Chapter Twenty-Five
The short distance to the hideous tower felt like hours when in reality was less than one. The Shepherds were on edge crossing the stone bridge. Thunder still cracked and it wasn't irrational to assume a bolt would strike down the bridge or metal armor. The fears subsided when we reached the entrance. Finding the throne was easy. No rooms, just an open space lit by candles and magic. Validar got up from the chair to greet his unwelcomed guests.
"Chrom. Have you come to witness the glorious culmination of your failure? How nice. I have this here the Fire Emblem, and the Dragon's Table is set for a feast. I will return Grima to this world!"
"You'll destroy the world! Lucina has seen it!" Chrom pleaded.
"Then I pray today's spectacle lives up to her nightmares! The Awakening rite is not only for exalts and Naga, you know. With it, I'll arouse Grima! The fell dragon needs only a mortal vessel, which you so kindly brought along." The maniacal man pointed at me.
"No! Never! I'll die first!"
"You carry my blood—the blood of the fell dragon. His soul slumbers within you. And now the time has come to awaken you both!" Validar continued, "The Grimleal have worked for generations to create someone like you, a vessel worthy of our master. Simply having Grima's blood in your veins is not enough. My father was not worthy, nor was his father before him. Even I was not able to accept Grima's most sacred gift. But you? You had all the makings. You were perfection!"
Those words made some sense. I long covered my right hand that was marked with the symbol of Grima. I had a feeling I would eventually be a vessel for evil, but refused to accept that destiny. I knew more than Validar. I could change outcomes. But after meeting with my doppelganger, so could he.
I stood without a word. But Chrom spoke up. "You've proven nothing Validar but your own madness. This can be stopped. You can be stopped!"
Validar laughed it off, "You may have killed me in some future past, but I am stronger this time! With the power of the Dragon's Table flowing through me, I am unstoppable."
"Unstoppable, really? I think not. I have made up my mind!" I clinched my fists. "My life did not begin with you, 'Father'. It began the day Chrom found me in that field. I have been all over this world, and I have helped change it—for the better. I have fought and laughed and bled with my friends, and that is what matters! I have grown as a human, something you are not! The ties we forged, the bonds we share—they are of a power greater than Grima."
Validar frowned, "A ludicrous idea, as you will know better than anyone soon enough."
"We do agree on one thing: my life so far has all been in preparation for this moment…when I kill you or die trying!"
The vile man chuckled, "You have your father's courage, but lack proper judgment…very well, pup. Come, do your worst! Come at me with all you have! There is no damage I can do your body that the fell dragon cannot repair!"
The Falchion glistened and the spellbook flipped the pages. I waited a long time for this. Not only a sense of determining my destiny but also to stop any and all evil. My friends had suffered enough. Too many scars and wounds to count. Not even going to recall the dead, they live on in our minds and hearts. Validar's head belonged on the ground and then on a pike for later. I could feel Chrom felt the same in his tone.
"This is it! Our final battle! You're one of us, Phil, and no destiny can change that. Now let's kill this dastard and be done with it...huh?"
Validar waved his arms and casted a purple wavelength barrier. It was just Chrom and I with Validar together and the rest of the Shepherds on the other side. I ran over to bang on it. No weaknesses. Trapped.
"So long as the dark barrier stands, no other soul can reach us. You must face your grim fate alone! Come, my Grimleal! Smite these infidels!"
The Grimleal cultists arose and surrounded the Shepherds. Not having their lord nor tactician on their side had me very concerned. The worrisome thoughts subsided with Cordelia and Fredrick giving orders.
"I hope they will ok." I sighed. I watched as the knights talked things over. "Hm, I wonder what they are up to?"
"We should break up the group into two units," stated Fredrick.
"Agree. How about we have a little fun while we do so, Fredrick?" Cordelia had that look in her eyes of a schemer.
"What do you propose, milady?" The knight general raised an eyebrow.
Cordelia smiled, "How about boys with boys and ladies with ladies? Should be interesting, right?"
How could one argue against the queen? And not for one second did Fredrick or any man thought any less of the female Shepherds. Everyone contributed much. It was also not uncommon for Sully to best Vaike in arm-wrestling contests. The idea was entertaining.
