Though the street battles had concluded, with the Resistance army having driven Imperial forces back to the Imperial palace itself, the overall battle was far from over. Next was the daunting task of assaulting the palace, and so the Resistance army regrouped and made their preparations.
Those that survived the street fighting were scattered around the central plaza which, just minutes earlier, was the center of all the fighting. Some sat down, resting against the buildings surrounding the western side of the area, while others rested against the carts that were brought in from outside the city gates.
Mercedes and Annette were sitting on the stairs of the stronghold, which was in the middle of the plaza itself. The former of the two girls was sitting against the staircase, her back raised and with her hands together on her lap. Annette, meanwhile, was right with her longtime friend, furrowed brows of concern on her face as she kept an eye on the Bishop.
"Mercie…" Annette said with a worried tone. "I hope you know I'm always here for you."
"I know, Annie. You're such a good friend. Just your being here is enough to make me feel better."
Mercedes turned and smiled, sorrow lingering in her expression.
"But it still hurts. To know that I was the one to end Emile's life…a part of me wishes someone else would have done it for me in my place."
"That might've been easier, yeah, but you'd still feel upset about it in the end, wouldn't you?"
Mercedes nodded. "I would." She sighed, her back hunching over. "I suppose it's almost poetic that I was the one to kill him. He became the Death Knight because of…me, I think. I inadvertently killed Emile. Or, I at least cursed him to become this monster that craves death. It's fitting that I set him free from the curse I caused."
"Hey," Annette put an arm around Mercedes' shoulder. "I was there, too. I supplied you with my mana for that final attack. I'm just as much Emile's killer as you are."
Mercedes raised her head to face Annette with a raised brow.
"W-well, it was my spell, but I see what you're saying. Though, I feel as if I would have been able to do it on my own regardless."
"That's not the point, Mercie. The point is that I'll always be there for you, no matter what. Like I said just now as well as earlier, when we were fighting the Death Knight." Annette smiled. "I'll be there by your side…always."
Mercedes' brow lowered, her expression brightening up, a beaming visage finding its way to the surface.
She opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when she felt something in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes. As a result of the sudden surge of emotion, Mercedes felt an overpowering urge to hug Annette.
So she did, much to Annette's surprise.
"Thank you s-so much, Annie…"
"Uh, no problem, Mercie." Annette powered through her surprise and began to reciprocate the hug, also gently rubbing Mercedes' back to help ease her sorrow. "You're welcome."
The two women continued their embrace of one another, their hearts filling with the warmth of a life that was deeply close to them. Mercedes and Annette shared no words, for their emotions were as clear as day.
Their hug remained uninterrupted. It was pretty obvious to the surrounding soldiers that the two girls were not to have their moment ruined.
A few minutes later, a friendly face approached. As Annette was the one facing away from the staircase beneath them, she was the one to notice the king's arrival first.
"O-oh! Your Highness, I-"
"Please, Annette. I thought we had discussed this already. You may still refer to me as Dimitri." The King of Faerghus raised a hand to calm the girl down.
"Uh, okay, my apologies then, Your-I mean, Dimitri. Sorry. I'm still not used to it."
Dimitri smirked. "Truthfully, neither am I. I don't quite feel as if I'm a king, yet I still feel the weight of responsibility upon me." He looked down, noticing the hug the two girls were a part of. "I heard about what happened with the Death Knight. I came here to see how you two were faring, but it appears everything is alright."
Mercedes turned around, giving Dimitri a sidelong glance while remaining in Annette's embrace.
"Oh! It's a pleasure to see you, Dimitri. My apologies, I didn't mean to ignore you. I was just-"
"I understand, Mercedes. Sometimes, being with the one we love the most can make us lose awareness of our surroundings." A faint blush appeared on his cheeks. "I know how that feels."
"L-love? But I-" Mercedes turned back, her gaze meeting Annette's.
Both of their faces deeply reddened. An awkward silence followed, one that Dimitri was soon eager to end with a cough, ceasing the gaze the two girls were sharing.
"My apologies, you two. It wasn't my intention to make such an assumption. However, I will say that there is nothing wrong with two women loving one another. Love is a beautiful thing - it shouldn't be restricted in any manner. It should be allowed to flourish in any form it pleases."
Annette and Mercedes returned to facing one another, a hopeful expression shared between them. Dimitri coughed once more, again ceasing their moment.
"Forgive me," he said, focusing on the Bishop. "Mercedes, I understand you must be rather emotional after your encounter with the Death Knight. He was your brother, wasn't he?"
"H-he was…I'm feeling better about it now though, thanks to Annie. You don't need to worry, Dimitri."
"I see. Then I feel I don't have much else to say." Dimitri began to turn around to leave but paused halfway through. "Aside from a word of advice. From someone who has experienced countless losses…to you, Mercedes."
Mercedes and Annette raised a brow. "Please, go on," said Mercedes.
Dimitri temporarily halted his departure, going back to facing Mercedes. This time, he wore a serious expression.
"Do not allow the dead to control you. Do not listen to what they have to say, no matter how convincing they may be. Listen only to those still alive." Dimitri briefly looked at Annette. "Though it appears you already understand."
Mercedes and Annette shared another glance before returning to Dimitri, who had restarted his departure efforts.
"That is all," he said as he turned around. "I'll see you later, Mercedes, Annette. May both of you survive to the end of this war."
With nothing left to say, Dimitri departed from the presence of the two girls, allowing them to embrace themselves as much as they desired. He, on the other hand, had something important he needed to do.
Dimitri needed to find someone.
The someone he needed to find wasn't too far away. Dimitri only had to look through a small, narrow alleyway in the southeastern corner of the plaza. His target, the person he wished to speak to, was sitting all alone next to a patch of grass, his back up against the wall of a building.
Lucas noticed Dimitri's arrival, blinking in surprise. He did his best to ignore the king, yet Dimitri continued to approach him regardless of what minuscule measures he took to avoid the incoming conversation. Lucas sighed in defeat.
"W-what do you want?" He asked, shivering. He gripped the hilt of his new sword tightly, as well as his Seiros Shield, although the cold embrace that was engulfing him had barely dissipated.
"I merely wished to speak with you. Am I interrupting anything?"
Lucas looked away. "N-no. I wanted to be alone for now, but I'm getting the idea you won't leave me be."
"That's not true. I will leave if that's what you want."
"Uh, n-no, that's okay, uh…" Lucas frowned. "Never mind. What do you wanna talk about?"
Dimitri took a moment to respond, having spent said moment scrutinizing Lucas as a whole..
"It has been some time since we last spoke. Though, seeing you now, I believe I understand why."
"What are you s-saying?"
"That you are afraid of me. Is that not why you've been avoiding me as of late?"
Lucas' mouth temporarily widened in surprise before his gaze fell to the floor. Dimitri nodded.
"I...do not blame you. I acted rather aggressively back then. I suppose if I were you, I might have felt the same way." His eyes closed. "My mind was clouded by revenge and anger. Even now, I still feel them trying to take hold of me once more. I understand if you were afraid that I might have tried to kill you. Your fears are not entirely unfounded."
Lucas sighed in response, shivering in place.
"I hope you know that I'm trying to improve myself. It's a difficult process, as I still sometimes feel the urge to kill all those in my way. However, Marianne and Dedue are helping me weaken those deep, strong desires of mine. I will not allow myself to become the person I was before. For their sake, and all those around me…"
"I know what you're capable of," Lucas eventually said, speaking with an exhausted tone of voice. "I've seen the full depth of your anger and the trauma you have. I've seen you revel in the idea of torturing a prisoner of war. You say you're growing past that, but still…"
"You cannot help but feel wary of what actions I may take. Tell me, in any of the futures you know, do I ever…succumb to my anger?"
Lucas nodded. "In two of the futures I know, you die in pursuit of your revenge, ignoring all those around you, including Dedue. In another, you die, but only because your enemy happens to be stronger than you are. Either way, it's almost like death is your fate."
"Fate…I have never been particularly fond of that concept. I have always yearned to strive for my own destiny, to carve out my own fate. Though, according to what you are saying, even that may not be enough to avoid the embrace of death."
Lucas looked up to the cloudy, gray sky above with another sigh. "Nobody can avoid it. Death can very well reach out and take any of us at a moment's notice."
Dimitri followed Lucas' gaze. "That's true. Even so, I would very much like to not die. I cannot die, now that I have a reason to keep on living…"
"A reason to keep living?"
