were completely different from one another. There were nobles helping commoners, Ylissean mages sharing knowledge with Plegian sorcerers, knights sharing stories with mercenaries, and future children providing wisdom to their parents about how to handle this type of environment.

It was incredible to witness.

A smile twitched over my lips. It was this sense of camaraderie that made me feel like we could win. It gave me confidence that no dark force, no Risen or Fell Dragon, could stand against us. United, we could overcome any enemy and see a better tomorrow. A future free from the Fell Dragon's looming shadow.

What a lovely thing to hope for.

Severa was already awake by the time I reached our tent. She was busy taking the tent apart, rolling up the canvass covering into a tight bundle. As she tied the canvass together with the poles and stakes, I held out a biscuit to her.

"Breakfast?"

Severa blinked, then gave me a soft smile. She plucked the biscuit from my hand and nibbled. As she munched, I spotted a glint of gold above her left breast. My eyes widened when I spotted the brooch pinned there.

"You're wearing it?"

Severa paused, a bite of her biscuit still in her mouth. "Yesh-" She frowned, chewed, then swallowed. "Yes, I am."

My heart swelled a little. I gave her a smile. "It looks good on you."

"Oh really?" A pink tint washed over her pale cheeks. "How so?"

I chuckled, leaned in, and kissed her cheek. "It makes your eyes shine brighter."

"Compliments my hair nicely too, huh?"

"Of course," I replied, laughing under my breath.

She blushed a little more, biting her lip as I brushed some of her hair from her face. Her eyes closed and she reached up, cupping the back of my hand with her palm.

"Why don't you help me with this stuff," She muttered.

"Sure thing."

Right as I bent down to pick up the remains of our tent, the tent next to ours stirred. Tiki emerged, her green hair splayed every which way. A long, loud yawn tumbled from her lips as she stretched her arms over her head. She blinked a couple of times, smacked her lips, then yawned again. I paled when I saw sharp fangs within her maw.

Tiki noticed me freeze out of the corner of her eye. She let out a sputtering breath, rose to her feet, and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Samwise, I would never eat you. You have no meat on you. I'd be picking your bones from between my teeth, and trust me when I say, that is never pleasant when I shrink from my Manakete form."

I swallowed hard. "That's uh… reassuring?"

Tiki chuckled as she blinked sleep from her eyes. When her vision focused, her eyes flicked to the brooch pinned to Severa's chest. Her eyes narrowed as she peered closer. Before either of us could do anything, she strode up Severa, taking a long, hard look at the small piece of jewelry.

"Uh…" Severa shifted nervously beneath Tiki's gaze, "Is something wrong?"

"Where did you get this?" Tiki asked, tapping her finger against the brooch.

Severa's eyes darted to meet mine. "Sam gave it to me."

Tiki flicked her eyes to me. I paled when I saw her pupils. They were not round. They were slitted, like an angry lizard's. Her hand drifted to a pouch on her hip. Fear gripped me as I waited for her to pull out her dragonstone.

That fear evaporated when she touched something in that pouch, causing her to relax. Slowly, she withdrew her hand, her fingers pinching an identical brooch to the one on Severa's breast.

Severa's eyes widened. She whipped her eyes to me, stunned.

"I thought you said Anna gave this to you."

"She did," I nodded.

Tiki blinked. "Anna gave-" Understanding dawned on her face. Her eyes closed and she hummed. "I see. Then… never mind."

"Then what?" Severa asked.

"It is none of your concern, and I mean that in the friendliest way I can," Tiki replied, her tone gentle.

"You and Anna are close?" I questioned, making Tiki stiffen.

The Manakete's lips thinned. "I'm not sure. We are constantly bickering." She scoffed and shook her head. "That woman is one of the most stubborn, irritable humans I have ever encountered. And yet, she manages to stir something inside of me. I don't know if it's her attitude, or that smarmy smirk she gives me whenever we get into an argument, but it's… strange." She looked at the brooch in her fingertips, then at its identical twin on Severa's chest. "If I gave this to Anna in the future, that means our relationship progressed far beyond simple friendship. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that."

Severa gave her a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

Tiki looked back and forth between me and Severa. Her smile became genuinely happy as she stood next to us.

"Severa," She began, "this brooch was given to me a long time ago. Long before the Fell Dragon was even a thought in this world. Before even Alm the Great first united the continent of Valentia under one banner." She let out a breathless sigh. Her eyes closed as she got lost in thoughts she could never fully share with us. "To sum things up, someone very special gave this to me. He made me promise that I would only give it away to someone who valued me as much as he did." A sheepish laugh left her lips, the first hint of embarrassment I had ever seen Tiki exude. "Looking back, I'm sure he meant as good of a friend as he thought I was. After all… he did fall for someone else. Still, this brooch means that much to me. And, as much as Anna can get under my skin, she understands value better than most. She would know what this was worth."

