Chapter 12 – Emmeryn


Grima sat in his study, deep in thought. Changes in the timeline were not unforeseen. After all such eventualities were to be expected when interfering with the timeline. But something in his gut told him he was missing something. While nothing had changed that he couldn't handle, he wasn't sure what else Naga had planned.

Which was why he was taking steps to deal with the meddling hag. The first of which was to gather his lost possessions.

His faithful disciple came running from the shadows and knelt before the Fell Dragon. "Master Grima, the sacrifices you asked for are ready. The preparations for your trip are ready."

The Grimleal deity felt his lips curl up in a satisfied smile at the news. "Excellent. You did a good job."

"Thank you for your praise, milord," the disciple was quick to say. "But if I may be so bold, are you sure you have the strength to spare on this trip?"

"Indeed, I'm not at full power, but that's what those sacrifices are for," Grima said, waving the concern away. "My Ascension is still a few years away, anyways. More than enough time to recover the energy from this endeavor."

"But what about the portal?" The disciple asked with a doubtful tone. "The amount of energy needed to pierce the Veil–"

"Do not speak to me as if I was a bumbling fool," Grima growled out, cowering the insolent child into submission. "The Veil is thin there. A few portals have been opened in the area, weakening it. Some of my Risen have already fallen through it."

He needed to complete this little venture. It was the only way to recover his tome and weapon. He still couldn't figure out what caused the strange turbulence during the trip to the past. It had cost him his precious tools.

Grima could make new ones, but it would take much longer to craft them to the level he required.

The tome was crafter from the pages of the rarest tomes in the world, they were not easy to replace.

And if he learned from his wound from the Falchion, he needed his weapon to deal with Naga. His sword has been crafter from his fang and could send Naga into a slumber. An ironic fate, but he had a way to improve it and kill the wench for good.

The disciple looked hesitant to ask anything else after being admonished. Still, the child managed to gather the courage to speak once more. "I… is that location of such importance?"

"Not by itself. But my vessel has been close to Southtown around the time the brat's portal opened. More excitement than such an insignificant little town deserves," Grima said as he studied his map, especially to a few spots marked with red ink. "Must be because it's closeness to the previous location of the Outrealm gate."

Grima was still angry that he couldn't get control of the gate before it relocated. Controlling the portal would prevent Naga from pulling this stunt again. That alone made it was important to conquer it soon. The troops sent to the southern island of Xila reported that the gate was not on it as it had been on his time.

But that didn't affect his current plans. The tear in reality left behind by those otherworldly visitors would prove sufficient for his task. It had taken him a while to find the thread of power linking him to his item, and he would waste no time getting them back.

"What's the situation in the capital?"

"Gangrel has scheduled the execution on the morrow."

The Fell Dragon did not bother to look at his loyal follower. "I want you to gather the Grimleal and prepare for Gangrel's fall. You will also observe Emmeryn's execution and ensure that she dies there. Do not do anything that will reveal yourself. Not yet."

The disciple nodded, understanding that this was as much as the dragon was going to share. "Your will shall be done, my Lord."

"Make sure it does."


"Let me be certain that I understand your report, Captain..." Aversa drawled as she looked at the quivering man. "Not only did you not confirm if the Ylissean party carries the Fire Emblem... But you can't be certain that Prince Chrom is even among them? Is that the gist of it?"

The soldier gulped and hesitantly nodded. "Y-yes, milady! The air was thick with sand—even their numbers were difficult to verify."

The cruel vixen smiled at the man and strutted towards him with evil intent in her eyes. "Perhaps if you had gotten closer, Captain. Here, let me show you…"

"N-no! I'm sorry, I– Huargh!" was all the man could say before his throat was sliced open in one swift stroke.

"Apology accepted," the Grimleal tactician said sarcastically at the dying man.

"Do try not to kill all our soldiers, my dear," the king of Plegia drawled. He didn't even glance at the bloodied corpse on his floor. "We'll need a few for the welcoming party. The Ylisseans will be here soon—Chrom and the Emblem among them, I'm sure. That bleeding-heart prince would never put good sense before his sister!"

Aversa rose an eyebrow at the puppet king. She hated having to follow him, but those were the orders of her true master. If only she knew where Validar had disappeared to.

"...And when they arrive?" Gangrel gave her a tooth-filled smile. "It will be a massacre worthy of their legendary father!"


The scorching heat of the desert sun was unbearable for those of colder climates. More than a couple of soldiers fainted from heatstroke, requiring medical attention. But it didn't stop the Allied Army from reaching the capital in record time. It was now the moment for them to storm the castle and save their Exalt. The situation would have been romantic if it was written for an adventure novel, but not when so much was on the line.

Robin tried to control the nervous mix that was boiling in the pit of his stomach. The army marched under the cover of an artificial sandstorm using wind magic. So far, they had been lucky. The Plegian forces had suffered losses in their attack. That forced them to recall patrols and border guards to the capital to reinforce the main army. The few scouts they had spotted them had been swiftly dealt with. They needed to keep the element of surprise or Emmeryn could pay the price.

The sand in his boots didn't help his mood either.

Truth be told, nothing was in their favor for this mission. They were assaulting a fortified location in the heart of the enemy territory. Their foes had been preparing their defenses for a long time. The Plegians had home advantage and an army filled with zealots and revenge seekers. His army would be facing a hard challenge.

Robin swallowed a fistful of sand and cursed the powdered rock to high noon.

It was his fault. It was his plan to use the sandstorm as cover.

'Oh well, no point in crying over spilled milk.'

The amnesiac glanced at the small force they had assembled to breach the courtyard. They would be the dagger in the dark. The main army would act as a distraction, making it easier for them to sneak through. He offered a prayer to whatever god was listening to let them make it out of this alive.


The leaders of the allied forces gathered inside their command tent in the Plegian desert. They stood in tense silence as they received the information from their scouts.

"Gangrel plans on executing the Exalt tomorrow morning. They plan on doing the deed on top of the Skull of Grima. I heard it from the king himself, sire," the spy said as he knelt before his Khan. "I'm sorry, but the Exalt is too heavily guarded for a rescue attempt. I have saboteurs trying to delay it to noon, but I can't guarantee it."

"Good work," Basilio grunted and motioned for the man to leave. "This is it, then."

Chrom crossed his arms, frowning at the information. "Exactly as you predicted, Robin."

"So far, yes. I'm glad Rose's analysis of Gangrel proved correct," the amnesiac said as he looked over the map. "But tomorrow will be the true test… We are almost at the capital. We're making good time, but it's still not enough to save Exalt Emmeryn before the execution."

"It's not like we can break in and save her," Chrom said with a frown. The tactician was glad the prince had calmed down. They needed to think strategically. "Only Gaius and a few of our spies have experience in deep infiltration. Most of our troops are composed of frontline soldiers. Any attempt to sneak them in would be too obvious, leaving our infiltrators outnumbered."

"I know, but I don't like how numerically even our forces are with Gangrel's..." Robin muttered. He glared at the map, jumping from one part to the other in an attempt to reorder his thoughts.

A hard slap on the back, courtesy of Flavia, knocked the frown off his face. "Chin up, kid! Show us some confidence! It's your thinking that's got us this far. The plan is risky, sure, but knowing our lot? We'll make something happen."

The prince placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find a way to see it through, Robin. Don't worry. This time tomorrow, we'll be swapping stories with Emm on the road home."

"I hope you're right," the tactician muttered. "I don't want to fail, Chrom. I can't fail you. I… I admit at this point I can't help but feel my luck will run out. We haven't lost any large engagements so far but it feels like the hammer is about to fall."

"Believe in yourself, my friend. There is a reason I follow your plans even when I'm sure there are other qualified tacticians in the world. You're the only one I trust to take care of our troops, not just the goal. That's what I need from you right now."