Lucas gave Dimitri a sidelong glance, also arching a brow. Dimitri didn't return the glance, instead continuing to focus on the gray blanket covering the world from above.
"Yes. I have someone to fight for, someone that I need to protect with all my might. I cannot lose the warmth they provide for me, or else I may return to being the person I once was. No longer do I fight only for myself - I fight for them."
Lucas' gaze lingered on Dimitri for a while longer, until he went back to looking at the sky.
"I k-know what you mean," the black-haired professor replied.
Dimitri briefly glanced at Lucas, shooting him a grin before going back to the sky. The two men remained quiet as they observed the clouds that passed overhead, ones with small holes that gave way to the fading light of the blue sky. It was starting to darken and change color, taking on a slightly more orange appearance.
"I would like to apologize, Professor."
"For what?" Lucas asked, flicking his gaze over to Dimitri.
"For how I treated you in Fraldarius. I threatened to kill you because I believed Dedue was dead. I felt betrayed, as if I could have averted Dedue's supposed death had I not listened to you. But now I see that it was unnecessarily aggressive."
Dimitri completely swiveled around on the spot, fully facing Lucas. He offered his hand.
"I'm sure the moment I threatened your life was what caused you to be afraid of me in the first place. I would like to make amends for that. I wish for us to be friends, Professor. What do you say?"
Lucas stared at the hand in front of him with uncertainty. His right arm twitched slightly, but it never truly moved.
"Dimitri is genuinely remorseful of his actions," Byleth remarked. "I can see it in his eyes."
"Can you? I…I want to believe that. I know he can be well adjusted, but still…he terrifies me."
"All you can do is put your faith in him. I did once, and it seemed to work out rather well for that timeline. Believe in him, Lucas. It will all be okay."
"I…hope so."
Lucas breathed in and out, calming his soul. He took another good look at the King of Fearghus, who was faintly smiling despite the pain and sorrow beyond his expression. His eyes went down to the hand that had been offered to him.
His arm reached out, his hand meeting Dimitri's.
"Y-yeah. Let's be friends, Dimitri. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you back then," said Lucas as he accepted the gesture.
"It's fine. Although I may not agree with how you chose to use that particular part of your knowledge, I still understand what it was you were trying to do. You were trying to ensure Cornelia's downfall, to make sure the future events you knew came to pass…because you knew everyone would survive."
"For the most part. Not everyone has survived." Lucas' eyes became downcast.
"Ah…that's true. My apologies. Regardless, let us fight together so we may reach a world of peace, where our loved ones no longer have to die for the sake of an abhorrent war."
"Yeah." Lucas nodded, raising his head. "Let's do it. We've gotta defeat Thales, as well as whatever's left of the Agarthans after this battle. We can do it…for our loved ones."
Dimitri and Lucas' hands shook as the two men began to understand each other just a little bit better. Their handshaking ceased after a short while, their hands returning to their sides.
They both smiled at one another.
"Well, I must be going now. I believe it's almost time for us to begin our assault on the Imperial palace." Dimitri spun around on the spot, facing away from Lucas. "I hope you survive, Professor."
"Y-you too, Dimitri. I'll be with everyone else in a minute, I just need to mentally prepare myself first. Hope that's okay."
"Not to worry. I shall come to fetch you if need be. Goodbye for now, Professor."
Dimitri began to walk away from the area, leaving Lucas on his own as he headed back through the narrow alleyway using the reverse of the path he used to get there initially. Returning to the wide-open space of Enbarr's primary plaza, the king started his search for the next thing he needed to do.
Upon the bridge on the southern edge of the plaza were three important individuals. Claude, Seteth, and Edelgard were standing around one another, the two men giving their wyverns a break from being ridden. They were all facing the direction of the Imperial palace, which towered over the rest of the capital city, eclipsing the sizes of every other building.
Edelgard, in particular, was scowling at a wide balcony towards the top of the palace.
"He's waiting for us," she said. "The Emperor."
"Yeah, no doubt. The guy hasn't even shown his face yet. There's no way he hasn't got anything planned for us up there," remarked Claude.
"We shall have to keep up our guard as we proceed through the palace." Seteth turned to the white-haired princess. "Edelgard, would it be reasonable to assume he would keep himself secured in the throne room?"
"It would indeed be reasonable to assume that. Arundel is the sort of person that puts himself before others. He doesn't truly care for anyone other than himself. We may have to fight through thousands of Imperial soldiers before we can get to him."
"Heh. We've done that already, haven't we?" Claude agreed. "I think we can handle a few more. It's all so we can reach out for that peaceful future we so desperately want, isn't it? For that, we should be prepared to do just about anything. Within reason, of course."
"I agree, though I do not feel as if we will need to concern ourselves with anything of the sort. We already know what needs to be done and what we all wish for."
"A peaceful Fódlan…" Edelgard smirked. "It almost sounds like we're following a dream."
"Is that so bad, Edelgard? Reality doesn't have to be all bad, you know. Sometimes it's okay for things to be like a dream."
"You're right - I agree with you. However…" Edelgard's eyes became downcast. "I'm used to living a nightmare."
Seteth and Claude glanced at her very briefly.
"Well," Seteth gave her a reassuring smile. "Let this final battle be the one that casts away your nightmares and gives way to a world of delightful dreams."
Edelgard raised her head, grinning. "Heh. I appreciate the words of encouragement, Seteth, but I think we all understand that this isn't quite the final battle."
"Perhaps not. Regardless, it shall be the last time the Adrestian Empire are enemies of Fódlan's peace. You will be taking the throne when we succeed, will you not?"
Edelgard vehemently nodded.
"I will. Adrestia shall see a new dawn when we depose Arundel. I swear it upon my name…I will bring peace to our nation."
"Yeah, and Ferdinand's gonna be right there with you, isn't he?" Claude asked with a teasing, mischievous smile. "Your loyal retainer…or something more."
"What are you implying?" Edelgard asked with a frown.
"You know exactly what I'm implying…Emperor. When's the wedding?"
A blush suddenly formed on Edelgard's face. She huffed, folding her arms and turning away.
"I'm not sure, Duke Riegan. When are you proposing to Hilda?" She gave him a smug grin, despite her blush.
Claude smirked, allowing himself to become red in the face as well. "Fair enough. Guess I deserved that one."
Seteth sighed.
"You two are acting very much like children…" He grumbled. "I suppose that is not necessarily a bad thing. Youth can be quite a valuable perspective."
"Youth is fleeting, however. It will not be long before we all grow old," an additional voice said.
Edelgard, Claude, and Seteth faced the source of the new voice. Dimitri was approaching them.
"Hey there, Your Highness. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking, Claude," Dimitri replied. "I don't know why Seteth was discussing youth, but I will not ask. I assume it was nothing important."
"You have the right of it." Edelgard silently and swiftly glared at Claude. "Surely that is not why you are here, Dimitri. You must have some purpose for your being here."
"I do. I was hoping to ask you three about our plan to infiltrate the palace. Do we have any particular strategies in mind?"
Edelgard looked over to Seteth, who responded with a nod. She refocused on Dimitri. "We do not have anything specific. It's difficult to think of an exact strategy when we do not know of the troop composition within the palace. We also aren't aware of any traps or plans Arundel has ready for us."
"If even Teach doesn't know what's going on in there, I think we're in for quite a surprise," Claude commented.
"We will have to remain vigilant to avoid anything the emperor has prepared," added Seteth.
"I see." Dimitri nodded. "What shall we do, then?"
"If it's true that Arundel has a trap of some kind prepared, we must do everything in our power to prevent it from being sprung. To do that, we'll simply kill him before he has a chance to activate it." Edelgard stared at the balcony, clenching her fist. "We'll put an end to his path of tyranny."
"Going straight for the throat, huh? I like it. The sooner we end this battle, the better."
"Indeed. Our success today will lead us ever closer to peace. Despite how aggressive it may be, I shall support this plan." Seteth cupped his chin with his free hand. "Though, I would very much like to rescue Lady Rhea. Perhaps we can send a small group to free her from imprisonment."
"She's likely to be in the dungeon, which is located underneath the palace," said Edelgard. "I could lead this group, but I would prefer to join the fight against the emperor. My presence would also be required to help guide the main army to the throne room. I cannot be in two places at once, therefore, we cannot simply split ourselves up."
"Hmm…" Claude narrowed his eyes, his face soon brightening in realization. "Hey now, Empress. You're not the only person that knows the palace's layout."