Tiki smiled at me. My heart pounded in my chest. I knew the brooch was significant to Anna. It was the only possession she ever refused to sell. She nearly killed me for snatching it during a test Gaius gave me. I knew she treasured this above all else, and I knew she got it from Tiki. I also knew they were close at one point in time. Very close.

I had no idea that their relationship had been so serious though.

"If Samwise gifted it to you, Severa, it means that you may very well be the most important person in his life." She pocketed her brooch, her smile warming. "Treasure it. Treasure each other. I know that if you do that, nothing will ever come between you."

With that, Tiki stepped back, letting out a long breath. She turned, her eyes flicking to Anna's cart right as Anna bellowed a loud curse. A sharp crash followed, and more furious curses erupted from the cart, making me wince.

Tiki clicked her tongue. "Suppose I better do something about that."

"Have fun."

"Oh, I'm sure it will be most amusing," Tiki hummed, walking away to Anna's cart.

Chrom's voice rose next, announcing that it was time to move out. We would eat on the road.

"Sounds like the parents agreed to pick up the pace," I muttered as I shouldered mine and Severa's tent.

"Good," Severa nodded. "The sooner we get to the Mila Tree, the sooner this can be over."

I nodded in agreement. I wanted nothing more than for this war to be over too. Now that Tiki revealed the significance of the brooch to me, I knew what it meant when I gave it to Severa.

There was nothing I wanted more now than to spend a day with her, without the Fell Dragon looming over us.

To my utter disbelief, there was one patch of green remaining in Valm, and it was gargantuan.

I had only seen the Mila tree once so far, but during that brief moment, I never got the chance to marvel at the sheer size of it. The majesty with which it stood over the entire world boggled my mind. The branches were as wide as some of the tallest trees the world could muster, and still, they would have dwarfed those. They spread out like hundreds of fingers, spanning so wide they blotted out the muted sun and filtered it into an emerald glow that felt warm.

Water still rushed in streams alongside the roots, which sprouted up and down from the ground like great, wooden serpents. Those streams rushed beside those roots, bending through gaps in the roots as if the tree's blood seeped into the very ground that it fed off of. My mouth could not help but hang open in awe.

"Wow…" I breathed.

"Didn't you say that the last time we were here?" Severa questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Maybe?" I muttered. "But I wasn't- I never really paid attention. I was too focused on getting us all out of here alive."

Pegasus wings ruffled nearby. Cordelia trotted up to us, no doubt hearing the tail end of the conversation. She looked around at the alive surroundings with the same look of wonder and awe.

"I can't believe a place like this exists," She breathed.

"I feel like the word 'still' is supposed to be attached to that," Severa remarked.

Cordelia's lips thinned. "Perhaps, but it is a good thing it does. It gives me hope. I'm sure it's doing the same for everyone else."

"It's got me feeling hopeful, yeah," I nodded.

Birds chirped overhead, the last vestiges of life in all of Valm. Not a hint of ash touched the ferns or moss around us. This place was as pure as when we first traveled to it to rescue Tiki. I had to wonder how it was even possible.

"I guess Tiki wasn't joking when she said there was power here," Severa muttered. "That's the only way this place would stand up to Grima's Shadow this long."

Cordelia nodded. "I would never doubt the Voice of Naga. But, I have to admit, I did feel a small amount of skepticism, considering how far south the Risen have advanced. I wonder why they haven't hit this place yet?"

That was an excellent question. I shared Cordelia's confusion. In my few, terrifying interactions with Grima, I never got the impression that he was willing to overlook such an important place. Was he so distracted with invading Archanea and keeping the Shepherds bottled up in Valm that he simply ignored such a potent symbol of divine power?

No, that was not like him at all. There had to be another reason.

"I'm moving ahead. Going to see what's going on."

Severa furrowed her brow. "You think something is wrong?"

I shook my head. "No… but I don't think everything is right." I saw a flicker of worry dart over Severa's face. "Hey, don't worry. It's probably nothing."

"It's never nothing."

"First time for everything," I shrugged before picking up the pace and moving towards the front of our small column.

Chrom and Robin led the way. Lucina flanked her father, while Frederick strode alongside Robin. All four of them warily scanned the area as the roots grew taller around us, resembling wooden walls threatening to enclose us in a tight space. Anna's cart rumbled just behind them. I gave the merchant a small wave, which she returned, before joining the leaders.

"Hey," I breathed, falling into step with Frederick. The Knight raised an eyebrow. "How's it going?"

"Are you here to make small talk, or is there a purpose behind your visit?" Frederick asked.

"Easy Frederick," Chrom chuckled. "Sam's a Shepherd too. No need to be harsh."

Frederick sighed. "Apologies milord. This place has me on edge for some reason."

"It does?" Robin remarked, puzzled.