"What do you say, man?" Fredrick smiled amongst the boys.
"Ya! School is in session; Teach will be showing them a thing or two!" Vaike drew out his silver axe.
Gaius took out a sweet. "It'll be easier than taking candy from a baby."
Henry snickered, "Nya ha ha! More blood and guts! I sure do love an old-fashioned wizard fight! Right, honey?" Tharja growled, which encouraged Henry to taunt more.
The other man roared in anticipation and agreement. "I guess you got our answer, milady." Fredrick folded his arms and stared down the queen. No one paid attention to the still-injured Kellam, who was biting his nails and flapping his arms to make a point.
Cordelia and Sumia traded glances and sighed. The women were not shaken an ounce. Cherche walked up to the pegasus riders and the three sneered and laughed together. They knew.
"Oh! This is going to be fun!" Tharja glared sinisterly. She had a score to settle against Henry.
"You damn right, sister! Women are just as strong if not stronger than the boys! We will show them up! They have no chance." Sully cheered.
Olivia cowardly moved forward, "I'm n-nervous about this, but count me in!"
The ladies' bravado was louder than the men. Cordelia mimicked Fredrick's pose. "May the best team win. Good luck, you're going to need it!" The queen winked and jolted away with her female comrades.
"C'mon men! Let's show them up!" Fredrick charged with his Shepherds as well.
I felt a hand on my left shoulder. It was Chrom. "You ready partner?"
I turned to face him. I was still concerned for the well-being of the Shepherds, so I looked back one last time and saw them in two units. Then I noticed how they were divided…
They are going to be fine.
I whispered to myself a small chant and went with Chrom, "Ready."
Chrom moved first at unhuman speeds. Validar took note and laughed it off. "Heh, are you so eager to meet your end, little Prince? You will die here. Your future is already written."
Chrom retorted, "I tell you again: I make my own future. And it's one you'll not live to see!"
The Exalt dodged the black bolts shooting from Validar's right hand. Chrom knocked him back swinging with the Falchion. I ran up and threw a fireball myself, but missing the target.
"Phil, why insist on these games? You only delay the inevitable. And besides, what is the alternative? Have you considered what happens should I fall? These followers of Naga will spurn you. Kill me, and you incur the wrath of the Grimleal as well. Would you truly choose to be so utterly alone?"
I refused to answer, grinding my teeth.
The nefarious man rambled on more, "Humans are weak, pathetic creatures. Your 'bonds' with them will bind you. You are destined for a greater purpose! The greatest purpose! You are to be a god!" he lifted his arms as if I already was a god.
But I wasn't. Not even close. "Not your god—not today." The sword plunged into his abdomen. A blood stain formed on his robe as he cackled. "Heh heh...even this...was meant to be." Validar collapsed to the floor. "This isn't over! Damn you both!" He threw one last spell in which Chrom wasn't aware of. I pushed him out of the way to take the blow…
"One, two, three!" Vaike yelled as his battle axe shredded the Grimleal.
"Wow, you can count! When did you learn?" Stahl laughed as he was also cutting down the cultists.
"How many is that so far? I got eight, I reckon." Donnel huffed, taking a time-out.
"Twenty-nine," answered Fredrick.
"Wow-wee! We should be in the lead!" Donnel's happy face went sour when Sully shouted a higher number. "Oh shoot! Gotta make Ma proud and get back to the action." Donnel wiped off his blood-soak pot and re-entered the battle.
"Increase the pace or the enemy will overwhelm all of us!" Lon'qu grunted as he pulled off killing a giant berserker with five lightning-fast strikes.
Chrom held me, checking my pulse. I was alive and conscious. "Are you all right? That's the end of him. Thanks to you we carried the day. We can rest easy now, at long last..."
Victory was not secure. No, not with flashes of red veiny lightning. I held my head as terrifying screams entered my brain. And more images of the red flashes.
What is going on? Am I being possessed?
"What's wrong? Hey, hang on—" Chrom knew something was wrong but he was helpless. His eyes widen and backed away. He held a lightning bolt that protruded out his stomach. He reached out.
"This is not your—your fault. Promise me you'll escape from this place...please, go..." The lord fell over, prompting the Shepherds and Grimleal to pause their fighting. Lucina ran over to grab her father.