"Is that so? Who is it you have in mind?"
Claude smirked. "Ferdinand, of course. Wasn't he stationed here for most of his time in the Adrestian military? Same with Petra, actually, now that I think of it. Can't those two lead the group that'll head to the dungeon?"
Edelgard paused, considering the idea.
"That could work," she eventually spoke. "I have faith that Ferdinand would be able to carry out such a task. I know he has been longing for an opportunity to repent for his past mistakes - this may be just what he needs."
"Alright, seems like your future husband," Claude ignored a glare from Edelgard, "is all ready to go."
"I will fetch him, as well as Petra." Seteth stated. "As Rhea is a dear friend of mine, I personally wish to ensure her safety. I will discuss these matters with them."
"Okay. I can lead the attack against the emperor himself, while you can take care of the Archbishop's rescue. If she is well, she may even be able to help us in the fight. Though…" Edelgard looked over at the balcony. "I don't believe the emperor would have simply left her be."
"That may very well be the case…let us hope it is not."
Seteth released a heavy sigh before leaving the immediate area. Edelgard watched his departure with a furrowed brow and an expression full of uncertainty, meanwhile Claude stretched his arms and yawned.
"So, we're really gonna be rescuing Rhea, huh? After all this time…wonder what's gonna happen to Fódlan once she's back."
"What are you implying, Claude?" Dimitri wondered.
"Oh, nothing. Don't worry about it." Claude waved it off. He turned around, facing the plaza. "I'll let everyone know about the plan. You guys…eh, you can do whatever you want. Just don't wander off too far."
"We are not children. You don't need to watch us as if you were some overbearing parent." Edelgard frowned at Claude.
"Sure you don't." The duke gave the other two a thumbs-up. "Anyway, see you two later. Have fun without me."
Without any further remarks, Claude followed in Seteth's footsteps, also leaving the area. Once Claude was gone, Edelgard returned to gazing determinedly at the Imperial palace - her former home.
Dimitri sensed the change in her demeanor. He approached her.
"El…" Dimitri said quietly when he reached her side. "Are you finding yourself succumbing to the temptation of revenge?"
"Revenge?" Edelgard wondered rhetorically, facing Dimitri. "Oh, no. I shouldn't think so. I will not lie and say it isn't there, but I do find myself allured by it. You have no need to worry, however. We have come so far…I will not allow myself to fall."
"I am glad. I wouldn't want to see you become as I have." Dimitri faintly smiled. "Though, it's fine if you wish for Arundel's death for personal reasons. That is very much the case for myself. I want him to die for the pain he caused me so long ago…"
"The Tragedy of Duscur…he was the one to organize it, was he not?"
Dimitri nodded. "He was. I will not allow him to get away with all the innocent lives he has taken. Yet…"
"Yet?"
The king hesitated, eventually powering through and finding the strength to face Edelgard with an unwavering expression.
"Yet I will allow you to kill him, if you so please," he finished. "I know of the pain he has caused you."
Edelgard was taken aback. Her eyes and mouth temporarily widened in surprise, before she recomposed herself and faced away from Dimitri, going back to looking at the balcony.
"I cannot accept that," she said.
"Why not? Do you not wish to make him pay for all the things he did to you as a child? Experimenting on you, shortening your lifespan, torturing you with the deaths of your siblings…do you not wish for revenge, even if you aren't controlled by it?"
Edelgard sighed, turning to Dimitri with a calm expression. "I cannot accept it…because you were also hurt by him. It would not be right of me to take away your only means of closure."
"But I no longer feel as if I need to be the one to kill him. I would like you to do it. I know how much it means to you."
"And I know how much it means to you. Thales has affected both of our lives equally. As such, we both should be the ones to kill him."
Dimitri's mouth became agape. "I…what? You would like both of us to kill him? I'm confused."
"We both can bring down our blades upon him - at the same time. He will die by our hands, for all the pain he has brought to us. How do you feel about that…" Edelgard smiled. "My step-brother?"
Dimitri paused, giving himself time to think about the offer Edelgard had just given him. He thought about it for a short while, making sense of it all before he came to a decision.
"I accept, my step-sister. We shall kill Thales…together."
The two gave each other a smile, confirming the resolution they both shared.
As this was happening, Seteth and Claude's missions were successful. The whole of the Resistance had been informed of the plan to infiltrate the palace and to defeat Emperor Arundel, thereby ending his tyrannical reign over the Adrestian Empire. Everyone seemed resolved at the prospect of being able to put an end to the five year war.
The Resistance gathered together around the bridge Claude, Seteth, Dimitri, and Edelgard had been standing on earlier.
Seteth stood in front of the entire army he commanded and addressed them all.
"Emperor Arundel is within the palace. The moment we bring an end to his life is the moment our battle with the Adrestian Empire will end. After this day, the Empire shall no longer be an enemy of Fódlan. This long-fought war will be over. But that can only come about if we achieve victory."
He raised the Spear of Assal.
"We shall now bring an end to Emperor Arundel's tyranny! Let us begin our assault on the Imperial palace…let us bring peace to Fódlan! Together, we shall end this war!"
He aimed his weapon at the palace. The rest of the Resistance followed suit.
"Now!"
With a resounding cry of war, the Resistance charged in, heading straight for the Imperial palace ahead.
The final fight with the Adrestian Empire awaited them inside.
Upon bursting through the palace's large, double front doors, the Resistance was met with a wide, regal hallway. A crimson red carpet lined the floor, creating a clear path to be followed by anyone. Up against the walls were several small wooden desks, most of which had plants coming out of expensive-seeming vases. Paintings of landscapes and important figures within the Empire were stuck to the walls, serving as a reminder of Adrestia's identity.
A painting of Arundel's visage caused the Resistance to either grimace or have their resolves emboldened, reminding themselves of what needed to be done.
Strengthened, the Resistance bolted down the hallway, eventually coming to a split path. As per the plan that had been agreed upon earlier, a small group splintered off from the main army. Seteth, Ferdinand, and Petra led the group down the path to the right, while everyone else went to the left to focus on the dethroning of the emperor.
Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude were the ones leading the main assault inside the palace. With the use of Edelgard's knowledge of the massive, historical building's layout, their path was clear. They rushed down the corridor to their left, heading around the corner that was the furthest away.
Halfway through the length of the following corridor was a grand set of brown stairs - exactly what they needed. The Resistance pushed on towards it.
Before they could get there and start ascending the palace's floors, a garrison of Imperial soldiers appeared at the end of the hall. Immediately, the two sides locked eyes with one another.
A battle within the hallway ensued. Due to the cramped nature of the battlefield, only a few melee fighters could get in close, forcing a majority of them to wait behind and fill in for anyone that fell during the fighting. Snipers aimed above their allies, intending to curve their shots up and over the clash in the middle of the hallway so they could strike their enemies from afar without harming any of their own.
Warlocks, Gremories, and Bishops had to do something similar, except they were far more limited in their methods of attack than their bow-wielding friends. Since spells such as Fire and Miasma could not be so easily curved, the spellcasters had to get creative. Sometimes a simple, quick shot into enemy lines was sufficient enough, but most of the time, they had to rely on the more unique, area of effect spells, such as Thunder, Bolganone, Ragnarok, Excalibur, and Death - to name a few.
As a result, the hall became awash with all kinds of flashing lights and color and blood. The stench of death soon permeated the area.
In the end, their numbers advantage proved insurmountable for the defenders and the Resistance came out victorious. Their numbers ranged into the hundreds and thousands, whereas there weren't even a hundred Imperials in the garrison the Resistance fought. With the obstacles in their way removed, the Resistance could keep moving, although some lagged due to them needing a quick heal.
Either way, the Resistance was finally able to traverse the stairs, allowing them to get closer to where Arundel was hiding out.
At the same time, the group led by Seteth, Ferdinand, and Petra were having a quieter time with the mission they had. After running to the rightmost end of the initial hallway, they had to go around a corner before being met with a series of shorter hallways. They were then forced to make their way through what seemed to be a maze, Ferdinand and Petra being the only ones that knew the correct way.
Though, the relatively peaceful nature of their side of the infiltration hadn't remained as such for very long..
After rounding several additional corners with the guidance of Ferdinand and Petra, Seteth's group encountered a group of Imperial soldiers in the middle of the corridor they just entered. The guards were alert and had noticed the Resistance's presence almost instantly. As soon as they turned around, the Imperials' jaws flew open.