"Actually, I share Frederick's feelings," I nodded, glancing around at the dense foliage around us. "It's odd Grima hasn't violated this place yet. Almost feels purposeful."

"A trap?" Chrom questioned.

"Possibly. I wouldn't put it past that lizard," I muttered.

Chrom's steps faltered as his face turned grim. "In that case, we need to be extra careful. Frederick, I want Sully and Stahl flanking the column. Tell them they are to keep a sharp lookout for anything strange. Also, inform Cherche and Cordelia to take to the sky. A bird's eye view here may help."

"Yes, milord."

Frederick retreated back to relay Chrom's orders. Lucina remained silent as her wary eyes flicked to and fro. Meanwhile, Robin's pace slowed.

"They won't be able to get above those branches," Robin said, his eyes flicking up to the enormous eaves of the Mila Tree.

"But they can fly beneath them, and that'll have to be good enough," Chrom replied.

Robin nodded. "I suppose. Still, if there is an enemy I don't think that they-"

An arrow soared through the air, slamming into the ground at Robin's feet. The tactician ground to a halt, startling Anna's horse and making it stamp a hoof.

"The hell!?" Anna barked.

"Shepherds!" Chrom bellowed. "Form up!"

Swords scrapped against scabbards. Bowstrings pulled taut, groaning from strain. Magic buzzed near me as Robin flicked the pages of his tome open. Lucina and Chrom stood shoulder to shoulder, their Falchions gleaming in the emerald light. Meanwhile, my hand went for my dagger instead of my sword. Old habits are hard to shake.

I waited with bated breath for another arrow to come, or for the sound of shrieking Risen to hit my ears. However, the tell-tale drop in temperature never came. The eerie feeling of hopelessness and darkness did not exist. The arrow that hit the ground merely quivered to and fro as it sat upright in the muddy trail.

Armored footsteps drew near. My eyes widened. A group of Valmese soldiers emerged from near one of the Mila Tree's vast roots. They looked haggard, disheveled, and weary. Their armor was bent and scuffed. Their cheeks were gaunt. But, they were alive, and that is more than could be said for many people on this continent. It was almost a relief to see another human being until I saw the portly man leading them out of the brush.

"Oh, fuck," I gulped, trying to duck behind Chrom and Robin.

"Sam?" Robin questioned. Before he could say anything else, the Valmese leader spoke.

"Ylisseans? Here?" His beady eyes narrowed on Prince Chrom. "The Prince of Ylisse no less. State your business."

Chrom opened his mouth, but he wasn't allowed to speak. Someone else spoke for him.

"General Cervantes," Tiki's sharp tone shot through the air, making the mustachioed General pale. The voice of Naga slipped between Robin and Chrom, her emerald eyes narrow, pupils slitted. "I'm not sure if I should count it as a curse or a blessing that you are alive."

Sweat beaded on the General's bald head. "L-Lady Voice! You're alive!"

"No thanks to you," Tiki frowned. "After all, last I checked, you had orders to kill me."

"K-Kill you- I- um-" Cervantes swallowed hard, dropped his lance, then fell to his knees and prostrated himself before the furious manakete. "I beg your forgiveness, my lady. I was only acting upon the orders given to me. Had I known the fallacy behind them, I would have ignored them."

Tiki glowered at the shaking man. Meanwhile, I couldn't help but gawk. Where was the prideful Cervantes I had met not long ago? The man who had been so dismissive of anyone he deemed an enemy?

Why did his men look so haggard?

"If it is your judgment to take vengeance upon me, so be it," Cervantes continued, his face remaining in the dirt. "Just spare my men. They have endured the monsters that have come with the end of days for too long. Spare them, and lead them to safety. That is all I ask."

My blood froze. Monsters? He meant Risen. That would explain why so few of Cervantes' men were with him, and why they looked like they had been to hell and back. I knew Grima had not ignored this place. Now, a bigger question emerged.

How had Cervantes held out for so long?

Tiki hummed, mulling over Cervantes words. Then, she extended a hand to him.

"Get yourself up, General. Now is not the day for vengeance. Survival is needed, which makes cooperation necessary."

General Cervantes blinked as he looked up at her hand. He hesitated, then reached up and took it. With surprising strength, Tiki hauled the heavily armored man to his feet. Cervantes quickly wiped some mud from his armor then bowed his head.

"Thank you, Lady Voice." He looked up and turned his attention to Chrom. "Come, this is no place to speak. The monsters might be nearby, and I'd rather not let them think our guard is down. What remains of my army is camped at the foot of the tree. I will lead you there myself."

His beady eyes blinked when he spotted me behind Chrom and Robin. I gave the General a nervous wave.

"How's it going?"

Cervantes scowled. "Is that one with you, Lady Voice?"

"Samwise is a good friend of mine, yes."

A low rumble emanated from the General. "As you said: cooperation is necessary, even if it is annoying. Just keep him away from my tent."

