Falchion is a legendary blade only a chosen few can wield. If one is unworthy, then the blade will be as dull as a stone.

Lucina stared blankly into the dull gleam of the sword in her hands as the previous events continuously replayed in her head. Was it really true? Did Falchion truly? No, She mentally shook her head. Perhaps it was her stance or perhaps she didn't put enough force into her thrust. Surely it wasn't because Falchion….

She's weak! She'll never be the exalt her father was!

Lucina bit her lip as those words bounced around the corners of her mind. However, if it were true…

"Hey, Lucina!" She heard a familiar voice call out to her, "Hellooooo, anyone in there?! Answer me!"

Torn from her thoughts, Lucina looked up to see the dark outline of her friend standing over her.

"S-sorry Severa" Was all she could say as her eyes slumped back to the floor. It may have been hard to see, but Severa's contemptuous glare still bore into her being.

Severa scoffed and rolled her eyes, "'Sorry' doesn't even begin to make up for that pathetic display" She whipped one of her pigtails over her shoulder and once again glared down at the young lord, "What's wrong with you?! First, there's that pathetic excuse for an attack and when it fails you don't have enough mind to dodge! Gawds could you BE more inept?!"

"M-my apologies I…" She hesitated for a moment, "...was lost in thought" She finally finished, her eyes gliding down towards Falchion.

"Are you daft?" Severa folded her arms while raising an eyebrow, "Why would you ever let yourself get distracted in battle?! You could've gotten yourself killed you, idiot!" She shouted, glaring daggers down at the young lord.

Severa's words were like a dagger plunging deeper and deeper into her chest with every remark. She didn't try to struggle as there was no point. There was nothing she could say to remove the blade no matter how much pain it caused. She failed to do anything to that risen. She couldn't do anything to stop it much like how she couldn't do anything to stop the countless amounts of deaths that occurred earlier that day. All she could do was sit there and watch like the pathetic helpless lamb she was.

The young mercenary let out an exasperated sigh, "You better be damn grateful I'm here to save your sorry ass"

"S-sorry" the word came out light and immediately stolen by the breeze.

"Whatever, it's fine," Severa said, extending an open palm to the young lord.

Lucina's eyes glazed over the scarred and swollen hand before gliding up to Severa's snow white hair once more.

"We're…" The mercenary trailed off as her usual sharp tone softened like the silky grass beneath them. "F-friends after all"

And just like that, Lucina's heart began to rise from its murky depths. Her lips curved a soft smile as she grabbed her friend's hand.

"thank you, Severa," She said as she was pulled to her feet.

"J-Just d-don't get the wrong idea!" She immediately spat, ripping her hand away and crossing her arms once more."N-Next time you make such a boneheaded mistake don't expect me to care enough to come rescue you again!" Her white tails whipped through the air like a Pegasus's wing beat as she turned around.

"A-Alright?" Lucina said as she sheathed Falchion.

"Anyway we have more important things to do than stand around here" She made a quick glance back, "you can walk right?"

Lucina made a quick glance down at her torn up boots and leggings. Blood mixed with dirt and ash drenched the once beautiful blue cloth with a puke-colored crimson. Slowly, she tried to take a step. The slight dull ache then erupted into a hurricane of searing pain enough to make even a bear whimper like a newborn cub. Her face crinkled inward as her body wobbled like a top in a desperate attempt to stay standing. Her vision blurred for moment and after a loud thud, she found herself colliding once more with the cold soft grass beneath her.

"Geez" Severa groaned, turning around and once again stood over the young lord. "Am I going to have to help you up all day?! Gods you're almost as bad as Cynthia" She said with a roll of her eyes.

"S-sorry"

"Well, you two are sisters after all" Severa knelt beside her friend and slung Lucina's arm over her shoulder. "And would you stop apologizing! I said it was fine alright!"

That's right, they were sisters. "Cynthia" Lucina whispered to herself.

She thought back to her sister's sleeping face and how peaceful she looked. Was she okay? Did risen get to the camp? Surely if one attacked herself and Severa, then…

As if on cue to answer those questions, a loud horse like shriek of pain suddenly reverberated through the air. That sounded exactly like, Lucina's heart sank at the realization. Without any thought or hesitation, the blue-haired exalt scrambled to her feet and began to sprint towards the camp.

"Hey, Lucina!" Severa cried out as she was shoved to the ground.