"T-that's…!" One of the guards stuttered, struggling to speak. "Commanders Ferdinand and Petra!"
"Former commanders, you mean. They betrayed us a long time ago. And now they're here to finish the job!" Another guard exclaimed, unsheathing his lance. "Come on! We won't let these traitors bring down the Adrestian Empire!"
Ferdinand sighed and frowned. "I apologize for the sorrow I have brought to you. But you need to know that I do not fight for the destruction of the Empire. Far from it."
"What the hell do you mean?! You're fighting against the Empire - isn't that proof of your destructive intent?!" The second guard barked at Ferdinand, also pointing his lance at the orange-haired, currently dismounted Paladin.
"You are wrong!" Ferdinand snarled, veins of anger bulging on his forehead. "I care for the Empire, perhaps more so than any of you. However, I have witnessed firsthand the effects of Arundel's tyranny. He kills whoever he pleases and cares not for those under his command. All he wants is power."
He clenched his off-hand into a fist, intensifying the grip on his lance with his other hand.
"That is why I now believe in the path shown to me by Edelgard, the rightful emperor! She's the one that can truly bring the Empire into a new dawn, far away from the malicious intent of the current emperor. I fight for her sake. If you still choose to get in our way…"
He lunged his lance forward, pointing it towards the Imperial garrison.
"Then you are blinding yourself to the reality before you."
"Shut up!" The second guard yelled. "You don't know a damn thing, traitor! We won't let you poison our minds with your anti-Empire talk!"
Petra frowned. "You are all making a mistake. We are not wanting to kill you, and we are not wanting the death of the Empire. We are only wanting to give peace to Fódlan."
"Brigid bitch! You shut up as well! Just be quiet and die, already!"
Petra was taken aback. She was about to respond, but another one of the Resistance's generals that came along with the side group stood in front of her.
"Hey!" Caspar shouted. "No need to call her that! I'll teach you a lesson for that one, old man!"
"Caspar…" Petra said with her mouth lingering open. She smiled. "Thank you."
The light blue-haired Warrior gave her a thumbs-up. "No problem! Now, if you don't mind me, I'm gonna show this guy why he should never pick a fight with us!"
"Hold on there, Caspar." Catherine stepped forward, Thunderbrand at the ready. "These bastards are preventing us from rescuing Lady Rhea. Because of that…"
She gave the Imperial soldiers an icy stare.
"I'll destroy them all."
"Careful. Don't be so eager to get yourself killed," Shamir warned her. "I'm with you, partner."
The two women shared a nod. Alongside Ferdinand, Petra, and Caspar, they readied their respective weapons and steeled themselves for a fight. Seteth did the same, twirling his Spear of Assal and then pointing it at the opposition.
"Lady Rhea lies beyond these foes! Do not give in, and let us succeed! For her sake!"
At Seteth's words, the group of Resistance soldiers he commanded charged in, engaging the Imperials within the palace corridor. The two sides clashed, sparks of a fierce intensity flaring between them.
Catherine propelled herself to the front of her side's offense. With Hero's Relic in hand, she sliced her way through her enemies, the ones preventing her from reaching the goal she had in mind. Shamir watched out for her partner, ensuring the swift downfall of any attempts against her life.
Caspar and Petra had a similar situation going on during the fight, though theirs was much less a one-sided affair. Both of them were flinging themselves into the battle, engaging as many enemy soldiers as they could while also ensuring the safety of the other person. This didn't prevent them from catching minor cuts and gashes, but at least neither of them was nearing death.
Ferdinand's offensive efforts were energetic, charged with a vicious passion. Imperial soldiers fell all around him, with deep gashes upon their bodies and wide scratches on their armors where Ferdinand's Brave Lance had followed its path of devastation. The weapon's unusually enchanted aura emboldened his already intense desire to fight, granting him the strength he needed to cut down his foes.
Despite no longer having the advantage of the momentum that a wyvern provides for one's attacks, Seteth was still able to bring down all the Imperial soldiers he fought with minimal issue. Their movements were easy to predict and were thus prime targets for an effortless counterattack or disarming maneuver. He had been stabbed at one point, but the wound was ultimately meaningless - it was nothing a vulnerary couldn't fix.
In the end, Seteth's group had overcome the obstacle laid out before them. Their opposition was gone and an unorganized mess of bodies filled the corridor.
"It is done. May these brave soldiers find peace with the goddess," Seteth said, pulling out a cloth from the small pack dangling by his side and using it to clean his Spear of Assal.
"Let's keep moving. Lady Rhea's just up ahead." Catherine stared towards the end of the corridor they'd all been moving towards before the fight, a bloodied Thunderbrand hanging by her waist. "She's waiting for us…"
"Of course. Let us proceed."
After everyone caught their breaths following the battle within the corridor, they proceeded along the path Ferdinand and Petra had been leading them down, picking it up from where they left off.
More corridors and corners soon followed, adding to the complexity of the maze that was the innards of the Imperial palace. Ferdinand and Petra still seemed confident and assured of the correctness of their guidance, which meant there wasn't much room for Catherine to continue complaining. Shamir helped to keep her quiet.
Before much longer, the group arrived at a decrepit wooden door, one with an iron lock. Ferdinand and Petra frowned at it.
"I feared this would be the case…" Ferdinand commented.
"Is this the door that leads to the dungeon?" Seteth asked, glancing at the orange-haired Paladin.
Ferdinand nodded. "It is. However, to get inside, we will need the key that allows us to open this door. I do not have it."
"I am also not having it." Petra shook her head. "Many apologies."
Catherine grunted, scowling at the door. She looked at Thunderbrand, then at the door, before sighing and sheathing the blade.
"I see only one way around this. Stand aside, everyone."
"What are you doing?" Shamir wondered, moving away from the door.
"We need a key, don't we?" Catherine grinned. She motioned outwards with both arms. "Allow me."
At her behest, anyone that was close to the locked door promptly moved away, giving Catherine enough space to do as she pleased.
She crouched down slightly, putting her upper arm in front of herself as she faced the door. With all the force she could muster, Catherine rushed ahead. She slammed into the door, throwing the full weight of her body against its wooden makeup.
It shook slightly. Wood splintered off from the rest of the door, some parts of it falling straight to the floor. It wasn't completely open, however, so Catherine tried again. She took a step back and lunged towards the door.
A few more attempts were all she needed to break down the door.
"Nothing's gonna get in my way to rescue Lady Rhea. Especially not some damn door." Catherine glared at the fallen piece of wood and iron that was laying on the floor. She turned to her allies. "Come on, let's not waste any more time. Lady Rhea's been waiting for so long…I don't want to make her wait any longer."
Everyone nodded. Ferdinand and Petra retook their places at the front of the group, leading them through the narrow corridor that followed the once-locked door.
The detail on the walls that were prevalent within the regular areas of the palace had all but disappeared. Blank, beige walls surrounded them all. The crimson red carpet was gone, as were the occasional wooden desks. There was a distinct lack of windows, meaning there was no natural light coming into the hallway. The only source of light were the torches placed firmly on the walls. They were spread out, resulting in brief pockets of darkness.
It became colder and darker the further they traveled into the corridor. Eventually, after going down a steep flight of stairs, the floor and walls became replaced with hard, gray stone. Water dripped from the ceiling above, splashing into puddles below. Torches became rather infrequent, covering the path in an increasing amount of shadows.
At one point, Ferdinand and Petra stopped. There was a split path, with three different directions to choose from.
"Which one was it…?" Ferdinand mumbled to himself as he looked down each path. "It has been some time since I was last here. This place brings back some painful memories…"
"We were seeing the Ashen Wolves for a lot of time. I am wondering if they are still here."
Ferdinand shook his head. "I doubt it. Arundel once told me he had some plans for them…I do not think they are still here. He would have moved them by now, for whatever twisted experiments he had in mind."
"I can be having a look. It will not be taking much time."
"Do as you please. Just…be careful. I wouldn't want you to get hurt."
Petra nodded.
"I have understanding. Thank you, Ferdinand. I will look for the Ashen Wolves."
The Brigid princess began to turn towards the path to the right. Before she could walk down it, a hand landed on her shoulder.
"Hey," Caspar said to her as she turned to face him. "I'll go with you. I don't know anything about what happened here, but you could probably use some help breaking down any other doors."
Petra smiled. "I am, uh…appreciating your help, Caspar. You can be following me."
"Alright! Let's get to it, then! Time to find those Ashen Wolves!"
