Theme 12: Dead Wrong

It was an understatement to say that Lissa was nervous. Flying miles above the ground was scary enough, but flying on top of a massive dragon hell-bent on destroying the world, all while fighting the very vessel they were flying atop simultaneously was nerve-wracking, let alone impossible.

Everywhere the princess looked, a battle raged on between Shepherd and Grimleal. Even more horrifying, it seemed like the tide of battle was shifting in Grima's favor. The cleric tried to help as much as she could, healing every ally that she could, but for every injury she healed, two more Shepherds were hurt. Her axe couldn't do as much damage as Vaike, so she was tasked with picking off the stray Grimleal and tending to the hurt.

Through the endless chaos of clashing steel and explosions of magic, Lissa could faintly see the Shepherds regroup. A line of Grimleal divided the battlefield, separating the Shepherds into two halves, however. Lissa was caught on one side, and met with Frederick, Cordelia, and a few others. Lissa noticed that Chrom and Robin were not present; they must have been on the other side. Morgan and Owain were at her side, safe and sound to Lissa's relief.

"Alright, Shepherds," Frederick started, clutching his wounded shoulder. "We seem to be at a disadvantage in this fight. But Naga will not let us down!" A few rally cries were heard in the crowd.

"While fighting alongside milord, we quickly realized that to defeat Grima once and for all, a small team needs to apprehend the Avatar before the Grimleal overpower us. As we speak, milord and Robin are approaching the neck of Grima to end this fight."

Oh Gods! Lissa shouted in her mind. I can't leave Robin alone! He's not gonna make it! The princess suddenly felt sick to her stomach. A tear made its way down Lissa's cheek. And a quick glance to her right confirmed that she wasn't alone in this feeling. Owain gasped and gripped his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white. Morgan's eyes grew wide with shock.

"...And support is needed. Quickly, Virion, Lon'qu, Gaius, Sully and Cordelia, on me! We must make haste if we want to truly end this!" Frederick finished, grabbing the reins of his horse and leading his team back into the fray.

With a flurry of salutes and affirmative shouts, the group disbanded, returning to fight the Grimleal as they had been before. Again, Lissa was left to watch over the battlefield. But every second she subconsciously glanced through the waging battlefield, trying to catch a glimpse of her husband and brother. But alas, the heat of battle obscured her vision. Instead, she followed her children, sticking close and keeping watch for stragglers.

Please, please, please Naga, watch over my husband and brother. May your guidance keep them alive and bring Grima a painful death. Lissa prayed. Without even noticing, Lissa's heart rate had increased significantly. She was nervous; nervous that she would never see Robin or Chrom again.

Something primal flowed within the princess. For the first time in her life, anger made her blood boil. Fury overtook her. Gripping her axe with both hands, Lissa raised it high over her head in a rally before charging the Grimleal's ranks head-on.

The first few enemies that had the displeasure to taste Lissa's axe dropped quick. Another swing of the axe dug into the side of a Grimleal assassin. The princess then brought the blunt end of her axe up into the chest of a sword-wielding Grimleal, knocking him back and disarming him. Breathing through clenched teeth, Lissa let the weight of her weapon fall onto her enemy, implanting itself through his armor and into his ribcage.

Owain and Morgan, noticing their mother's rampage, followed her through the crowd of fallen Grimleal. They both noticed a pattern: Lissa was headed towards the nape of Grima's neck, right where the final battle was taking place.

While battling the oncoming assault of Grimleal, Lissa looked to the sky to see Cordelia fending off a pair of wyvern riders. She was close. If Frederick's team was truly defending Chrom and Robin, then Lissa was close.

The sounds of battle had completely overtaken Lissa. Her eyes, now red with rage, piece through the souls of whoever faced her. Her axe swung with perfect accuracy, piercing even the strongest of armor. With her family at stake, nothing would keep Lissa from giving up. Every fiber of her being surged with fury and energy.

Suddenly, a shrill scream interrupted the flow of battle. Every soldier freezed, regardless of faction. Finally, Lissa could see the aftermath of the final battle.

Robin and Chrom stood proud, while Grima's avatar had been struck to his knees. Falchion gleamed brightly in her brother's hands, Naga's power flowing through the holy blade. And with one final slash, Grima's Avatar was killed, earning another shrill scream from the massive dragon.

As fast as it came, the anger that Lissa held moments before vanished. Her worries were all for naught. She had thought her brother and husband were dead. She couldn't have been more dead wrong.