With that, Cervantes turned on his heel and beckoned for the Shepherds to follow him and his men. Anna snapped the reins, her cart rumbling past me, Chrom, Tiki, and Robin. She flashed me a wink and a wry smirk. Meanwhile, Robin tilted his head, puzzled.

"Samwise, what did you do to that General?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, but it did involve poison."

Lucina's eyes widened. "You never mentioned that you poisoned Cervantes!"

"It seemed like a minor detail at the time."

"That's never a minor detail, Samwise!"

The royals and Tiki disappeared into General Cervantes' tent, and the rest of us were stuck waiting outside, at the base of the Mila Tree and its mossy steps. I sat on one of those steps, the moss carpet covering them providing a surprisingly comfortable seat. As I picked at some of the only blades of green grass I had seen in months, I had uttered a sputtering breath.

It is remarkable that I have made it this far.

I've had few moments during my time in Valm, or even back in Archanea, to really reflect on where I was at. Just over two years ago, I was a shitty salesman barely scraping by in a snowed-in Wisconsin town. Now, I was a seasoned warrior in a medieval society. A survivor of the apocalypse not once but twice. And, I had found the love of my life.

A part of me wondered if this was all a dream somehow. If I was going to wake up at any moment in a hospital bed, IVs attached to my arms as the injuries the bus gave me throbbed to life. Every time my mind wandered down that path though, I pinched myself, and I knew I wasn't dreaming.

This was real. I couldn't help but snort to myself as I flicked several blades of grass from my fingers. What a remarkable few years. Unbelievable, inconceivable, every single synonym for unreal I could think of applied to my life now. I had once been a boring man. Now, boring was unusual.

A loud yawn hit my ears. I glanced to my left as Gaius slumped against the Mila Tree, a lazy look on his face as she glanced around. A lollipop stick spun between his teeth as he eyed the Shepherds setting up a meager camp for the evening.

"Been a while since you and I just chatted, huh?" He said.

I nodded. "Been busy."

Gaius raised an eyebrow. I met his gaze, then snorted out a laugh. "I would deny it, but whenever I'm with Severa, the answer is likely a yes."

Gaius barked out a laugh. "You two just can't keep your hands off each other, huh?"

"And you and Panne can?"

"Panne doesn't have hands, she has paws," Gaius countered, folding his arms and giving me a triumphant smirk.

I blinked. "You do realize that implies-"

"I know what I'm about, Lucky," Gaius interrupted.

I nodded. "Good to know then." I blew out a long breath as a chilly wind swept through the forest around us, making green leaves flutter to the ground. "I wonder how long Tiki will take to tap into the power that's here?"

Gaius shrugged. "Dunno. That's above my pay-grade. Yours too."

I grimaced and nodded, my eyes flicking to my lap. "Yeah, you could say that again. Somehow, details like that always seem to become part of my job though."

"Tired?"

"Exceedingly," I admitted.

Gaius reached into one of the dozens of pouches lining his vest. When he didn't find what he was looking for, he frowned and unbuckled a larger pouch on his bandolier. I heard a wet squish come from that pouch, causing me to raise an eyebrow as Gaius grimaced.

"I forgot that was in there."

"What?"

"Candied plum. Nice and sour." Gaius retracted his hand, revealing a sticky, purplish substance clinging to his fingers. "I'd offer you some but uh… it's dead."

I snorted. "I don't need any of your candy, Gaius."

"It'd give you an energy boost," he pointed out.

I mulled over the idea for a moment. He had a point. I suppose a little sugar wouldn't hurt.

"Alright, hit me."

"Literally or-"

"With some candy."

A lollipop smacked my cheek. My eyes narrowed and turned to glare at Gaius, who gave me a mischievous smirk.

"You asked for it," he snickered.

I snatched the lollipop from his fingers as he kept chuckling. As I glared at him, I unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth, swirling the candy over my tongue and tucking it into my cheek. The sweet flavor drove away whatever annoyance I felt with Gaius as I was taken back to simpler times.

"Cherry," I breathed, bobbing my head.

"Only the best," Gaius commented.

"That it is," I admitted, leaning back and letting my head rest against the step behind me.

I looked up into the eaves of the Mila Tree, hoping that maybe I would see stars through the leaves instead of the unending blanket of black clouds. A small glimmer, flicker, of light behind those clouds would do so much to relieve my weary mind. Starlight gave me hope that Grima's shadow wasn't all-consuming. That it could be broken. Of course, I knew that to be true, but at the same time, we have suffered setback after setback, defeat after defeat. It had become difficult to believe that Grima could be defeated.

"Well, what's the first order of business you think when we get back home?" Gaius asked as he flopped to a seat beside me, folding his hands behind his head and looking up as well. "Stargazing?"

"One day," I muttered.

"Aw, I'm flattered, but you might want to tell Severa she has competition."

"Not with you," I snorted, making Gauis chuckle.