"Well spoken, Prince Chrom," rang Virion's voice from the entrance. The leaders turned to see the Archest of Archers entering the tent. Their Plegian mercenary followed just behind.

"We tried to beat that into his head, but he insists on moping," Rose said, glaring at the younger tactician. "Anyways, let's go over that plan. Maybe we can find anything you might have missed."

"Okay," Robin said, happy to get a second opinion. It would help in diverting his attention from his low self-esteem and calm his nerves. "What else do we know? Rose, you're one of the few people in our ranks with experience outside of Ylisse's borders. What can you tell us about the area around the capital?"

Robin had asked the thief about his knowledge of the area, but his answer was lacking.

'Sorry to drop your muffins, Bubbles, but I've never even been to the Plegian capital.'

"I have been to the capital before and I know it well. The terrain is not in our favor," Rose commented as she took a thinking pose. "We need to cross the dunes surrounding the castle to reach execution grounds. Horse and armored units will face trouble moving through them."

Robin nodded. He had expected as much. "We changed the plate armor of some knights to gambesons and chainmail. They are not happy, but they understand. There is enough solid ground to move once we reach the execution grounds. Our escape route is solid too to not slow down out retreat."

"Good," Rose said. "Luckily for us, the Skull of Grima lays outside the city walls. We won't need to deal with siege. At the same time, the barracks will be next to the courtyard so their reinforcements will be a gate away. But they are on the eastern side. We need to go around the city to arrive at the courtyard where the execution will happen. They will also have archers in the walls and flyers ready to intercept us."

The male tactician nodded. "I suspected as much. We will have to contend for air superiority to mount a rescue. Which means dealing with their best Wyvern Riders."

"Do we have enough Pegasus Knights for the attempt?" Chrom asked, looking at the tense Phila.

"...They will have to suffice," Robin said, taking note of how Phila's mouth turned into a flat line.

Taking in the information, Robin began to further refine his strategy.

"We will divide the main Feroxi force into two parts. One will cover our rear and secure our escape route. The other will be visible. Should they stay inside the walls we would be in trouble, but Gangrel is too bloodthirsty."

Chrom crossed his arms to occupy himself. He was angry but focused. "We need to get close enough first, or they will be able to react and kill Emmeryn before we can rescue her."

Robin nodded at the prince. "True. We lack the stealth capabilities of the Plegians used to take us by surprise." He then gave them a lopsided smile. "I have an idea to cover our approach."

"Well? Don't keep us in suspense," Flavia pressed on.

The tactician pulled some sand from one of the many pockets of his cloak. With it in hand, he started to swirl it around the air above the table with a weak wind spell. "I plan on using our mages and wind magic to create a small sandstorm and use it as cover to move our troops. Once we bypass the patrols, we can begin the operation. The main army will distract the Plegian army while the Shepherds spearhead the rescue."


"Blasted sand, ruining a perfectly good execution," The Mad King grumbled under his breath. The small gusts of wind brought sand into the castle courtyard, and they were getting worse by the minute. Stepping on his podium, Gangrel cleared his throat and with his trademark theatrics, he addressed his subjects.

"My good people! Warriors of Plegia! Welcome! Welcome, one and all! Your anticipation electrifies the air!" he declared with mad glee. "We ALL remember the crimes of Ylisse... Would you have their witch-queen answer for them? Here? Today? NOW? YEEEEEEEEEEEES!?"

With his shout, the king motioned the attention of the masses to the Exalt standing on top of the Skull of Grima. Her executioner stood right behind her, axe ready to enact their twisted revenge on the woman.

"Finally, we will have JUSTICE!" Gangrel screamed, with some of the Plegians cheering with him. "EXECUTIONER! If you would be so kind…"


That was the signal Robin needed. Quickly dispelling the sandstorm, "Virion! Now!"

The Duke of Rosanne proved once more being worthy of his title as the Archest of Archers. An arrow flew towards the brigand behind Emmeryn. The projectile struck true to its mark, piercing the neck of the executioner. The man dropped his axe, hopelessly grasping at his throat. He soon fell, becoming a gory smear next to his fallen weapon.

The tactician took the moment of shock to begin the operation. "Now, everyone!"

The small storm dissipated, revealing the Shepherds just outside the courtyard. The masses immediately panicked and began running. The congested the gates to the city, blocking the path for the city garrison as they made their escape.

Chrom led the charge, with Falchion in hand. "Take out all the soldiers first! We'll deal with the Mad King later!" the prince shouted as his comrades stepped out of the sand onto solid ground.

The civilians panicked, not wanting to get involved in the clash between soldiers. Some fell and died trampled by their countrymen. This would later lead to more deaths than those caused by the Ylisseans.

Gangrel heard the proclamation and snarled ferally at the prince. "Oh, will you now? Bwa ha! We've been expecting you, Little Prince." The king turned and commanded his troops. "Men! Kill him. Kill his sister. Kill his troops and his friends and anyone else you find! KILL THEM AAAAAAAAALL!"


"We can use the initial panic to our advantage. The civilians will run away and block the entrances. That will prevent reinforcements from inner garrisons to deploy quickly. This way our smaller strike teams can thin the soldiers already outside without being overwhelmed. By the time the reinforcements can deploy in a substantial number the courtyard will be ours."


General Wendel Campari gritted his teeth in frustration. How did those accursed Ylissean dogs slip past their defenses!? No matter. The fools responsible for will be punished accordingly. But first, they need to deal with the mongrels that took his son from him all those years ago.

"Where is the damn wyvern brigade?! Hurry! Don't let them take the Exalt!"


Gaius wiped the blood from his dagger on the cloak of his victim. Giving one more check to their surroundings, he nodded and let Vaike and Gregor deal with the wyverns.

The men reciprocated and raised their axes to slay the beast. This will rob the enemy of their closest aerial assets. This would Ylisse a much-needed advantage in the air.

The thief looked at the bodies of the men sprawled on the floor with slit throats and punctured hearts. He was no assassin, but orders were orders and Gaius had sworn to follow the prince. He had his personal brand of honor.

A thief or not, he had his brand of honor.

Plus, Blue had given him candy.

'A shame,' Gaius though, ignoring the reptile's dying cries. 'But we can't let you be used against us later.'


A squad of Wyvern Riders managed to deploy from deeper into the city. They evaded the sea of people and made a mad dash towards the battlefield. They left behind the protection of the walls and its archers to attack the invaders.

Unfortunately for them, they flew right into the Ylisseans' trap.

"NOW!" shouted Cordelia and her squad sprung to action.

The Pegasus Knights had hidden between the ruined towers in the courtyard. The sandstorm and the ensuing chaos allowed them to move undetected until the right moment.

Like the Valkyries of Feroxi folklore, the women punched on their enemies. The spears stabbed the surprised wyverns through their bellies or other soft spots. Human and beast alike fell to the sands below. If the wounds didn't kill them then the fall would. The ambush threw the formation in disarray after losing many of their numbers in an instant.

"FOR THE FALLEN!" the knightesses shouted as one, slaying enemy after enemy. It was a catharsis like none they had experienced before. They were rewarded with a feeling of vindication. It was justice for losses they had suffered in the battle of Ylisstol.

The Pegasus Knights under Cordelia's command moved into position under the sandstorm cover. The chaos allowed them to remain unnoticed between the walls of the outer courtyard. As soon as the first wyvern came on top of them, the knights reacted.

Cordelia drove her lance into the belly of an unfortunate wyvern, spilling the guts of the dragon. The blood didn't hinder the bloodthirsty redhead. Pulling on her reins, she rose further and stabbed another wyvern. With an enraged scream, she pushed the beast on it back. Its rider lost his grip and fell to his death, with her blood-covered visage the last thing he ever saw.