Together, Petra and Caspar headed down the path where they believed the Ashen Wolves to be located. The rest of Seteth's group allowed the two to temporarily leave in such a manner. They then focused their efforts on the main task at hand.
Ferdinand looked down the path that led directly forward from the dark and dingy corridor the group was in. His eyes narrowed before he switched his gaze over to Seteth.
"I believe this is it. Beyond here…" Ferdinand pointed down the path he was looking at. "Lies the Archbishop."
"What are we waiting for? Come on, let's get her out of here already!" Catherine exclaimed, interrupting Seteth before he could even speak.
"I agree." Seteth briefly glared at Catherine, who failed to notice. "Let us make haste."
Ferdinand nodded. He merely turned around and began hurrying down the path, with Seteth, Catherine, Shamir, and the rest of the soldiers within their small group all following closely behind him.
The cold and damp stone path was covered in darkness, as the rest of the dungeon had been. None of them cared for the splashing of water that occurred as they smashed their boots against the hard ground, propelling themselves ahead and rushing as fast as they could.
They were all deeply concentrated on completing their mission.
After some time, the group came across a large, wooden door, one that was wrapped in iron chains and locked in much the same way as the door they had encountered earlier. Catherine wasted no time in breaking it down, having to use a little more strength to successfully do so. As soon as the door fell, Seteth, Ferdinand, Catherine, Shamir, and the rest forced their way into the ensuing room.
A long, narrow path rested between an endless set of steel cages. The room was pitch black, almost completely shrouded in darkness. Because of this, the group needed to move further in before they could confirm anything. They wandered around within the shadows, silently stepping across the stones and murky puddles beneath them. They looked all over, searching through each cage for any sign of the person they were looking for.
Seteth stopped. He froze in place when he reached a particular cell, his eyes widened when he saw its lone occupant. Everyone else followed his gaze, with expressions of surprise appearing on their faces.
Up against the back wall of the holding cell, was a woman with long, green hair. A plain white robe covered her entire body and darkness surrounded her eyes. Chains tied her to the wall, preventing her from moving anywhere. A half-eaten slice of bread remained on the floor, dirtied by the natural, grimy environment she was in.
Catherine grit her teeth.
"Lady Rhea…what the hell did he do to you?!" She exclaimed, tightening her fists. "That damn heretic's gonna pay for this!"
The Archbishop looked up on hearing the noise. A permanent frown remained on her face. She noticed Seteth.
"C-Ci-"
"You needn't speak…Rhea," Seteth interrupted her. "We shall break you out of this terrible confinement you are in. We have finally come to rescue you."
Her face twitched. Rhea attempted to form a smile but was unable to.
"Th-thank…you."
"You are welcome. Now, it's time to set you free. This nightmare of yours shall end…today."
"Get back, Lady Rhea! This might get a little rough." Catherine stepped back from the cell, everyone around her giving her enough space, just as before.
Rhea tried to move away from the edge of the cell, but as she was already up against the wall, there wasn't much she could do. She at least braced herself for what she expected to come.
As with the prior doors, Catherine slammed herself against the door of the cage. She was making some dents but the cage was of steel and not wood, thus it proved to be much stronger than the doors leading into the dungeon. Regardless, Catherine kept trying. She even used Thunderbrand to hack at the cage's bars, which proved to be a far more effective method.
With enough force, Catherine was soon able to carve out a hole big enough for her to enter the cage. Once she did so, she went straight for the chains that bound the Archbishop, cutting her free with the use of Thunderbrand.
"Don't worry, Lady Rhea. I've got you," Catherine said after slashing through the final chain and kneeling. "Lean on me and I'll help get you out of here."
Rhea nodded, accepting Catherine's offer. The wielder of Thunderbrand reached out and helped the Archbishop stand up, allowing her to lean against her shoulder. The two women slowly made their way towards the large hole Catherine made moments earlier and carefully climbed through, leaving the cage altogether.
"What now?" Shamir asked. "What are we going to do with the Archbishop, now that we've rescued her? We can't just bring her into the battle going on upstairs."
"No, we cannot. That is why we shall bring her outside and put her in one of our carts, where she will then be able to receive some semblance of rest," answered Seteth. "We shall remain there and wait for our allies in the throne room to finish the battle."
"So we're looking after the Archbishop, as well as securing our way out of the city? Fine by me."
Seteth nodded at Shamir before glancing at the bruised visage of Rhea. He grimaced, quickly choosing to distract himself by looking at the wide-open exit.
"Rhea…what happened to you?" He said to himself, quietly.
Before he could continue, Seteth composed himself with a sigh. Alongside Ferdinand, he proceeded to lead the way out of the dungeon, with the rest of the soldiers and a hurt Rhea following behind him.
But as they returned to the dark corridor outside of the room with the holding cells, Petra and Caspar were there, waiting for them. Their brows were furrowed. Ferdinand's eyes widened, having realized what was missing.
"The Ashen Wolves are not here," said Petra as she stared at Ferdinand. "I am not knowing where they are."
Ferdinand stared back at her, his mouth agape.
As Seteth's group were dealing with the mission to rescue Lady Rhea, the main body of the Resistance army proceeded through the rest of the Imperial palace. They made their way up the grand staircase after the defeat of the Imperial garrison that attacked them, reaching the second floor. Fortunately, the staircase kept going, meaning they didn't have to waste time searching for another one.
Edelgard continued to lead the army up the staircase, which continued to spiral around itself. Some Imperial soldiers came along and attempted to halt the Resistance's advance. This worked, but only for the duration of the ensuing fight - only a few minutes at best. Some of the Resistance's soldiers retained minor injuries as a result, though they were promptly healed by their Bishop allies.
Once the enemies were defeated, the Resistance resumed their advance. They pressed on, furthering their way up the staircase, continually yearning to reach for the very top. Some of the soldiers were beginning to feel tired, yet even they found the strength to continue.
They knew what was at stake. They were fully aware of what Arundel's defeat meant to them. Reminding themselves of such an idea was all they needed to do to strengthen their resolves. The Resistance kept moving.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the top floor. More Imperial soldiers waited for them at the top, but the strength behind the Resistance's conviction was far too great. The Imperials stood little chance. Upon the defeat of the enemy garrison, the Resistance initiated their final charge.
Nothing stopped them. The Resistance, with their combined power and overwhelming tenacity, was unstoppable to all the meager groups of defenders that approached them. Although the Adrestians were resolved to protect their palace, the Resistance's desire for peace far outclassed them. As such, Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, and everyone else were able to continue throughout the palace halls without any issues.
Soon after rounding a corner, the main Resistance army was met with a large set of grand, regal double doors. Everyone paused - they had a strong idea of what lay beyond.
Edelgard grit her teeth, frowning at the doors.
"We've finally made it, huh?" Claude asked rhetorically as he also stared at the doors. "Our old friend Arundel is waiting for us just beyond these doors. What are we waiting for? Let's get in there and bring this war to an end!"
"Do not falter, El. Now is the time to make him pay for all he has done to Fódlan…to you." Dimitri looked at her. "Turn your anger into strength and allow it to lay waste to the darkness surrounding your home. You have the power to bring forth a new age for the Adrestian Empire. Don't ever forget that."
Edelgard didn't return Dimitri's gaze, instead struggling internally while facing the doors. She eventually nodded.
"Thank you, Dimitri. I will end his reign for not only myself, but also for the Empire. Today shall be the end of Emperor Arundel…I swear it."
Dimitri smiled and Claude smirked.
"Good," said the wielder of Failnaught. "Now why don't you lead the way, future Emperor? Open those doors so we can finally end this war."
"I will."
With her off-hand, the one not currently holding onto the Sword of the Creator's hilt, Edelgard opened the double doors. Loudly creaking open, the doors slowly swung to the sides, revealing what lay beyond.
A wide, vast hall stretched out before them. It had a clean, polished floor, one that was decorated with a gray-blue diamond pattern. Four large pillars of stone held the ceiling in place, preventing the hall from collapsing in on itself. A platform was situated at the far end of the room, with a crimson carpet on the stairs that led up to it. The Adrestian throne was on the platform.
Edelgard scowled at its occupant.
"We meet again…Princess," Emperor Arundel spoke with a confident tone, his voice echoing across the hall. "I see you have brought your army. The one you abandoned your true path for."
"True path?" Dimitri wondered, facing his step-sister. "What is he referring to?"
Edelgard hesitated. "I…shall explain later. Now is not the time. I hope you understand."