"I kid," Gaius remarked with a wave of his hand. "No way in hell I'm getting between you two. Both Ginger and Whiskers would have my hide, along with Ginger's mom and Bubbles too. They like you."

I raised my eyebrows. "That so?"

Gaius rolled his eyes. "Oh come on, Lucky, you can't be that oblivious."

"I'm not oblivious, I'm just… distracted," I replied, massaging my eyes as I sat upright.

"Well," Gaius smacked my back, "congratulations. You've won over the parents. I'm sure they'll start planning the wedding as soon as Grima is dead."

"I haven't even formally proposed to Sev," I replied with a shake of my head.

"What're you waiting for?"

I stayed quiet. "I'm not sure." My jaw worked back and forth. "I'm actually not sure how she would take that."

Gaius shrugged. "I suppose that's a fair enough reason. It's not like you two aren't going to be together, barring something disastrous."

"I'd rather you not speak that into existence."

"My fingers were crossed, don't worry," Gaius replied with a lazy wave of his hand.

Soft footsteps drew near us. I stopped rubbing my eyes and looked up to see Cordelia walking towards us. Gaius quickly sat upright and gave my shoulder a pat.

"Speaking of, I should probably go find Whiskers and Yarne. Make sure the kid isn't shaking at the nearest passing leaf."

I nodded. "Good luck."

Gaius smiled, bid Cordelia a good day with a tip of his head and a slight nod, then sauntered past the Pegasus Knight towards the other Shepherds setting up camp. I stayed in my seat, finally letting myself relax a little bit. I would not have many other opportunities to do this, after all. Once Tiki finished doing whatever she had to do, it would be a blitz to defeating Grima.

And the first step will be getting Sable. My stomach rolled. Grima has that cursed gem.

"Are you feeling alright, Samwise?" Cordelia asked as she stood in front of me, a concerned look on her face. "I finally caught up on everything that happened for you and Severa and… well… I'm just-"

"I'll be fine, don't worry," I replied, giving her a small smile. "Just tired."

"Tired as in sleepy, or…?"

She trailed off, and I knew what she was getting at. All I could do was nod.

"Yeah," I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets and blowing out a long breath. "Tell you what, when this is all done, I'm looking forward to a solid couple of weeks of downtime where I'm not even going to get out of bed."

Cordelia chuckled. "I know Robin and I are looking forward to some well-earned peace too." She brushed some red hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "It seems like this war just won't end."

My lips thinned. "It will though, one way or another."

Cordelia furrowed her brow. "You can't possibly think we will lose."

I shrugged. "I've already seen it happen once, and I barely escaped it with the others. I believe that we stand a better chance of winning now but…" I shook my head as I tried to gather my thoughts. "You were there on Carrion Isle. You saw what Grima can do, and that was only a fraction of what he is capable of." A bitter scoff left my lips. "I guess I've been alone with my thoughts for too long."

"Perhaps," Cordelia replied. "Why don't you come sit with the rest of us by the fire? Severa has been working with Cynthia to prepare a meal for all of us."

I raised an eyebrow. "Sev cooks?"

Cordelia chuckled. "All these years you've been with her and you did not know that."

"She never cooked for me."

"She's returning the favor," Cordelia extended a hand to me. "Now come on, we-"

A Valmese soldier sprinted into camp, cutting her off and making me freeze where I sat. The soldier rushed into General Cervantes's tent. Seconds later, Cervantes burst forth, lance in hand as he marched towards his men, a resolute expression on his face. Tiki, Prince Chrom, and Robin closely followed, all of them with grave looks. I knew what that meant.

"No meal tonight," I breathed, the temperature in the air suddenly plummeting.

Cordelia stiffened as I rose to my feet. "Risen?" She breathed.

I nodded. "Better get to your Pegasus and get up the tree. Hold the top platform for Tiki to use. I'm sure the enemy might send fliers against us this time."

"Right."

Cordelia rushed away while the Shepherds hastily gathered their weapons and readied for battle. Robin and Chrom ordered all of them to make for the stairs leading up the tree and to protect Tiki at all costs. Meanwhile, Cervantes' voice boomed through the twilight air, drowning out the nearing shrieks and groans of Risen.

"Soldiers of Valm!" He bellowed, pacing in front of what little remained of his army. "Here we stand, the last of the Conqueror's army. The last line of defense against a mindless horde of death hellbent on our annihilation. Many of your comrades fled when faced with this trial, but you remained. For that, I am honored to call you my soldiers, and I am the most privileged man to be the one standing shoulder to shoulder with you."

Chrom brushed past me, along with Lucina.

"Let's go, Sam," the princess breathed before bounding up the steps, taking them two at a time to keep up with Chrom, Robin, and Tiki.