Refusing to be left behind, Sumia danced across the skies. She threw her javelin with finesse unexpected of someone so clumsy. The weapon pierced the chest of a soldier, killing him instantly. Startled by the death of its rider, the Wyvern turned to strike back in rage. Before it could close the distance, Elsa silenced it with a stab to the neck.

Sorano let loose a ball of blazing fire from her hand. The blast incinerated the wing of a wyvern and setting its rider on fire. His screams could barely be heard over the rushing wind.

Anise, Grace, and Samantha descended upon the leaderless remnants. Like angry wasps, their spears found their marks with deadly precision. Before the Plegians could raise they were skewered with impunity.

Some might have felt pity for the young soldiers dying for their country. Dreams of providing their families or earning honor were torn asunder by Ylissean weapons.

But the angry Valkyries were thirsting for vengeance and there would be mercy this day.


"We need to make sure our flanks remain clear. We can't be cut off from our escape route."


Sully had to hand it to the rabbit woman. Panne she was a fierce warrior. Who would have thought a giant rabbit could be this deadly? Not Sully, at least until she had seen this one crush a sorcerer's skull between her paws.

The taguel moved better on sand than any horse could hope to. Lucky for Sully, there was enough solid ground here to be of use. Keeping their flanks clear was of paramount importance. Twirling her lance, Sully stabbed one of the assassins that had tried to sneak behind Panne.

At the sound of flesh being pierced, the taguel's ears pricked. Panne whirled around with a heavy blow from her left paw, breaking the spine of the second assailant.

With a nod of understanding and thanks, the taguel leaped back into the fray. The amused knight only gave a low whistle at the display of strength.


"Our intelligence suggests that not everyone in Plegia supports Gangrel. Our spies have helped with that by inciting dissent," Robin said, taking a look at his notes.

Rose commended the amnesiac's actions. "It was a good plan to infiltrate the Plegian populace and spread our version of the events, Robin."

The tactician sighed as he felt a foreboding sense of doom creep through his spine. "I just hope I don't regret it."


"So, we're to kill or die here, simply because the king commands it?" Tharja said as she observed the Ylissean Prince cut down a Plegian axe-man. She scoffed in disdain. "Pfft. What do I care about these Ylisseans? We're given no reasons to fight, only orders," the witch said as she took a disdainful glance at her so-called kin.

The prince moved to a new target, dodging a poor excuse of a hex. He cut down one of the imbeciles that dared called themselves dark mages. As if. None of them understood the dark arts as she did.

"What's the point? It's not like they ever took anything from me." A sly smile spread across her lips as dark thoughts came to her. "Besides, I've always been quite good at choosing who to hate on my own…"

"You there!" Ah, so he finally noticed her.

Tharja lifted an eyebrow, keeping her disinterred expression in place. Her finger twirled at her side, preparing a curse in case he attacked.

The prince cocked his head, foolishly taking his attention from the fight. "Are you with Gangrel? You seem reluctant to fight."

"Death comes for everyone eventually," the dark mage replied with an uninterested tone. "Why invite it early, fighting for a cause I don't believe in?"

That seemed to confuse Augustus's spawn. "So...I should take that as a no, or…"

"Let's just say I'm keeping my options open," Tharja said as she waved her hand. "I mean, long live the king and all, but I'd like to keep living as well." The mage smirked at the Ylissean, enjoying the crept out look on his face. "And I have a bit of a rebellious streak, I'm afraid. A... dark side."

"Then perhaps you would rebel now and fight for our cause?"

That was something Tharja didn't expect. "...You would trust me?" she asked, incredulous at the Ylissean naivety. "What if this is just a ploy to plunge a dagger in your back?"

"My sister, the Exalt—I think she would trust you. And I'm trying to learn from her. Besides, I already need to watch my back, whether you're with us or not."

"Well, that's odd... Usually, when I bring up the backstabbing bit the discussion is over."

"Chrom!" a voice called from behind them. The pair turned to see the Shepherds' tactician run towards them with his sword drawn. The man narrowed his eyes at Tharja, taking a stance. "Who is this?"

'That power… It's—!' Tharja was mesmerized by the aura she felt in this man. Just watching him made her feel all tingly inside. Oh… She needed more of him.

"All right, then—consider me your new ally," the woman said, licking her lips. She then narrowed her gaze at the prince. "...For now. I grow tired of Gangrel, anyways. I trust that your allies won't kill me when this battle is over?"

The men looked taken aback for a moment but the prince quickly nodded. "You have my word."

"Hmph. We will see how much that's worth."


"As soon as the civilians make it through the gates the reinforcements will pour to the courtyard. We can't allow that."


"Ricken, be a gem and deal with this rabble," Maribelle said as she tightly held the reins of her mare to keep her still. The staff in her hands was dull in color, having spent all its power.

"Y-Yes, Maribelle!" replied the young mage as he charged his spell. Wind gathered on his palm as sweat from the heat and exertion dripped off of his forehead. He was given an advanced tome and had spent the entire march practicing with it. Even with the advanced spell, he overcharged it to ensure his task was completed. The burst of compressed air hit the stone arch of the gate with tremendous force.

"Arcwind!"

The structure collapsed under the spell. The experimental staff used by Maribelle had weakened the enchantments reinforcing the structure. Let it not be said that Ylisse did not learn from their mistakes.

The chains holding the portcullis broke free, sending down the steel gate. The wooden doors collapsed under their debris fell on many unlucky Plegians too slow to dodge. The gate was nothing but a pile of rubble that would slow down the Plegian response.

"Excellent work, Ricken," commended the blonde noble in approval. Maribelle cleared her throat and looked at the young mage in the eyes. "As expected of my savior," she added with a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks. With a quick movement, she averted her gaze and focused on guiding her mare away from the incoming troops.

Ricken scratched his head in embarrassment, "Heh Heh… Yeah, you can count on me!"

He tried to sound brave but collapsed under the weight of magical exhaustion.

"Oh, dear..."


"Maribelle and Ricken should work well together for this task. The courtyard will have solid footing so her mare will be at a great advantage. We need a second team for the west sector, though."

"What about Miriel and Frederick?" the prince suggested.

Robin pondered the suggestion, "Will they work well together?"

"Well, they are married so I think they should," Chrom said with a shrug.

"Oh, ri—" Hold on, back up a moment. "...What."

Chrom looked at him. "Hmm? What do you mean 'what'?"

"Did you just say Miriel Duverger, a devout scholar of the arcane and the mysterious, and Frederick Auriol, a knight that is uncomfortably dedicated to you, are married?" Robin struggled to make sense of the pairing that challenged his view of reality.

'Are those two even capable of feeling such emotions like love? Then again, they might actually fit together because of that. But wouldn't Miriel have taken his family name? No wait, that tradition was only used amongst nobility for the whole hereditary thing.'

The tactician felt a headache forming the more he thought about the couple.

"You weren't aware of their relationship?" Chrom asked in bewilderment. "I'm sure I told you."

"No! I think I would remember such detail!" How he felt like scrubbing his mind of those two getting… intimate. Robin would happily welcome another bout of amnesia right now.

"Weird, even I knew," Rose added unhelpfully, Virion nodding in agreement. "It's as obvious as Cordelia's crush."

The amnesiac snorted at that declaration. "Don't insult me, nothing is that obvious."

Chrom frowned at their conversation. "Crush? Crush on who? Why are you looking at me like that?"


Miriel held her big hat so it didn't get blown away. As good as it was preventing the sun from burning her pale skin, it had its tactical disadvantages. "Frederick, keep a steady pace so I can focus."

"Of course, dear."

Miriel gave her husband a rare smile reserved only for him. Focusing on her task, she casted her spell.

"Arcfire!"

She launched a fireball to the wooden parts of the fallen structure. The soldiers that were cleaning the rubble were either burned alive or blown away. The wood was set ablaze, making it even harder for them to clear the way.