"Father! No!" Lucina held him tight.
Validar slowly arose and taunted the Shepherds. "With the five Gemstones in hand, my magic knows no bounds. Phil is powerless to resist me. Do you see now, son? Human bonds are leaves in the wind. They offer you nothing."
Lucina held back her tears, "This can't be happening. We were supposed to change this! Everything I have done is...worthless."
Worthless. Is it all worthless? What is destiny, what is freedom? Such things to ponder, but not now.
"The hell it was!" A loud, raspy voice boomed.
Lucina looked up and regained hope. "I know that voice…"
Loud clinging came from the entrance. A tall, dark figure came into view. "Don't you put any stock in this destiny hogwash! Let the dead whine about their fate. As long as I draw breath, I choose to keep fighting! That's what life is all about!" The khan revealed himself and clearly was not dead.
"Khan Basilio! I-I thought...we all thought you were—" Lucina lit up.
Basilio interrupted, "Worm food, back in Valm? It almost went that way. But I scraped by, thanks to you." Lucina shook her head in confusion, so the khan elaborated. "Once I took a couple hits from Walhart, I knew he was too strong for me. Normally pride would've had me dead before I'd even thought twice about it. But your warning gave me the courage to be a coward, ha ha! I played dead like a big, bald opossum! It wasn't hard. In truth I almost was dead. You saved my life, Lucina. Had you not said anything, I'd have stood my ground against that monster and died on the spot."
Lucina cried in excitement, knowing she altered the future. Validar grunted and attempted to argue. "This...does...not...matter! If you didn't die there, then you can die here!"
Basilio laughed at the mad man, "Ha! You're no Walhart, snake eyes! Not as strong, or even as clever...for example: you still haven't realized that you've been tricked. Phil predicted everything that would happen here. Saw this very fight with you."
Validar pointed a finger, "If you think—"
"Guess what else was in the dream? The five Gemstones. When Flavia gave my stone to Chrom, Phil saw what fate had in store. He knew Chrom couldn't bring the real Gemstones here to Plegia. That would be like swinging a big, juicy steak right in front of destiny's choppers!"
"Gya ha ha! A worthy bluff, Feroxi fool, but ridiculous all the same. I've had your merry little band watched since Carrion Isle. Your every move! So, I know Phil hasn't touched the stones—he hasn't been near them!"
Basilio smirked, "You watched our party, yes. The members your men knew about, the live ones. But they weren't watching dead men, were they? They weren't watching me."
It started to unfold to Validar. "I…No, that's not…that is not possible! These have to be...they must be..."
"Why? Because of...destiny? Pah ha ha! Phil had your destiny beat weeks ago, when he came up with this plan. The expression on your face...it makes all those long nights in hiding worth it. Ha!" Basilio cocked his head back and his belly rolled over in the laughter.
The evil Plegian ruler was less pleased, "Damn you! Damn you to all the hells! None of these matters! Chrom is dead, your fates are sealed! Grima will—Eh?"
"Arc lightning!" A blast from my hand fired at Validar, sending electrical currents dancing around his body. At that moment, Chrom stood up.
"What!? No…" Validar gasped.
"Father! You're alive!" Lucina smile grew extra wide.
Chrom explained, "Phil spared me... He weakened his magic...just before the strike."
Validar yelled in agony, "Gaaaahhhhh! Damn you all, and your stones! I won't need them to kill you!" He made a motion. The purple barrier shattered and he transported across the throne room.
Chrom shook off cobwebs. "Ready to end this, Phil?"
"Let's do it. I'm ready to see what our true future has in store." I was going to add more, but Basilio and Flavia joined up.
"Chrom! Phil! We're yours to command!" Basilio struck his armor.
"Good to see you, Basilio. Worked like a charm. I should give an award for acting." I slapped the big man.
"Ha ha! Maybe later; we got a delirious man to kill first."
Flavia nodded, "Let's put this dastard down, for good this time!"
The Shepherds rushed up to us. Lots of huffing and puffing and some cuts, but no serious injuries. I asked Cordelia the plan.