The Shepherds' fliers took to the sky, twin Wyverns and three pegasi circling around the Mila Tree's enormous trunk. The other Shepherds rushed past me up the steps. Severa was one of the last, as she faltered beside me while I peered into the shadows cast by the forest, waiting to see the glowing ruby eyes of Risen.

"Sam," Severa touched my shoulder.

"Right," I nodded. It was better to not take any chances.

I turned and ran up the tree. As I did, the cold became sharper, and the shrieks grew louder. Still, General Cervantes' voice rose above the moaning wind and wailing Risen.

"Tonight, we face the enemy head-on! Tonight, we plant our feet on this soil and not give a single inch to the army of the damned! Tonight, we spit in the eye of the Fell Dragon, and remind him who we are! We are men and women of Valm! We are soldiers of the greatest conqueror this world has ever seen! Shall we remind the lizard who he faces!?"

Cervantes' soldiers roared in approval, their voices briefly matching the approaching Risen's chorus of death.

"Come then!" Cervantes cried. I looked over my shoulder, gazing down from the steps to see the first throngs of Risen charge at the phalanx of Valmese soldiers. "Let us go to hell smiling!"

Steel clashed. The screams of people dying joined the hair-raising cries of Risen bursting forth from the forest. I tore my eyes away before the carnage could truly unfold. My eyes closed briefly as my heart lurched. Despite Cervantes being an old enemy, he and his men were giving their lives so that we would have a chance to defeat the Fell Dragon. His sacrifice reminded me so much of what the Shepherds did in the future.

I couldn't help but admire the man now.

"Let's move, Shepherds!" Chrom shouted from ahead. "To the top, with all haste!"

The louder the Risen shrieks became, the faster I moved. I caught up to Severa and the tail end of the Shepherds within moments. As we ran up the steps, ignoring the burning in our legs and lungs, I caught something dark flying out of the corner of my eye. Risen Wyverns roared as they burst through the canopy, maws gaping, claws stretched out to pluck us from the precarious staircase we scaled.

Cordelia slammed into one, her spear ramming through the skull of the beast before she bashed the rider off with a sharp backhand. Cynthia hit the next one, her lance taking the rider from its saddle while her pegasus slammed its hooves against the undead Wyvern's rotting skull. Sumia and Cherche handled two more, with Cherche cleaving a Risen Wyvern's head from its long neck, and Sumia diving beneath one and pointing her lance upright, allowing it to saw itself in half. Gerome twirled between two more, Minerva's tail smacking one to the side while his ax made short work of the other.

Thank God for them.

Blackened arrows soared up the staircase from below. Risen archers were firing. I spotted undead mages taking positions as well. Already, Henry, Tharja, Ricken, and Miriel were unloading spells on them, throwing them out of position and keeping the enemy from being able to get a lock on any of us. Still, spells and arrows peppered the tree trunk, making the stairs tremble beneath my feet.

When I reached the first landing, Risen that slipped past our fliers landed on the platform. Sully, Kellam, and Kjelle worked as a unit, driving two of them off of the ledge. Stahl and Olivia fought off two as well, their blades whirling through the air as they danced. Lon'qu slashed to ribbons any who stood between him and Lissa reaching the top. As for Chrom and Lucina, I think facing them was the first time any Risen ever felt fear.

Anna unleashed her throwing knives on several while Gaius and Panne helped clear the path forward. Severa slashed through a Risen, glanced at me, and smiled. We were making solid progress. Good.

"Keep moving!" Chrom bellowed. "Do not stop for anything."

Tiki took his words to heart, sprinting up the steps with practiced ease, her booted feet not even slipping on the mossy steps. She ducked beneath a Risen's wild slash before grabbing it by its mask and throwing it to its death far below. Then she continued her mad dash to the top, where she hoped to tap into the Mila Tree's power.

My shortsword screamed from its scabbard as I took out a Risen trying to get in my way. A quick trio of slashes turned it into black sludge on the first landing. I rushed after the others up the steps, noticing Kellam, Kjelle, Vaike, and Virion choose to hold the rear for us for a few more moments.

On the second landing, we encountered more resistance. As I felled one Risen, then another, I glanced at the skies. All of our fliers were accounted for. Grima was simply throwing everything he had at us now.

"Nearly there!" Chrom cried. Lucina was silent next to him, blue flames dancing along the edges of her Falchion as she cleaved through one Risen after another.

The last flight of stairs was tricky. They weren't truly stairs. It was all simple branches and vines woven together that sloped upward to the top platform, where Tiki once resided as the Voice of Naga. The narrow path was slick with moisture and moss, slowing our progress. The treacherous footing did not stop the Risen though. They pursued us, urging us to move faster than anyone was comfortable with.

A yelp sounded in front of me as Ricken lost his footing and slipped. I dashed forward, grasped a root, and snagged his wrist before he could plummet to his death. Gregor reached down and helped me haul the boy up before he tossed Ricken over his shoulder and carried the pale, terrified mage to the top.