"Now, I believe it's my turn," Frederick said as he rode his mare close to one of the soldiers blocking their path. With a swift thrust of his lance, the soldier was no longer a problem.

"Hmm," the scholar mused, lighting dancing on her fingertips. She looked at a pack of soldiers closing behind them. "I shall not be left behind."

As they galloped away, they meet with Maribelle and Ricken. The young mage looked green in the face but ready to fight.

The pair of mages pooled their power. Miriel guided the spell, while Ricken poured all his remaining power into it. The runes flickered at their maximum range, just close enough to the bulk of the archer. It was a sloppy casting, with the raw power stretched thin to enlarge its coverage. Each bolt weaker but they would suffice for their task.

"Arcthunder!"

A row of lightning bolts surged from the array. The spell shocked the archers, making their muscles spasm and contract. The voltage was not enough to kill, but it would incapacitate them. Some soldiers would still die, falling from the wall to the ground below.

With their task complete, they rode away to meet with the bulk of the Shepherds.


"Anyways," Robin said, pushing the images of those two together in the deepest pits of his mind. "Our mages can use thunder magic to deal with the archers in the wall. With our escape route secured and our strike teams taking care of reinforcements, we should have control of the courtyard. Once we've dealt with the Wyvern Riders and the general in charge of security, we can proceed to rescue the Exalt."


Lon'qu ignored the uncomfortable feeling he got being close to that female mercenary. On the battlefield, she was another warrior and a deadly one at that.

Her lack of feminine traits certainly helped.

Watching her stab a loud berserker through the throat helped him push his reservations back.

"I will deal with his support. Think you can handle the general by yourself, Champion of the West?"

"Hmph. Do not worry about me, Champion of the East. Worry about yourself."

Rose snorted. "Just because my magic coils are not fully healed yet doesn't mean I can't fight."

He ignored her, focusing on the task at hand. The swordsman dashed forward, sword drawn against the Plegian General. Steel clashed as the two formidable warriors struggled for dominance.

"Feroxi dog!" the man snarled, using his bulk to push the myrmidon away. "You will fall at the hands of General Campari!"

"I doubt that," Lon'qu said, dashing forward and angling his blade to decapitate the elderly man.

The general was not an opponent to fall so easily. Campari raised his shield to deflect the attack with impressive skill. As expected of a veteran of Augustus's Crusade. The older man jabbed his short spear with the intent to disembowel the Feroxi.

"You'll never save your precious Exalt, scum!" he snarled, pouring his hate into the attack.

It could have worked had Lon'qu not been training with Frederick and Kellam. Before joining the Shepherds, he had little experience against heavily armored and opponents. Plate armor ensured that a regular sword was all but useless against them. As such, the quartermaster had given him an Armorslayer sword.

Perfect for this opponent.

The myrmidon twisted his body slightly, and the tip of the spear glanced his Chon'sinese armor.

'Too close. Something to work on.'

Had he been younger, the general would have been a fearsome opponent. Unfortunately for him, no amount of rage or experience could fight the weight of time. His aging body simply couldn't keep up with a skilled swordsman on his prime. Especially not one that earned his title as Champion of Ferox at a young age.

As soon as they clashed weapons, Lon'qu twisted his blade and sent the spear flying out of the general's grip. The Plegian snarled and tried to bash the Feroxi with his massive shield.

Too slow.

Moving behind him, Lon'qu drove his through the general's knee. The joints had less armor to maintain mobility. The man buckled under the weight of his destroyed knee. With a downward slice, the swordsman removed the arm holding the shield from his body.

To his credit, Campari refused to scream in pain. He gritting his teeth in hate towards his executioner. "Killing me won't stop... Plegia's victory…" the general spat, keeping his glare trained on the swordsman.

"Maybe, but you won't live to see it." With a swift movement, Lon'qu beheaded the Plegian General, completing his objective. The old man's blood sprouted from the severed arteries, splashing against the Feroxi as if it was one last act of defiance.

'Salim... My son... I'm co…' The old general couldn't complete the thought before his head rolled on the ground. His empty gaze remained locked on the battlefield where his soldiers were dying.

Lon'qu took a look at the fallen general and tilted his head in respect. He may have been an enemy, but he was still a worthy opponent. He turned around to assist his companion around only to stop on his tracks. The woman stood there, cleaning her blade as a dozen warriors dead laid dead at her feet.

"What took you so long?" she asked, looking no worse for the wear.

'Freak.'


Chrom cut down the last of his opponents, leaving the mage fall with an open throat. He looked around the battlefield, realizing the majority of their opponents laid dead. His comrades had completed their assigned goals. It was time to move. He reached into his pouch and took a flare made by the Arcanum.

"Robin! The general and wyvern riders have fallen! The skies are clear! I'm giving the signal!" he shouted.

The tactician looked towards where Gangrel and Aversa were standing, narrowing his eyes. "Go for it!"


"Cordelia!" Sumia shouted as they finished the last of their targets.

The redhead looked at where she was pointing and saw a green flare in the sky. "It's the signal!"

The squad captain turned to her blood-soaked sisters with fire in her eyes. "Knights of Ylisse! Move forward and save the Exalt!"

"AYE!" the shouted, echoing her inner fire. Raising their weapons, they rushed to rescue their ruler.


Gangrel almost popped a blood vessel as the Pegasus Knights moved to ruin his plans.

"What? Pegasus Knights?" he snarled as they approached. "How did those wenches get so close... That damned Ylissean tactician does not play fair!"

Aversa merely smirked and materialized a silver box out of thin air. Dark magic gathered around it, dancing to her will. "Heh heh heh... Yes, well. Neither do I."

The foul magic stroke the ground like a thunderbolt. It hit mounds of earth that she had prepared in anticipation.


Chrom saw the magic strike the ground just in time to see rotten hands break the soil. The corpses stood oozing dark magic that stitched their decayed tissue back together. In a moment, dozens of Risen stood ready at the edge of the battlefield.

Each holding a bow with a quiver of arrows at their back.

"Risen Archers!" Chrom shouted, hoping the knights could hear his words.

But then again...

"...Just as we expected," muttered the tactician at his side.


"You are forgetting something," Rose said, getting the attention of those present.

The amnesiac frowned, searching his notes and thinking of what he could have missed. "What?"

"We are fighting in the middle of the Grimleal's home turf. The same Grimleal that can summon Risen. Even if we rout their regular troops, they can revive them as the undead."

Robin cursed his oversight. How could he overlook such an important detail!? "Crap. You're right!" He quickly scribbled some notes down and crunched numbers in his head. The tactician scowled while biting the inside of his cheek. "We must expect Risen reinforcements if any Grimleal are amongst the troops. I'm don't believe the general army will approve of such tactics and use of their corpses.

"We can't count on them ignoring such a force multiplier," Rose said with a shrug.

"The Grimleal aren't the kind of people to ask consent before they use your corpse," Chrom grumbled.

Robin nodded in agreement. "Too true. Aversa is a cunning and deceptive tactician. She will not hesitate to use underhanded means to secure her victory. Her attack on Ylisstol is proof of it. At the very least we know they won't summon their Abominations in the middle of their territory."

"What makes you think that?" Chrom asked.

"Morale for one," Robin explained. "Gangrel would lose a lot of support if they twisted their soldiers into monsters. Especially in the viewing range of the entire capital. And after the strange behavior of the Risen in Ylisse, they will be cautious about how they use the Risen. I doubt they would risk letting such monsters loose in their city. The main problem is that now we can't predict the troop formation."

"Well, not entirely correct," Rose tried to reassure. "We just need to think like Aversa. Take into account her general lack of care for her soldier's well-being." She smirked with confidence. "And we have the perfect person to foresee such tactics."