"I see."
Dimitri became quiet, though his gaze lingered on Edelgard for a while longer. She returned to glaring at Arundel.
"The Resistance does not belong to me. It belongs to the people of Fódlan, the very ones you wish to control," she said to him, raising her volume. "We are the embodiment of the hopes and dreams of all the lives you have trampled in your conquest of the continent. We shall not allow you to continue any longer!"
"Foolish words from a foolish girl. Victory is far beyond your reach. The moment you failed to take my hand is the moment your death was secured." Arundel narrowed his eyes, his voice becoming full of venom. "You have no chance."
"Hey, I don't know if you're going senile, but you do know you're outnumbered, right?" Claude asked with a raised brow. "There are thousands of us against just one of you. If anything, it's you that's got no chance."
Arundel grinned.
"I think not. For you see…"
He reached down to grab something from beside the throne, raising it for all to see. The Resistance was confused, failing to understand the significance of the gold chalice of ancient, jeweled design.
But Lucas did.
"Th-the Chalice of Beginnings?! Where did he get that from?!" He questioned, his expression awash with bewilderment.
Dorothea turned to him, tilting her head in confusion. But before she could ask anything, Arundel's voice caught everyone's attention.
"The Rite of Rising is almost complete. The blood of the Four Apostles now rests within the chalice. All I have left to do is to drink it." He raised the chalice to his lips. "Raising the dead…how pathetic. The dead can never be brought back to life."
Lucas frantically looked between his allies, sweat dripping down his face. "S-somebody, stop him! If he drinks from that chalice, we're fucked!" His gaze landed on Claude. "Claude! Shoot him with Failnaught, now!"
"Got it, Teach!"
Without any questions, Claude immediately drew an arrow and aimed it for Arundel, letting it fly as quick as he could. The arrow zoomed through the air, swiftly approaching its target.
Yet Arundel raised his other hand, forming a magical barrier. Claude's arrow rebounded uselessly away from it.
"Useless. Your meaningless attempts upon my life shall never succeed. I will gain the power of the Four Apostles, the power they claim to be capable of bringing the dead back to life - I will not be interrupted. Not by anyone, especially not such lowly worms as you."
Arundel lowered his arm, resting it upon the throne. He guided the Chalice of Beginnings ever closer to his face.
"The hands of Agartha shall smite you all."
"No!" Lucas yelled, reaching out in some vain attempt to stop what was coming.
He failed. Arundel opened his mouth, drinking the blood that was filling the chalice to its brim. It all quickly poured into his mouth, which he consumed without a moment's hesitation. As soon as he did, something started happening to him.
A dark cloud formed around his neck. It expanded, covering his face, chest, as well as the rest of his body. Streaks of red joined with the black, dancing around Arundel in unison as they both engulfed him. He let out grunts of pain, yet persevered through it all.
"You…the humans will all die! They will all perish underneath the might of Agartha! Ngh…" Arundel's voice became darker, his true self unmasking. "I will not give in…I will not give in to a useless tool made by the Nabateans! Its power is mine - it will not control me! I shall control it!"
The Resistance looked on in fear. They watched as the darkness continued to envelop him, though it appeared to slow down. Lucas reached out, attempting to rewind time, but was stopped.
"Do not bother." Sothis shook her head. "Turning back the hands of time here will not have any effect."
"How do you know? I haven't tried it yet."
"I should think he was prepared to defend himself from anything that may have tried to stop him. Look at what happened to that arrow - it did nothing."
"So, what, you want me to let this happen?! Without even trying to stop it?"
Sothis glared at Lucas. "You have no choice. Remember, you do not have very many uses of my Divine Pulse. How many times did you use it during that last battle, hmm? Two, was it? You'd best save the rest. Would you not prefer to save the lives of those closest to you?"
"Ah…!" Lucas sighed after a short pause. "Alright…I'll save it."
"Good. Now, prepare yourself. I can feel strange energy coming from that darkness…something powerful is emerging."
"Yeah, I can tell. If I remember correctly, when Aelfric uses that thing in the original timeline, he becomes-"
Abruptly, a thunderous roar erupted from the mass of dark magical energy. Arundel's voice soon followed though it was distorted with hatred and anger.
"This power belongs to me…to Agartha! We shall not fall! The Nabateans…MUST DIE!"
The darkness suddenly grew. It intensified to the point of engulfing the throne as well as the entire platform Arundel once stood upon. A gust of wind was sent throughout the throne room, blowing back the hair on the heads of all the Resistance soldiers who either had long hair, and/or didn't have a helmet on. The wind wasn't strong enough to cause anyone to stumble, but it did force most of them to shield their eyes.
When they looked up, the darkness began to subside. Arundel was no longer by the throne - neither was Thales.
Giant, webbed wings surged out from the fading dark magic, blowing it all away. A black and red quadrupedal monster with massively bulging veins stood in place of the leader of the Agarthans. White-gray bones lined its body, reaching up to the skull upon its face. Deep, fully black eyes stared at the members of the Resistance.
"What the…?" Claude returned the beast's gaze with wide eyes. "He transformed?!"
"He became an Umbral Beast. Was this truly his aim?" Dimitri wondered, shock taking hold of his face.
"How fitting. An uncaring, inhuman being becoming an even greater beast. This must be the manifestation of his true, destructive self," commented Edelgard. She pointed her Relic at the Umbral Beast. "Our goal remains unchanged! We must defeat this monster, and claim peace for Fódlan!"
"Heh, of course! All he's done is made himself a bigger target! Not to mention, he's still outnumbered. We've got this, everyone!" Claude nocked an arrow.
"Don't be so overconfident. This battle…it certainly won't be easy." Dimitri aimed Areadbhar in the beast's direction. "Regardless, I have faith that we can win. For the dreams of all those who have fallen, and the hopes of all those who will follow…we must win. We have to!"
Edelgard nodded. "Everyone…forward, now!"
Everyone cheered, letting out a combined scream of sheer determination. The main Resistance army charged straight forward, intending to engage the Umbral Beast and fight for their future. The Umbral Beast seemed to understand the challenge, flying down from the platform and landing in front of the stairs leading to the throne.
It fired a large, spherical, blood-red magical blast into the crowd of Resistance soldiers. The attack was quick, though most of the soldiers got out of its way in time. Some didn't, however, and were hit with the full force of the attack, sending them flying into the room's back wall, knocking them unconscious.
Aware of the Umbral Beast's power, the Resistance continued their charge. Thousands of soldiers came rushing at the beast, with hundreds of arrows and spells being flung at it from a comfortable distance. It blocked the attacks with one of its wings, swinging at the air with said wing - once the projectiles subsided - to create a forceful blast of wind that slowed the Resistance's advance and redirected any further projectiles to the walls.
This didn't stop the Resistance army for very long, though. As soon as the wind faded, they persisted with their approach, the melee fighters soon coming into range. The Resistance's sword, axe, lance and gauntlet users all unloaded their best attacks, putting all of their might into their respective blows. Those that had Crests with power-enhancing effects made sure to use them.
Some of the infantry decided to attack the Umbral Beast from the other side, intending to surround it with all kinds of strikes so it would have quite a difficult time fending them all off. Such a stratagem proved to work, as the beast was quickly overwhelmed by all the directions it was being attacked from. It even seemed to get angry, as it roared with a blood-curdling scream.
A wave of red magical energy was released from the beast while it roared. The mana reached out to all the melee users that surrounded the Umbral Beast, hurting them while they were in contact with the magic. But there was another effect the sudden spell had.
In the blink of an eye, the melee users found themselves teleported to a random spot on the floor of the throne room. Most of them had all disappeared from where they were near the creature, which gave it enough breathing room for a counterattack. It fired several more blasts of magical blood, dispersing the displaced soldiers further - even killing some.
Lucas, who'd been teleported next to one of the pillars alongside several other soldiers, recomposed himself quick enough to notice one of the bloody blasts hurtling towards Sylvain. Instinctively, he activated a third Divine Pulse, sending himself back in time to a point before the Umbral Beast's spatial-distortion spell. He left Dorothea's side and searched through the crowd, hoping to find Sylvain before the mass teleportation occurred again.
Soon enough, he found the red-haired Paladin, who was fighting alongside Felix. The two recoiled after a combined slash they unleashed upon the beast. At that moment, the Umbral Beast started to scream, activating its spatial-distortion magic as before. Fortunately, moments before the teleportation took place, Lucas grabbed onto Sylvain's arm, which resulted in the two being sent to the same location.