The battle had turned into a desperate race to the top now with the Risen chasing us, trying to give Tiki zero time to do what she needed. However, I had hope. After all, the Risen were chasing us now. They weren't at the top platform yet. Cordelia and the other fliers must've kept any enemies from landing up there. An excellent strategy!

But, when I reached the top, I skidded to a stop. A golden flash erupted near Tiki's old hut. High pitched cackling hit my ears, and a fat mage that made me scowl emerged, lightning already crackling to life in his hands.

"Going somewhere!?" Excellus asked, casting his spell.

The lightning hurtled through the air towards Tiki. I expected her to sidestep the attack. I did not expect her to charge at it, raise a hand, then catch the bolt and throw it back at Excellus like a javelin.

The fat Grimleal did not see it coming either, and it happened to be the final thing he would ever see. The lightning spear slammed through his skull, pinning his body against Tiki's door like a grim message from death.

"We don't have time for that nonsense," Tiki exhaled, sweat beading on her brow as her breathing turned heavy.

When could she do that, and how much power did she just use to do it!?

Tiki skidded to a stop in front of her hut. Her shoulders rose and fell as her lungs heaved, gasping for breath. She glanced at Robin.

"Buy me some time," she breathed, before closing her eyes and bowing her head, planting her feet in place and not moving.

"Circle up, Shepherds!" Robin called.

As a unit, everyone moved. I found myself shoulder to shoulder with Severa and Anna, my blade already coated with Risen ash and ichor. The Risen swarmed to the top, some plummeting off the edge of the steps and platform as they surged towards us like an unholy wave; unfeeling, unseeing, seeking nothing but death to satiate their hunger.

I braced myself, clenched my teeth, then fought. For the first time in my life, I did not retreat back or flee from a head-on fight. There was nowhere to run now. No place to hide either. I had to stand now, or die. Thankfully, I had the Shepherds by my side. I had Severa with me to keep me standing.

The Shepherds' formation fragmented a little as the Risen numbers swelled. I found myself fighting back to back with Severa, our blades whirling around us as we slashed through one Risen after the next. In the back of my mind, I registered my limbs starting to grow heavy. Whatever Tiki was doing, she needed to hurry!

"Damn it," Severa hissed, coming to the same conclusion as me as she narrowly parried a savage chop from a Risen ax before dismembering the attacker.

A scream sounded from our ranks. Kjelle stumbled back, a blackened, rusty sword jutting out of a gap in her armor. She stayed standing though, using the pain she felt as fuel to ignite her rage. Another cry of pain sounded, followed by Gerome executing a hard landing, two arrows sticking out of his right shoulder. Cynthia landed next to him, covering his wounded flank.

Cherche, Cordelia, and Sumia landed next, their mounts exhausted from their airborne dance with death. They instead spurred their steeds around us, jousting with Risen foot soldiers who dared to stand in their way. This gave me a momentary reprieve I desperately needed.

My arms were heavy. My legs felt like lead. My breathing was sharp and heavy. I could only swing a sword for so long, and it would not be for much longer.

"Tiki!" Anna snarled. I glanced at her and saw a gash bleeding heavily over her right eye. "Would you hurry the hell up!"

As if to answer her question, Tiki's eyes snapped open. They were not emerald anymore. They glowed with a pale, blue light that seemed to shine through the shadows enveloping the Mila Tree. A second, larger glow coalesced beneath her feet, seeping into the bark of the Mila and running down its trunks and through its branches like blood through veins. Power thrummed in the air, making my hair stand on end. Wind whipped into a cyclone around us, blowing attacking Risen from the platform with hurricane force.

Fear lanced through my heart as I began to slide, only for Severa to reach out and sang my sleeve, keeping me from joining the Risen.

"Hold on to each other," Tiki said, her voice warped, but not in a sinister way. It sounded regal. Ethereal. Similar to how Naga sounded whenever she spoke to us in the future.

No one questioned her orders. Even Anna locked arms with Gaius as we all braced ourselves for whatever was coming next.

A beam of light erupted up from the Mila Tree, white and blinding. When I blinked the spots from my vision, I stared up, my mouth falling open with awe.

Grima's shadow fled from the light, parting like oil from water, revealing a dark blanket filled with twinkling stars in the heavens. A smile tugged on the corner of my lips. I looked at Severa. She was as awestruck as everyone else.

Tiki's mouth opened as her glowing eyes widened. A mighty roar erupted from her throat, shaking the entire tree. Then, the beam of light thinned. It snapped, like an old tube television winking off. My vision went black suddenly. Panic seized my heart.

A kaleidoscope erupted across my eyes. I was falling, then I was soaring. I was formless, weightless, then solid and heavy. For a moment, I could not breathe. Seconds later, I found myself sucking wind. An enormous crack sounded, like a thunderclap.

My vision went dark again as a gentle voice hit my ears.