"Truly? Who?" Robin asked, not being able to think of such a person in their ranks.

"My dear tactician, have you forgotten the warning I gave you during our games of wits?" said Virion with a smug smirk. "There is a reason why I prefer you leading our troops."


"I'm launching the second signal!" Robin shouted, taking another flare and shooting it to the sky.


"The Pegasus Knights are a core part of Ylisse's military. They were a key part of Augustus's incursion in Plegia's territory during the last war. It would be foolish to think Plegia is not prepared to counter our most famous asset." Robin frowned as he looked at the map of the courtyard their spies had procured. "I thought the Wyvern Riders and archers in the wall would be their main obstacle. But they can summon Risen archer from hidden graves, then we will have problems."


Cordelia saw the light up in the sky and her eyes grew wide in panic. "PURPLE FLARE! DODGE!"

The order came just in time. The Pegasus Knights were forced behind to use the ruins as cover, pinned down by the arrows of the Risen.

As she tried to calm down her heart, Cordelia felt glad they were no casualties amongst her squad. They were lucky that their superiors had planned for the appearance of ranged backup. A quick glance to her side showed that Elsa's pegasus had lost a few feathers from the attack.

Close.

Too close.

The experiences at Ylisstol were not something they wanted to repeat.

Cordelia looked around her squad. They only sported light injuries from their battle with the wyvern riders. That didn't stop the impotence they all felt in their situation.

The captain sighed, rubbing her blood-soaked temples. She looked at her sisters and nodded with determination. "Right. We can't reach the Exalt like this. Let's catch our breath and wait until the others deal with the archers and we will try again."


The Risen's head rolled on the ground after Stahl's blade severed it from its body. He gritted his teeth to push away the pain of his aching ribs. He wasn't back to top condition, average as it was, but he couldn't sit this battle out. Every sword made a difference.

"I'm ready to jump here, Sir Stahl," said the priest behind him.

'Priest. Man. Male,' the cavalier had to remind himself, not to make a fool of himself as Chrom had earlier in the day.

No man should be this pretty.

Libra jumped from the horse, axe in hand, and splitting the skull of an archer that aimed for their Prince.

They weren't the only ones rushing to cut down the Rise. Around them, the rest of their comrades fought to clear the way for the Pegasus Knights.

Virion's arrow pierced the skull of an undead archer.

A bolt of lightning exploded from Robin's blade, vaporizing another Risen.

Their new manakete breathed white fire on a pack of Risen. Their arrows did enough damage to ground her, but not kill her.

Basilio, Flavia, and Chrom eliminated the Risen warriors that protected the ranged troops.

Not staying out of the fight, Stahl engaged again. The sand around the courtyard reduced the space to maneuver, but he had no choice. Galloping fast, he raised his shield to deflect an arrow strike that would have hit Lissa.

Slowly but surely the undead troops were being taken care of, allowing the skies to be safe once more.


The disciple of Grima observed the situation from the top of a watchtower. The bodies of the garrison laid cold on the floor. The Risen were being cut down with deadly efficiency. In a matter of minutes, the skies were once more clear of threats for the Pegasus Knights. The women wasted no time and took flight again, rushing to their Exalt.

"No no… NO! That won't do!"

The air grew colder as if life itself was getting pushed away.

"Lord Grima will not be denied," the disciple snarled.

Gathering the magic in the air, a dark spell was cast to ensure Grima's success.


On the bloodstained sands under Grima's shadow, corpses twitched.


Sumia flew as fast as she could. They couldn't waste any more time. Her steed was grunting from the strain, but she couldn't let up. "Come on, Belfire. Just hang on a bit longer and then you can rest all you want."

They had an opening they couldn't waste.

The knights reached the Exalt, who was looking at the battle below with horrified eyes.

"Your Majesty! Don't worry, we a–"

A cold shrill echoed through the air. Instinct kicked in and Sumia banked left hard. That alone allowed her to dodge the swooping attacks of the Risen Wyvern Rider. All around her, their deceased opponents reengaged the entire squad.

"Dammit! Engage!" shouted Cordelia as she threw a javelin towards one of the Wyverns, striking its wing and making it fall.

Much to the Ylisseans' despair, the Pegasus Riders were pushed away from their target.

Dodging the attack, Sumia took her spear, spun around, and drove it into the undead rider's skull. The Risen wyvern tried to bite her but a bolt of lightning vaporized its head. With a quick glance, Sumia saw Rose below her. The mercenary's hand spasmed, wisps of smoke escaping her fingertips.

The terrified screams of Sorano brought her attention back to the fight. Whipping around, the brunette's eyes widened in horror. Her battle sister had fallen from her pegasus, who was now missing a wing courtesy of a wicked axe.

Without a second thought Sumia dove. The wind burned her skin and her eyes, trained as they were, were watering up from the speed. Closing in, the clumsy knight muttered a prayer and extended her hand to grab her sister.

Sumia felt her arm pop out of its socket as she grabbed Sorano's leg just a scant few feet from her hitting ground. The pain was strong but the brunette did not let go of her sister. It was a miracle Sorano did not hit her head on the ground.

With both of them injured, Sumia was forced to disengage from the battle, much to her disgrace. She only hoped that one of her sisters can disengage and save Her Grace.

Had she been able to focus, she could have seen them all retreat from the overwhelming numbers.


The disciple smirked in satisfaction. Grima's plans were back on track.


Aversa frowned at the sudden appearance of the undead Wyvern Riders.

She had not summoned them. Nor any of the Grimleal on her command. She would have known if anyone used the spells without her approval. And they all knew the price of disobedience. That left only one option.

'That means Lord Grima sent h–'

"HAHAHA! MAGNIFICENT!" "Excellent work, my dear! I knew I kept you around for something!" exclaimed Gangrel as he saw the Pegasus Knights retreat.

The dark tactician gave him a tight smile, smothering the desire to rip his throat open.

"Of course, what kind of tactician do you take me for?" the vixen said with an air of superiority.

Gangrel laughed and turned to address the invaders. "Your attack failed prince! But I'm such a merciful king that I will grant you an option!" Gangrel declared as he smugly looked to the Shepherds below. "Give me the Fire Emblem and I will release your sister! Don't and she will die, devoured by the Wyverns!"


"Dammit!" screamed Robin as he saw his plan getting torn apart before him, while Chrom looked divided on what to do.

"Don't panic! We still have one more card to play!" Rose shouted from his side. Unknown to the tactician, the mercenary was feeling the same anxiety. Despite her preparations, the events were still moving to their foregone conclusion.

Even knowing what she was talking about, Robin didn't look too sure at her suggestion. "I barely had time to practice! It's too risky!"

"We have no choice!" Rose exclaimed, throwing her grimoire towards him. "Cast the spell!"

"Gods dammit all!" the amnesiac snarled, catching the tome and casting the spell he hoped would turn the tide.


Chrom gritted his teeth in frustration, torn on what course of action to take. He had no problem with handing the Fire Emblem. After all, what they brought was a mere replica. But to lay down their weapons would put the lives of his soldiers at risk. And there was no way Gangrel would not execute Emmeryn once he had the Emblem. Or to do worse if he realized the deception.

But if there was a chance it could save his sister...

"Don't give up!" Robin said behind him, luckily hidden from view, as he continued to channel his magic. "We need just a little time!"

Chrom nodded at his friend. The prince was about to speak when Gangrel grew impatient.

"I will count to three! Throw down your weapons, or your sister becomes the lunch for the undead!" Gangrel then raised his hand and started counting, "One! Two! Thr–"

"Gangrel, hold!" Chrom started, hoping his bluff would work. "...You win. Everyone, lay down yo–"

"No, wait!"

Gangrel snarled at the interruption, "SILENCE!"

"Emm…" Chrom whispered.


Robin crossed his arms, looking at all the pieces and notes with new information for the attack. "We need something else. We need a backup plan."