"Uh, Professor? What are you doing?" Sylvain asked after the two were warped. "And what just happened…?"
"We got warped by that thing's magic. I'm here to protect you," Lucas said quickly.
"Protect me? From what?"
Lucas said nothing, merely pointing to the crimson red sphere of death that was heading their way.
"Oh." Sylvain arched his brow. "How did you know that was gonna happen…?"
Lucas ignored the question, instead raising his Seiros Shield to take the blast. He put it out in front of him and hid as much of his body behind the ancient shield as he could, hoping to receive minimal damage.
It worked, but the knockback was severe. The Umbral Beast's attack sent Lucas skidding across the room, almost crashing into the very person he protected. Thankfully, Sylvain caught him before anything else could occur.
"I'm not entirely sure what happened there, but I think you just saved my life. Thanks, Professor. I'll remember that one." Sylvain winked.
"Um, sure. Stay safe, Sylvain."
Sylvain nodded. From atop his horse, he charged back into the fray, alongside fellow soldiers that wished to do the same. Lucas, with no immediate problems to solve, eventually decided to do the same, flinging several Fires at the Umbral Beast as he closed in.
The battle progressed, with many Resistance soldiers falling to the immense power of the Umbral Beast. Others collapsed, trembling under its seemingly infinite strength. Most kept on fighting, the adrenaline of their determination carrying them through the fight of their lives.
A leaping slash from Felix with his Sword of Moralta was soon followed up by a forceful lunge from Leonie's Silver Lance. Claude and Ignatz sprayed the Umbral Beast with arrows, while Dorothea, Linhardt, Mercedes, Annette, Marianne, Lysithea, Flayn, Hanneman, and Manuela all unleashed their mightiest spells. Edelgard, Dimitri, Sylvain, and Hilda struck the beast with their respective Heroes' Relics, alongside Raphael - who landed his best punch. Lucas also tried his best, using as much of the Sword of Seiros' power as he could summon.
Everyone was fighting the Umbral Beast with all they had. It tried to use its spatial-distortion magic again, but it didn't quite have the same effect a second time around. However, it seemed the beast expected that to be the case, as it prepared something different.
Beams of magical light surged out of nowhere, appearing around the throne room. In their place were multiple copies of a gray-skinned, pupiless man, one for each beam of light that dissipated.
Edelgard frowned. "Do not fear! These are mere illusions! Memorize their faces, however, for they hold the appearance of the emperor's true identity!"
The soldiers of the Resistance nodded, even if they were somewhat confused. Still, they didn't allow such confusion to deter them for very long, as they kept fighting to the absolute limit of their abilities.
Doing so was difficult, especially when the illusions of Thales were strong in their own right. It was at least fortunate that a Silence spell was sufficient enough to make them a non-issue.
What surprised the Resistance soldiers was that at one point, dark energy began to flow towards the Umbral Beast from the remaining illusions, seemingly healing some of the damage it had taken. This, like the previous surprise, hadn't deterred the Resistance all that much, but it was certainly irritating. From then on, it was decided that the illusions would be the most important targets, as the Umbral Beast's source of healing needed to be cut off before any further significant damage could be dealt.
Such a plan worked out rather well for the Resistance. Silence spells, followed up with combined physical attacks - the illusions couldn't stand up to that. Despite this, the Umbral Beast kept summoning them, continually trying to heal. It was as if it was deliberately attempting to annoy the Resistance.
Either way, such tactics didn't work for much longer.
Edelgard and Dimitri were staring down the Umbral Beast, Sword of the Creator and Areadbhar in hand respectively. The creature was tossing and turning, blood pouring from the many gashes and slits across its body. Its attacks were getting weaker and much less frequent. The illusions stopped, as did the spatial-distortions.
The step-siblings glanced at one another.
"Go, El. Bring an end to the suffering he caused you so long ago," Dimitri insisted.
She shook her head.
"I cannot do that. I know how much pain he's brought to you and I know how much you desire revenge, even if you have suppressed that desire. I can't simply take that away from you."
"Someone needs to kill him. And it should be you."
She frowned at him. "But it should also be you." Edelgard turned back to the damaged Umbral Beast and sighed. "There is only one way to settle this."
Dimitri raised a brow and followed her gaze. "How?"
"We both should kill him. At the same time. Using our combined strength…the strength born from the suffering he's inflicted upon us."
Dimitri's mouth lingered open in surprise, but he soon nodded.
"That's…" He smiled. "Thank you, El. Together, we shall put an end to his tyranny. To close this dark chapter on our lives and to bring about something new."
"Indeed. Let's do this together, Dimitri." Edelgard gripped the hilt of the Sword of the Creator tightly.
"Yes, let's!" Dimitri did the same with Areadbhar.
They locked their sights on the Umbral Beast, the creature that once took the form of Thales, the leader of the Agarthans. With their Relics at hand, their resolves grew to a colossal scale. Once there was an opening, they charged in.
Rushing past all their friends and allies, Edelgard and Dimitri zoomed in on the Umbral Beast. Everyone got out of their way, having instantly realized what it was they were going to do. Approaching the Umbral Beast, Edelgard and Dimitri jumped high into the air and raised their respective Relics.
"Thales!" Edelgard yelled. "This battle…"
"Is over!" Dimitri finished.
They brought down their weapons as they fell, utilizing the full power of their Crests to maximize their strength. Edelgard and Dimitri cut deep gashes into the body of the Umbral Beast, deeper than anything it had ever felt before, more painful than any attack it had received thus far. It was an attack filled with more than sheer strength - it was full of emotion. Edelgard and Dimitri put the full weight of their feelings behind their combined strike.
The beast cried out in agony. It tossed and it turned as it screamed before collapsing under its weight. The Umbral Beast fell, its power and lifeforce fading.
Darkness poured out from the being, engulfing it in the same way as it had to Arundel before the completion of the ritual. A light appeared from within the black and red mana and the visage of the beast disappeared. The mana gradually dissipated, leaving behind a heavily bloodied and bruised Agarthan.
"S-so…this is the result of your path. The decision you have made." Thales struggled to speak, coughing out blood. "Are you p-pleased? The church continues to thrive, and those f-filthy followers of the goddess still live…yet you chose to fight me. How f-foolish of you…"
"There is no single way for the world to change. It matters not who I align with. As long as I can rid this world of the darkness that binds it - I care not what path I take," Edelgard replied, staring down at the beaten Agarthan. "Though…" She turned to Dimitri. "I will admit. I am indeed pleased I have chosen this path."
Thales smirked, though his grin disappeared when he had to cough up more of his blood. "This world will not change without bloodshed…you have y-yet to realise this-"
"Silence." Dimitri scowled. "Bloodshed has brought us nothing but pain and tragedy. It is time we carve ourselves a path of peace. People do not yearn for pain, for death - they wish to live. That is something you have never realized."
Edelgard nodded. "Go. Disappear into the pages of history, as nothing more than a tyrant who wished for the destruction of humanity. You will become nothing but a memory."
She turned around, the back of her heavy armor facing Thales.
"A memory that I shall forget."
Thales coughed, struggling to let out a burst of scornful laughter.
"I m-may disappear, b-but…" He allowed one of his hands to fall to his side, palm facing the floor. A faint, purple light pulsed beneath the hand. "So shall you…your victory sh-shall be meaningless-!"
Thales cried out in agony for one last time. His other arm fell lifelessly to the ground, blood pouring out of multiple areas upon his body.
Dimitri's gaze lingered at the corpse while Edelgard kept her eyes closed, facing completely away.
The Resistance fell silent. An awkward air filled the throne room, which had seen considerable damage as a result of the fight. Nobody was certain what to do. Except for Marianne, who ran to Dimitri's side.
Lucas sat down where he was, taking a deep breath.
"It's all over," he said to those within his mind. "We've killed Thales and defeated the Empire, but why does it feel so…weird?"
"Indeed. It's as if you failed, which is not the case. I suppose everyone has yet to realize precisely what has transpired here," Sothis commented. "You have not forgotten anything, have you?"
"I don't think so. This should be it." Lucas blinked. His gaze flickered over to the platform where the throne was. "Wait. If Thales did the Rite of Rising to become that Umbral Beast, then that means…!"
"Go."
Lucas nodded, understanding the purpose of the goddess' short instruction. He stood up and darted toward the platform, quickly making his way up the stairs.