However, Lucina ignored her white-haired friend. Her body once again flared up in pain as the snake around them constricted harder and sank its fangs deeper into her flesh. It wasn't long before she found herself once again skidding into the dirt. However once again she mustered her strength and tried to stand. Please be ok.

A symphony of agony induced screams and groans filled Lucina's ears as she arrived at the scene of the carnage. Glowing embers illuminated the ground. Each breath she took felt like her last only to be strangled by the clouds of smoke billowing into the air. A burning stench of decayed flesh and blood slammed into her nose. However, she remained unfazed as her cerulean eyes darted around the now ruined campsite.

Please be ok. Please be ok. Please be ok. The sight of her sister's mutilated body covered in bloody arrows flashed through her mind. She shook her head. Cynthia had to be fine. She has Snowflake with her and there's no pegasus as fast and nimble as her. Even still, She looked down at Falchion. Father, I promise I will not fail!

Through the cacophony, a sharp audible growl tugged at the young lord's ear. Instinctively, her hands fell to Falchion's hilt. Gritting her teeth, Her body begrudgingly spun around to view the oncoming threat. Through the flickering flames, a monstrous humanoid figure came into view. Eyes that gleamed like the color of blood dripping from her body glared at her through the darkness. She gripped Falchion's hilt as her body nestled into a fighting stance. The fangs of pain sank deeper and rang through her body. She had to end this quickly given her current state. One strike is all she had enough strength for. If she couldn't slay the risen with it, then...No she wasn't gonna fall here.

She narrowed her eyes and carefully examined the risen charging her. However, something seemed off. Although hard to see, The risen's arms flapped and twisted around wildly through the air. Its mangled up legs made a cracking noise with every step it took and bent in ways beyond the imagination. It moved with little regard to any kind of coherency as if attached to the strings of an amateur puppeteer. It was almost sad to see this creature struggle in such a way. She mentally shook her head. What was she thinking?! What reason would she have to pity these monsters?

"U...les...e...alt" A gargled female voice spoke, pulling the lord from her thoughts.

Something about that voice sounded eerily familiar. Lucina, however, had little time to ponder why as she watched the risen lunge at her. Immediately Falchion flew from its sheath and glided in an arc towards the oncoming mass of decayed flesh. It was then she remembered a reason to pity these creatures. A chain anchor wrapped around her heart and yanked it down back into the murky depths of despair. Her stomach coiled around her throat as a dozed frogs were nearly squeezed out of her mouth. Through the orange glow of the surrounding embers, The familiar face of a particular village woman came into full view. Her arm fell limp and in a moment's time, she found herself tackled to the ground.

Falchion spiraled out of her now loosened grip and slid across the floor. Lucina's eyes snapped shut in pain as a warm liquid pecked at her cheeks. She looked up and her vision blurred with tears as she noticed a cluster of them forming in the risen's eyes. The risen's face plunged downward toward the tear ridden princess. Its fangs craning open in order rip into its victim's neck. Instinctively, Her arms moved to the monster's chest and with all her strength tried to push it away. More and more blood dripped from her arms as the continued pressure pulsed through her chest.

"Yo...r...f..ul...t" She shuddered as the risen spoke once more in that heart-wrenching voice.

You're fault

Lucina's heart halted and with it the rest of her body. Memories of that young girl flooded her head. Her terrified scream and subsequent mutilation gnawed at her arms until they began to slide back to her sides. It was her fault. Everything about this situation was her fault. She failed to save that girl. She failed to save this woman. She failed to save her sister. She was weak and nothing but a failure to her family's name. Now soon she would fail to continue breathing.

A blurry jagged mess of decayed flesh moved slowly downward. Something sharp poked at her neck as a swirl of darkness began to envelop around her. Like a breath to the wind, her senses began to dull. The once loud and clear cries of agony muffled through her ears. Her eyelids felt heavy as all she could feel was the cold wind whisking her away.

"Lu...cy!" She heard a voice call out.

Was that Cynthia? The purple mass above her dissipated under a stifled shriek of pain.

"L….cy r….o….k? C….me….ge…..u….p! pl…...a….s!"

A mess of blue and a familiar symbol met her gaze followed by the black and empty void. A warm liquid pecked at her cheeks and then nothing.

Whew that one was a doozy wasn't it? Anyway guys Long time no see. Seriously though apologies for taking so long with this one was hit with a massive wave of writer's block and general lack of motivation over the summer and then school happened and that just completely ate up my time. But now I'm back now and better than ever. Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter and happy holidays. I Promise to try and get the next chapter out sooner. Anyway until next time take care.