"Hmm true," Virion added. "Plegia has thrown quite a few surprises our way."

Rose nodded and smirked. "Then we should answer with surprises of our own."


Emmeryn looked down at the battlefield. She had to do something, no matter how desperate it was. A voice enhancing spell was all she could manage. Her voice covered the battlefield, reaching to the city walls. Words were her only tools at the moment and she had to make them count.

"King Gangrel, is there no hope you will listen to reason?"

Gangrel snorted at the suggestion. "You mean listen to more of your sanctimonious babble?! I think not. No, all I want is to hear is a splat when your headless corpse hits the ground!" the Mad King declared. "Take one, long, last look from your perch. You do so enjoy looking down on people... Then prepare to meet the ground and your maker! That is, unless if someone were to give me the Emblem... NOW!"

The Exalt closed her eyes, in resignation. She couldn't understand such bloodlust. Emmeryn only had one idea on how to stop this war, but she couldn't do anything before her brother spoke up.

"ALRIGHT!" Chrom shouted before taking a more resigned tone as he looked at her. "Alright... Emm, I know you won't approve, but this is my final decision. Maybe someday we'll face a crisis where maybe the Emblem would've helped. But I know for a fact that Ylisse needs you, today!" His voice took a more pleading tone as he continued, "The people need their Exalt... And we need our sister. If those dark days should come, we'll face them together."

Emmeryn closed her eyes and gave him a small smile, proud that her brother had grown so much. Ylisse would not be left without a capable leader. "Chrom... Th-Thank you. I know now what I must do…"

Her brother looked surprised, but the growing sense of dread inside him was visible on his face. "Emm, what are you–"

"Plegians!" she began, voice filled with conviction. "I ask that you hear the truth of my words! War will win you nothing but sadness and pain, both inside your borders and out. Free yourselves from this hatred! From this cycle of pain and vengeance. Do what you must... As I will do. See now that one selfless act has the power to change the world!"

Chrom finally understood what she was alluding to, much to his horror. "Emm, no! No!"

Emmeryn hoped for a sign that her words had reached the people of Plegia. Anything that proved this would stop the senseless carnage. She looked at her siblings, too far for even the fastest pegasus to reach in time. She was leaving them behind with this action. Hopefully, she would leave the world a better place.

The Exalt took a deep breath and resigned to her fate.

'No reaction... Was I wrong then?'

A bird soared in the sky, giving Emmeryn a pang of envy at its freedom, while she was bound by the chains of duty.

'Hmph... So be it.'

And was now placing that burden on her brother.

'Chrom... This is some torch I'm passing you.'

Emmeryn opened her eyes and looked forward again. Her eyes were burning with conviction as she took a step forward.


Chrom ran in desperation, ignoring the comrades as he begged her to stop.

'Chrom…'


Lissa watched in horror as her sister walked towards the ledge. The young princess screamed at her not to continue.

'...Lissa.'


The fighting stopped. Plegians, Ylisseans, and Feroxi alike froze at her actions. They watched, understanding the Exalt's intentions.

To remove herself as a hostage.

'...And all my people.'


"What do you mean, Rose?" the tactician ask, wondering if they had anything else to do.

"I have something we use if we get close enough, but I can't be the caster. My magic coils haven't returned to normal, even after all these weeks, so I can't use my spells," Rose explained. "As I am right now, I can barely cast class basic spells. So, this will be in your hands."

"Spare me the suspense, I already got a headache," Robin said, rubbing his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

The mercenary pouted for a moment but proceeded to place her tome in his hands. "A spell native of Plegia."


Gangrel's smile grew wide at what was to come. His victory was so close he could taste it.

"Know…"


"It's limited in range and we need to get close to be able to cast it. It needs a direct line of sight to work. Since you won't be as experience, use it only if we have a distraction."


"ROBIN!" Rose shouted, running towards him.

Robin rushed through the chant so quickly that his words were barely understandable. His veins bulged as sweat poured doing his face. Not wasting time, he grabbed the mercenary's hand and looked unblinkingly at Emmeryn. "Relay!"


"A teleportation spell."


A flash of darkness appeared on top of the dragon's skull.


Shards of ice struck the remaining Wyverns, piercing their flesh. The cursed frostbite devoured them as the Exalt took her last step.


"...that I loved you."

Emmeryn felt the air beginning to blow on her face as she began gaining speed and for a moment felt as free as a bird.

She only hoped her sacrifice would mean something to the peace she so desired.

The slight feeling of freedom was interrupted when something grabbed her foot, stopping her fall.

The Exalt's eyes grew wide in shock. In the back of her mind, a small part of her was happy that her robes covered her modesty in her awkward position.

Looking up in shock, her green eyes met purple ones. Rose was grabbing her ankle while grasping the ledge using her clawed gauntlet.


Many Plegians saw the hooded figure, wearing their colors, diving to rescue the Exalt.

Some shouted 'traitor' as a Plegian saved their enemy.

Some raged at being denied their twisted revenge.

Some screamed in fear of the chaos around them.

But most stood still. They had listened to the Exalt's words and watched as he was willing to die for peace between them.

Only to be saved by one of their own.


"L-Lady Sustrai!?" the Exalt blurted out in surprise.

"You…" Rose gritted out. "Stupid..." Emmeryn flinched at the tone. "Selfish...Self-sacrificial… Bitch!"

Emmeryn sputtered, caught off guard by the words. It was by mere luck that they were outside the sound spell's range.

"I didn't spend this much effort into saving you for you to just throw it all away! Do you think Chrom, Lissa or the rest of Ylisse would want this?!"

"I–" Emmeryn stuttered, not used to being talked this way.

"Shut up!" Emmeryn did so. "Sorry to interrupt your dramatic hero moment, but this war won't end until Gangrel lies dead in a pool of his own blood! And I sure as hell will make sure you live to see it!"

Emmeryn was taken aback when she caught a glimpse of Rose's angry, pained tears as she held on for their lives. She felt that they signified something deeper, but she couldn't figure out what. It wasn't like she wanted to die, but it was the only course of action available to her.

She refrained from voicing her fears that now they would die together.


"ENOUGH OF THIS!" Gangrel shouted, livid at the interloper. "I WILL NOT BE DENIED! Aversa! Do your magic and end the harlot and the traitor NOW!"

Aversa merely glanced at him before casting her spell, "As you wish, Your Majesty."


Rotten flesh mended slightly, just enough for a pair of Risen Archers to aim.


Rose was thankful for all the enhancements her rebirth had granted her. Her attunement to the Risen magic warned her of the undead soldiers being stitched back together. Sharp eyes looked at the source and saw the archer aiming at them.

The Fell Dragon locked eyes with the Head of the Exalted bloodline. "Do you trust me?"

Emmeryn looked at her in confusion. "Wha–?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Y-Yes."

Rose nodded and shouted, "NOW!"


'Shitshitshit!' Robin screamed in his mind as he weaved his spell once more, ignoring everything else around him.


The arrows flew from the undead's bows, piercing the air with the intent of executing the Exalt.


Taking a risk and placing her trust in her brother, Rose let go of the ledge, much to the horror of her allies. It would've been preferable if a flyer was there to catch them that was not an option.

In an instant, the mercenary did a quick spin to shield the Exalt with her body.

Just in time for the pair of arrows to pierce her back.

The mercenary bit down the scream of pain. Her replacement armor was unable to stop the enchanted arrowheads. Rose gritted her teeth and held Emmeryn tight. She gathered whatever magic she could muster to guide Robin's spell.

If he messed up and she died here, she would haunt her brother for all eternity.


"It's an advanced form of the Warp spell," Rose explained, handing Robin her grimoire. "You can teleport someone to the location you are looking at. It also leaves a signature on the target for a short time so you can open a portal around them call them back."