"Hey, your Majesty." I bowed. She gave that death-stare, so I relented. "Anyways, what's the plan? I noticed you were talking to Fredrick and how…the guys went with Freddy and the women were with you."
Cordelia lit up, "Yes! Why, we are having a little competition!" She twirled her lance. "Us ladies are in the lead, forty-three to…" She motioned to Fredrick.
"…Thirty-one." Fredrick grumbled.
"Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that?" The queen put a hand to an ear.
"Thirty-one!" Fredrick shouted. He marched away.
"Someone is grumpy." Tharja pointed at the perturbed man walking away. "I think I like it, hee hee."
"Can we knock it off and focus on killing that dastard now, please?" I pleaded. Chrom lowered his hands to get his wife to settle down.
"Of course…tactician. I just wanted to have a little fun." Cordelia giggled.
"One group." I demanded. The gang followed behind me as I lead them. I heard a sigh in the back and brushed it off, knowing well who it was.
She can still have her fun and games. But Validar's head is mine.
And that is precisely what the queen did. She purposely motioned the women to hang back while the men went in front. Ignoring her plan, I was content we stayed together as a single unit. Unfortunately, while we were arguing earlier, Validar summoned more Grimleal, most of which were berserkers. Chrom, Donnel, Lon'qu, and Vaike were holding their own well, but their sweaty bodies and deep breathing was a sign they were near fatigue. The rest were not fairing any better. Despite the overwhelming stress and strength needed to take down a berserker, Vaike gloated.
"How you like that from ol' Teach!?" Vaike celebrated by swinging his axe around his head.
"Vaike! No time for showboating!" I yelled.
"What? We must have killed at least three dozen of those dastards!" Vaike shrugged.
"So? It doesn't matter when at least fifty more will be on top of us!" I threw several fireballs at the Grima mages. "Can someone please give me a clearing so we can get to Validar? Please!"
At the second plea, I heard my answer. Tiki transformed into a dragon and Cherche unleashed Minerva. Never in my life had I been happier to see the reptilian creatures.
"You better move, or you'll get burn, dear." Cherche giggles. I obliged and made room for Minerva and Tiki to spray the room with fire. Terrifying and in awe, I paused to watch the spectacle. My eyes couldn't leave the sheer destruction and power behind each breath. The deafening shrieks and howls amongst the burning and decaying flesh were…a different story. And one I'd like to forget. Only a few minutes later, only the dark ruler stood in the flames.
"There he is. He is mine."
"Come here, my son. I'll teach you the true meaning of pain." Validar squinted his red eyes.
I casually moved in his direction as the Shepherd wizards provided magical protection from his dark arts. Each step forward, he grew with more panic written on his face. I caught up to him and delivered the final blow.
"Pain and suffering will be your only friends, Validar!" The blade of steel found his bowels as he kneeled over grunting.
"Why? Why would you squander your birthright? Phil...my son."
"I am not your son!" I threw the sword to the ground and walked away from the corpse. The others rushed over. A group hug was necessary as I embraced Chrom first.
"We did it! We did it, Phil! We've altered our destiny! We...we've won." Chrom sighed.
"Sure did, buddy." I smiled as I looked at Cordelia. She was giving Fredrick some words to eat on. The general rolled his eyes. I went to pat him on the back. "So, I take it that the girls won?"
Fredrick stood silent. Donnel and Vaike, however, were not.
"No! They cheated; I darn reckon on my pa's grave!" Donnel scolded.
Vaike was just as upset, "Not a fair fight when you ladies have not one, but two dragons!"
"I'm sorry, was that against the rules? I don't recall saying flying creatures were off-limits, boys." Cordelia folded her arms. "Be glad I wasn't on Aurora…now that wouldn't be a fair fight."
I pushed Vaike away before he did some rash, "She's right, you know. And she doesn't even need to be the queen to be right. You've seen her on a pegasus."
"Not as many times as you have, stalker." Vaike would have insulted more if not for Sully pulling on his ear.
I leaned back and let out a heavy sigh, "Well, guess that is it then."
But it wasn't all that was left. A dark shadow formed and crept up, laughing eerily. A small man walked through dying fire and stepped over dead bodies.
"Heehahahahahee…not so fast, my friend."