His face blanched when saw what was there. The Ashen Wolves, their bodies filled with cuts and gashes, were all positioned around the throne. Trails of blood led from their numerous gashes to a particular spot beside the throne, likely where Thales kept the Chalice of Beginnings.
"Oh fuck…!" Lucas exclaimed, his voice filled with sorrow as he stared at the corpses. "This is what happened to them? Yuri, Constance, Balthus…"
He stopped when he noticed something about Hapi. His eyes narrowed as he leaned in to get a closer look.
"Hapi…what did they do to you?"
Lucas' gaze lingered on the massive cut on her neck. He cast his head to the floor, his visage gaining a depressed frown. He remained this way for some time, giving just a few minutes of his life to remember the Ashen Wolves.
"Yuri…" he said while looking at the lifeless body of the person in question. "It's a shame we haven't been able to speak since before the Sealed Forest mission. If I hadn't fallen asleep for five years, I might've been able to save you…"
Lucas sighed.
"Goodbye, friend."
His eyes closed in remembrance of his fallen friend. Lucas grew quiet, even as the awkward feeling in the air subsided and chatter began to occur behind him.
He remained silent for the sake of Yuri.
But then Yuri's body shook. His arms jittered in place as his head recoiled back from a cough. Lucas opened his eyes, his brows raising in response to the strange sight occurring before him.
"Heh…don't count me out just yet, friend."
"Y-Yuri?!" Lucas exclaimed, his eyes widening. "You're still alive?"
Yuri, barely alive, coughed out blood. "Of c-course I am. Though…" He struggled to tilt his head downward, only able to get a faint glimpse at the various wounds on his body as well as his torn attire. "I'm not looking too good. Pretty sure I'm slipping closer to death by the second. It's only a matter of time."
"P-please don't. I've seen too much death already. I don't want to see another."
"Too much?" Yuri smirked. "Looks like you've s-seen a lot these past five years, friend. Q-quite the contrast to me, I'll say. I've only ever seen the cold darkness of that c-cell…"
Yuri paused. He suddenly began to chuckle to himself, although his laughter was brief - he needed to cough more blood.
"Hold on, Yuri. I'll get you a cleric. I don't have an Elixir on me…maybe a Concoction will work? Give me a second-"
Lucas dug into the pack around his waist, but stopped when Yuri slowly raised a finger at him, lacking the strength to raise his arm. This caused Lucas to cease his efforts.
"I'm done, friend. You see how t-terrible I look? Nothing's gonna fix this. I'm already moments away from d-death." Any semblance of laughter was gone from Yuri's expression. "It's ironic. I've a-always yearned to be free, yet soon after I'm released from my shackles…I get thrown into some new ones. I g-guess death is the only way I can truly be free."
Lucas stared into Yuri's blank eyes and his overall content visage. The professor sighed.
"You're gonna give up without even trying? I can always use Heal. I'm not that good at it but it's still worth trying-!"
"Don't w-waste your efforts, friend. I know you're probably tired after all that fighting. J-just…allow yourself to rest." Yuri closed his eyes. "And allow me to rest, too…"
Lucas frowned, hesitation causing him to tremble all over.
"I don't want to lose you…"
"There's n-not much any of us can do about that, I'm…I'm afraid." Yuri's face began to lose all traces of color. "Sorry, friend. If there's an a-afterlife, I'll meet you there. M-maybe we…maybe we can all get some drinks or whatever. You, me, and the other Ashen Wolves-"
Yuri coughed out more blood. Lucas remained silent, trembling, fighting the sorrow.
"G-goodbye, friend…"
Nothing more was said between them. Lucas silently observed Yuri's quiet passing, watching as the essence of life drained from him, just as the blood continued to pour from the many cuts on his body.
The trembling soon stopped. Lucas blinked, checking his arms and his body. No longer did he feel such intense sadness. Instead, it lingered with him, remaining at the back of his mind as things became clearer to him.
He frowned.
"Did I just…accept this?"
Lucas looked down at his right hand, which was hanging loosely near the hilt of his sheathed Sword of Seiros. It clenched.
"I did, didn't I?"
Lucas remained there, standing upon the platform surrounding the Imperial throne while staring down at his bloodied hands.
He was quiet, even as the soldiers behind him continued to chatter away.
But after a few minutes, the ground shook. Everyone in the room - including Lucas - turned to face the open doors, which was the direction in which the sound came from.
A random soldier asked the question on everyone's minds.
"What the hell was that?"
As the battle within the throne room was concluding with Thales' death, the Resistance forces that ensured the safety of their escape route waited for news of any kind. Be it victory or failure - their departure was inevitable.
For them, there was no way of knowing until someone came out the palace's front doors.
Seteth was guarding the carriage that secured the Archbishop's rest. Catherine was doing the same, as was Shamir, though the two women were guarding different sides of the cart. Ferdinand, Petra, and Caspar were guarding other carriages.
"I wonder when we'll get moving," Catherine said, her voice loud enough to reach Seteth and Shamir. "We've been here for a while. I'm starting to get worried."
"We'll hear about what happened soon. Either from our allies…or the emperor himself," Shamir replied.
"There's no way we've lost. What could that emperor possibly have that'll overcome our numbers?"
"Don't underestimate a cornered animal. Their bite becomes rather strong when they know their life is on the line."
"Yeah, but that's why you don't let yourself get bit in the first place. Either way, our troops are strong. They can handle a bite or two."
"What if the bite is venomous? You know how effective poison can be."
"This is getting too specific." Catherine scratched an itch on the side of her head. "Let's just wait here and see what happens, alright? We'll see how big that bite is."
"Sure. Though, that's exactly what we were already doing…"
Seteth sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Can you two be quiet, please? I would rather not hear anything about any bites or other such things." He didn't bother to stare at any of them. "I would prefer to place my faith in the strength of our allies."
Shamir shrugged. "Faith won't get you so far when you're dead."
"Please, no further retorts." Seteth sighed again. "I will not ask this of you again."
Shamir simply nodded, returning her focus to guard duty. Catherine did the same, becoming entirely silent. Seteth, meanwhile, found peace in the quiet that surrounded him. All he could hear was the breeze of the wind and the near-distant chatter of friendly soldiers.
Despite the state of relative peace he found himself in, Seteth didn't drop his guard. He remained vigilant, readying his Spear of Assal against any foes that came their way.
He looked up. Some of the clouds in the orange, evening sky above suddenly parted, which caught his attention.
What caused his eyes to widen was the faint appearance of a familiar object that was hurtling toward the city.
"That's…we must-!"
Seteth exclamations were cut short when a hand was placed on his shoulder. He slowly turned, finding that Rhea was awake.
"L-Lady Rhea! What are you-"
She raised a finger, silencing him.
"There is no time. I must…p-protect everyone," she struggled to say, powering through the hurt.
"You are in too much pain! Please, remain inside the carriage! We shall make our escape! You needn't move!"
"If I don't act, then everyone will…d-die. Move aside."
Despite the pained nature of her speech, she was still able to speak with absolute authority. Seteth was forced to comply. He stood aside, allowing Rhea to gradually leave the cart.
With her two feet on the ground, the Archbishop of the Church of Seiros looked up at the approaching javelin.
"I d-do this for the ones you love, m-mother…"
Rhea was suddenly engulfed by a green light. Seteth, instantly recognizing what this meant, scrambled to get away, strongly insisting Shamir and Catherine do the same, despite their confusion.
As the light dissipated, a large, gray dragon emerged, soaring up into the sky. The Immaculate One rose to meet the challenge of the javelin of light.
She fired her flame breath, destroying it without much issue. Satisfied, she began to turn around and head toward the ground.
But there was another. The second javelin of light surged through the ensuing explosion caused by the destruction of the first, critically striking The Immaculate One in the back. A third and final one came soon after that, again exploding onto the ancient dragon.
Her strength faded. The Immaculate One began falling through the air, hurtling toward the ground. She slammed into a building near a plaza, the force of which caused a loud rumble to reverberate across the entire city. The building was mostly destroyed as a result of the dragon forcefully landing upon it.
Seteth, Shamir, and Catherine looked on in absolute bewilderment.
Author Notes: BOOM, another big one! And only about a week after the last one, too! Hopefully this means we're properly back on schedule. Also, five deaths in one. How's that for a death count, eh?
Feel free to drop a favourite, follow, and/or a review, if you're so inclined! I'll see ya next time!
Thanks again to Frost for beta-reading!
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