Robin took it and perused the spell. He grimaced at the complexity. "This is not an easy spell. It takes time to cast both the first and second stages."

"True," Rose conceded before giving him a wry grin. "But something tells me you have a talent for dark magic."


"Relay!" Robin shouted once more.


Chrom felt his heart stop as he saw the women fall, his hope banishing for an instant. It was then that a flash of darkness enveloped the pair, vanishing them from view.

"Wha–"

The same darkness opened at his side, catching his attention. A moment later, the portal ejected the pair, sending them rolling through the ground.

"EMM!" Chrom shouted, running towards them.

Emmeryn cried out in pain as her arm and leg broke from the impact. It didn't stop him from feeling relieved. Broken bones and cuts were painful but treatable.

"ROSE!" Chrom heard Robin shout as he ran towards the fallen woman, Libra hot on his heels with a staff ready.

Remembering her sister's savior, Chrom turned to check on her and grimaced. The mercenary laid down on the ground, with the shaft of the arrows broken and embedded in her flesh. A pool of blood was quickly forming under her.

"YOUR MAJESTY!" Came the voices of various Shepherds and soldiers as they made a wall to protect their rulers.

Basilio grabbed Chrom's arm, pulling him to his feet. "Come on boy! We need to retreat!"

Chrom reacted and took the lead, "Cordelia! Take Emmeryn out of here!"

"At once, Your Highness!" The redhead answered, turning to her squad. "Pegasus Knights with me! Keep low to the ground!"

"R–Robin..." Chrom heard a weak voice say, as the priest helped placed the injured woman on the back of Stahl's horse. The prince turned to see her grab hold of his friend's wrist. "...Last Page. Cast it. Don't f-fear it and just let the magic flow. I-It will buy us some time…."


"NO! I WILL NOT BE DENIED MY VENGEANCE!" The Mad King screamed with foam coming out of his mouth as his troops finally made their way into the courtyard. "KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL OR I WILL YOU MYSELF! I WILL GRIND YOUR FAMILIES INTO WYVERN FOOD IF I DON'T HAVE HER HEAD!"

His troops hesitated. A mad glare convinced them to start pursuing the Ylisseans. They knew the consequences.

Gangrel's rage and madness blinded him to the effect his and Emmeryn's words would have in the future.


Robin nodded, not wasting what could be the last act of a remarkable woman. He opened the grimoire and took one look at the spell. The words clicked in his brain as if he knew it his whole life. The ink might be new but the power itself felt ancient.

"Oh, spirits of winter, heed my call," Robin started the chant. He immediately felt something calling from deep in his soul.

The wind around him gathered, picking up speed. The humidity of the desert air increased as the ambient magic transmuted itself into moisture.

"Gather around and push away the heat of life and engulf the world in stillness."

He felt a rush of power that threatened to swallow him. The cold embrace of the spell was intoxicating. He felt like a God.

Robin quickly shook his head, dispelling the strange thoughts.

"Let the icy grip of your power strike at the heart of those that oppose me!"

Intricate runes materialized glowed in front of him, forming the core of a complex array.

"Bring forth the cold winds that herald the twilight of the gods!"

Cold, violet flames danced in his hands. Specks of frost gathered in his fingernails like sharp talons. He glared at those that dared chase after his friends. His family. Robin let all his pent-up emotions flow with a single world that could have frozen the world.

"Fimbulvetr!"

Ambient magic answered his call, bending to the will of the spellcaster. The temperature of the desert dropped to match those of a Feroxi night. A rush of icy wind exploded from the array. The magical gale surged forward, freezing everything on its path. Hot sand turned into cold crystals under its effect.

The Plegians fared no better. The most unfortunate were frozen solid, like living statues trapped inside icy shells. Others were blown away by the strong wings. Frostbite crawled all over their bodies. Skin tore from their bodies as it froze in contact with leather and steel. Those on the edge of the spell felt their skin crack under the sheer cold that had no place under the desert's sun.

The Shepherds looked in awe at the magical display of their tactician. He had never done anything like this before. They quickly got out of their shock, not willing to waste the chance to retreat.

The Plegians were not idle either. Mages started bombarding the magical structure with fire magic. But to everyone's' shock, the enchanted ice didn't give an inch.

Robin looked at his work in awe. It was the first time he had cast such a strong spell and an ice one at that! He wasn't aware such spells existed!

The exhaustion that came took him out of his trance. He forced his tired muscles to move and ran to catch up with his comrades.

Gangrel's mad screams were music to his ears.


Rose forced her eyes open once she felt the temperature drop. Looking at the large wall of ice, she gave a smile at the display. She was glad that her brother could call a fraction of their power without falling into Grima's grasp.

'Not bad, little brother.'


A scream escaped the disciple. Too busy celebrating their Master's success, the Grimleal missed the Ylisseans' move. A person in a familiar cloak came out of a portal and was holding the Exalt, preventing her fall. Only to drop down into a portal and escape moments later.

This is not how things were meant to happen.

The watchtower didn't have a good sight of all the courtyard, making it impossible to follow the escape. The disciple could only slump over in defeat.

"Oh no Oh no… Master Grima won't be pleased..."


A warm breeze blew past Corrin's smiling face as she walked the tiled streets of Shirasagi. She looked around, enjoying the sights of Hoshido with her mother, Queen Mikoto, at her side.

'Her mother.' It was strange to say that word for her. She didn't remember anything about her early life. Nothing before her supposed father locked her in that fortress. Things weren't making much sense yet, but the sense of familiarity was starting to return.

"How are you liking Hoshido, Corrin?" the queen asked, catching her attention. That she was using her Nohrian name was a polite gesture, but appreciated.

"It's beautiful," the princess said with an honest smile. "It's so... Homely," she added with a sense of longing.

"I would hope so," Mikoto said and the implication was not lost to the Nohrian princess.

"I'm sorry. I still don't remember anything," Corrin apologized, looking at her bare feet with a frown.

Mikoto was quick to shake her head. "Don't apologize. I'm sure you will remember in time," the queen said with a patient smile. "But for now, let's start the ceremony."

The lost princess stood beside the Queen of Hoshido as she introduced her to her subjects. Her Hoshidan sibling stood at her side, looking at their mother with pride. Mikoto spoke with such warmth that Corrin felt it spread through her body. It was so different than how King Garon spoke.

But then something changed. Her vision blurred and she could barely hear her mother calling for her. Before she could answer, Ganglari flew from her side into the hands of a hooded man.

Dark magic gathered around the blade, much to the horror of those around him. The man stabbed the blade into the ground, releasing a powerful shockwave of magic. The explosion destroyed much of the town's square, sending bodies flying.

Corrin was not excluded, crashing against the shattered remains of the central fountain. Groaning in pain, she forced herself to shake off the effects of the impact. She forced her eyes open and to her horror than still stood in the center of the crater, facing her. Ganglari shattered into hundreds of pieces, swirling in the air like daggers. They moved in a circular motion, dancing at the stranger's will.

Everything happened too fast.

The shards shot forward towards the stunned princess.

The Queen of Hoshido jumped in front of her child, using her own body to shield the princess.

The Royal children screamed in horror at what was about to happen.

Time seemed to freeze as regicide became imminent.

Only for them to stop cold inches from piercing Mikoto's back.

"Now, now. I don't like when others play with my toys."

The Hoshidans watched as a figure shrouded in shadows materialized out of thin air. His right hand extended in front of him, with a magic circle glowing around it. The shards couldn't break from the newcomer's grasp.

No one knew why, but this man had saved the Queen of Hoshido.

With a snap of his fingers, the razor-sharp shards of Ganglari gathered in on point. The pieces reassembled into a new blade. This one was more streamlined than Ganglari's strange shape. It reminded Corrin of a couple of scales stacked together.