"We made it."

I saw snow and stone. Ice coated a ruined, cobblestone path. Massive doors with frozen hinges yawned open in front of me, frozen in place, unable to be closed. Their gaping presence allowed freezing wind to whip into the temple around me, making me shiver.

My eyes widened. I recognized this place. There was a lot less Risen and death here than the last time I was here, but I knew where I was standing.

"Mount Prism," I breathed.

"Sam?" Severa whispered.

Her hand squeezed mine, knuckles white with strain. I hadn't even noticed that she had me in a death grip, fear making her shake beside me. I turned my head and met her gaze.

"Yeah?"

"Are we-"

"What the hell!?" Anna cried from behind us. She stomped ahead of us, ripping her arm from Gaius's in the process. "What was- one moment I was in a tree and now I'm in a rock?"

"This is the Temple of Naga, atop Mount Prism," Nah breathed. "It is not a mere rock."

"It is a cold rock," Nowi nodded next to her.

"I stand corrected," Nah sighed.

Anna's chest heaved as she hyperventilated. She staggered back a step, threatening to tip over as she paled further.

"Oh gods, Tiki just teleported us all the way across the world…" She breathed, stunned.

I found myself at a loss for words. What Anna said was true. I could hear the other Shepherds murmuring with equal amounts of disbelief as they came to as well. My gaze trembled to look at the others. They were all pale and shaking as well, still trying to shake off whatever they saw when we slipped between… something.

"Did we go between realities or something?" I wondered out loud.

"I don't know, but those lights looked pretty familiar," Severa gulped.

My throat tightened. She wasn't wrong. I recalled the strange sensation of vertigo and the rainbow kaleidoscope that engulfed me when we teleported from the future to the past. Had Tiki done something similar, only instead of transporting us across time, she shot us across a seemingly impossible distance? How did she do that? How did the Mila Tree hold that much power for her to tap into?

"Tiki!" Anna cried, shoving past me and making both me and Severa spin around.

We turned, along with the other Shepherds. A lump formed in my throat when I saw Tiki standing atop the Dragon's Table, her knees knocking together, smoke rising from her limbs as she struggled to remain standing. Gasps wracked her body as she hunched her shoulders. Cold sweat beaded over her skin.

Anna shoved her way past Robin and Chrom, reaching Tiki just in time to catch her as the manakete tipped backward.

"Oh…" Tiki breathed, her emerald eyes blinking and hazy. "It worked? That's… that's good."

"Yeah," Anna croaked, helping Tiki down from the broken, stone table. Libra and Maribelle were already moving to help, their staves ready to start healing whatever was ailing the Voice of Naga. However, she waved them off.

"No amount of healing magic can undo what has happened."

"And what exactly happened?" Chrom asked, concern etched on his face.

My brow furrowed. I was just as curious to find out the answer to that question.

Tiki's eyes were half-open, but she did not look tired. She looked magically spent. I had seen Morgan with a similar expression. Rest would help, but how much rest would a Manakete of Tiki's power need to fully recover? Days? Weeks? Longer?

"I broke them," Tiki breathed, her eyes losing focus as she fought to remain awake.

Robin blinked. "Broke what exactly?"

Tiki uttered a shaky breath. "To unleash that spell, and fully use the power lying dormant in the Mila Tree, I shattered the seals that have shackled me for millennia. Seals my mother placed on me herself when I was a child."

Anna's eyes widened. "Wh-What exactly does that mean?"

Tiki gave Anna a lopsided grin. "I'm mortal."

Then her eyes closed, and she fell asleep. Her words sank in for me immediately. I vaguely recalled Tiki's story before Awakening. How she had been prophesied to destroy the world unless her powers were chained and sealed. To give us a shot at defeating Grima, she unleashed everything she had.

If I interpreted what she said correctly, it meant that she was no longer immune to degeneration. She would begin the long, slow, painful process that claimed all Dragons. Madness would claim her mind eventually, her power too much for her to handle. After that… she would pass as every Divine Dragon had before her.

But, her actions got us out of Valm and back to the fight. The powers she unleashed have given us a fighting chance at defeating Grima. All we had to do now was reach Exalt Emmeryn and the Khans in Regna Ferox. From there, we could come up with a plan to steal Sable, complete the Awakening ritual, and slay Grima.

Yet, as I exhaled, and settled to a seat within Mount Prisms' temple, I found myself ignoring everything else that came next. My eyes remained on the slumbering dragon as Anna reluctantly handed her over to Libra and the other healers. Tiki literally gave up everything to give us a chance.

Somehow, I felt unworthy of such a sacrifice. But, I knew this…

I would not waste it.

And chapter! Hoooo, we've got some stuff going down now, don't we? Tiki just did a thing, and there's some big consequences for her. Nothing like an action packed chapter to get the blood flowing. Anyways, let me know what you think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a nice day!

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