"There we go, I had been looking for this for a while. Much more elegant in its original form," he said as he sheathed the blade inside his shadowy cloak. "I may need this for dealing with Naga and Falchion."

"Who are you!?" shouted the cloaked assailant, asking the question on everyone's mind.

"Hmm? Oh, don't mind me. I'm just here for my property. You see, I lost a few items on a trip a while ago and they ended up in the hands of someone I despise. In fact..." the man's tone turned dark as he spoke. The Hoshidans didn't need to see his face to know he was glaring at the other man. "You are here because of my magic, aren't you? That's a big no-no."

With a snap of his fingers, a torrent of black flames consumed the assailant. The Hoshidans watched in horror as the flames devoured his flesh. His scream of agony would give many of the townspeople nightmares for days to come.

"I have a monopoly on undead minions, thank you very much."

In an instant Ryoma, Takumi, and Hinoka were in front of Corrin and their mother, shielding them from hard. Sakura and Azura knelt next to them, looking for wounds to heal.

"Stay away, you fiend!" shouted the eldest prince, brandishing Raijinto in preparation for any attack. His siblings were ready at his side, as this man was dangerous. Even if he saved their mother, his motive was unknown.

The man sighed dramatically. "That's what I get for making my good deed of the millennium."

With a wave of his hand, pillars of winds exploded below the royals. The blast knocked them down and a second gale ripped the weapons from their hands. Their weapons landed far across the street, leaving the stunned warriors defenseless.

"That's not how you treat your savior," he drawled at the Royal.

The trio attempted to raise, but spikes of dark magic formed a prison around them.

"You li–!"

"Hinoka! Do not provoke him," Ryoma said through gritted teeth. He glared at the man, how barely paid them attention. "He summoned these spikes around us. That means he can do impale us with ease."

The princess growled at their impotence. Takumi didn't look any better.

"Good choice," the man said with a dismissive tone. "I don't normally mess with the problems of other kingdoms, but I had to make an exception. Someone here stole from me and it's only right I even the score. If you think about it, you owe me. After all..." the man then pulled the shadows apart, letting something fall to the ground.

A trio of heads rolled at the feet of Mikoto, making her scream.

"I eliminated a couple of pests for you."

The lost princess's eyes grew wide in recognition of the deceased's' faces. She had seen them a couple of times in the scant few occasions she left her tower. Garon's direct underlings.

"They are Nohrians!" Corrin shouted, much to the surprise of those present. "Iago, the tactician of Nohr," she started, turning to the next head. "Spymaster Zola and..." her eyes narrowed in disgust as she recognized the last one, "Hans."

The man clapped, his posture screaming sarcasm. "Yes… Quite a colorful set of characters. Had to assault a castle to get my property back and they were mighty uncooperative." He shrugged. "Oh well. Without them, Nohr will lose a large part of their strategic strength, so there you go."

Ryoma looked at the heads for a moment, before he glared at the stranger. "Why are you helping us?"

"Helping you?" the stranger said with an amused tone. "Huh, I guess I did. Consider it my payment for your help locating my book and sword."

"What are you talking about?" Corrin asked. Something in her gut made her dread the answer.

"Don't worry your pretty little head with such questions, Princess. You will know the answers soon. That is if you survive long enough," the man said with an amused chuckle.

Corrin growled, and Sakura held her arm. The trembling girl was not willing to let her face this man.

"Your benefit is a side effect of my revenge. Those cretins used my grimoire to produce those Faceless creatures! No one uses my creations without my permission!" The man then pulled a magical tome, which mere aura made those around him sick with its presence. "Though I've to admit I'm ashamed I didn't think of them myself!"

"You're responsible for those abominations!?" shouted Takumi with an accusatory tone.

"No, no. My abominations are worse," the man said, dismissing Takumi's rage. "Hmmm, the bastards wrote their notes here. Although... I can use the theory to improve my troops…" he rambled, ignoring the horrified Hoshidans.

"You want to–?!"

"Anyways, it's time for me to go. I have things to do and as entertaining as it would be to incinerate this town, I can't waste any more power in this little incursion." The stranger took a glance at the ruins of the town and nodded. "Speaking of power, better not let these go to waste."

The survivors watched as the man opened his mouth and inhaled. Light shone from various points in the destroyed square. Spheres of light coalesced and floated towards his mouth.

"That… Those are the souls of the fallen Hoshidans!" Mikoto shouted in dismay, much to everyone's horror.

The intruder closed his mouth and. "Well, their power at least. Eating souls? Can't do that. But reaping the power from them? Can't waste such resources at the moment."

Corrin could see the outlines of the people she met in her short trip through town. The laughing children that almost crashed into her. The nice woman that gave the princess her first sweet potato. The proud ninjas that guarded the populace from the shadows.

Something inside the princess snapped and she charged towards the man. "YOU MONSTER!"

Primal rage flowed through her veins. Her lungs produced an unearthly roar, pushing back her mother and siblings. Her body twisted and reshaped into a new form. Armored scales covered her body as her limbs grew to an inhuman length. Her family bore witness to their lost child's ascension into something out of legends long past.

The man stood in place with an air of smug confidence. He whistled as the princess closed the distance, water starting to answer her primal desires to crush the stranger before her.

"Quite the trick you got there, Princess. You will grow to be a force to be reckoned with." The man praised her, though anyone could feel the mocking leaking through. "But here is the thing. You're new to your powers…"

Corrin was a scant few meters away from crushing the man when the man acted. With a snap of his fingers, a storm of dark fire and lightning that enveloped the princess.

"I had a long time to master mine."

A scream of pain mixed with the roar of anger as the dragon's muscles locked into place. The black flames slowly burned through the shiny scales of the dragon. The agony sent the feral princess sending her thrashing on the floor. The pain broke her focus, making her lose control of the enchanted water.

"KAMUI!"

"LEAVE MY SISTER ALONE, YOU BASTARD!"

A snort escaped the stranger. "Fine, fine. As amusing as this is, I have to cut my playtime short. I already wasted too much time and power in this exercise."

A wave of dark magic shot from his hand, washing over the princess. The scales cracked and exploded in a shower of silver lights. When they dispelled, the Hoshidans could see Corrin laying in the crater.

"I won't kill, so don't worry. I find her struggle too entertaining to waste." Crossing his arms, the stranger nodded and began to walk away. "Ah, be thankful that I'm in such a good mood. Got my things back after killing their thieves, saw a good terrorist attack, recovered some power..." The man smirked as he patted his pocket. "And even got my hands on a few souvenirs."

Mikoto ran toward the broken body of her daughter, afraid of losing her once more. But as she cradled her body the tears of fear became one of pained love.

Corrin opened her eyes to gaze at her mother. She was alive. Burnt, bleeding, but alive.

"Mama..." she muttered, breaking the queen's heart.

A vortex of shadows opened behind him and the man-made his way to leave. But he didn't leave without giving them some final words.

"I've watched the history of this world and that of the little princess," the shadow man said. His grin was visible through the shadows as he glanced at the fallen princess. "Yours will be an interesting story. Such a tragedy, having to choose between the family of blood or the one that took you in. I wonder what path you will choose."

"W-what...?"

"Don't waste your strength, Kamui," Mikoto pleaded as Sakura tried to heal her.

Turning his back, he began to walk once more. With another wave of his hands, the spike prison that had the elder children banished. They wasted no time rushing to their family.

"Pray to whichever god that looks over you that don't regret your decision."

As the man disappeared into the portal, no one could hear his last comment. It was barely a whisper through the magic waves.

"I know I did."


A/N: Updated April 1st, 2020.

Ganglari needs a new name. But it looks like Ragnarok from Final Fantasy IX.

Thanks to Victory3114, Shipping Rates Apply and Xbro Kong for checking this chapter for errors and their suggestions.