Our plan was simple and hadn't changed much from the game. If what Robin said while we were planning was true, he already had something like it in his head before I came along. Its familiarity was alarming instead of comforting to me. It made me feel like we were doomed to fail. The changes would, however, have to be enough.

Most of Plegia's army was still occupying Ylisstol, although the fate of its citizens was unknown. There weren't bodies lining the streets, which was a good sign. According to our scouts, at least. Because of that, a majority of Ferox's and what was left of Ylisse's armies were serving as a diversionary force; keeping the attention off us. The remaining troops from Ferox were with us and would mostly be fighting in the battle proper. The Shepherds would be splitting up into three groups.

The first group would be led by Chrom who would in turn lead the Feroxi soldiers into battle. While the majority of the pressure was on them, the second team, led by Robin, would release the pegasus knights that were taken captive along with Emmeryn. From the scouting reports, and my own knowledge of the game, I knew there were at least three still alive, including Phila. The third team would have the riskiest job. They would be led by Gaius and would infiltrate Castle Plegia or whatever the hell they called it. Group three's objective was two-fold: they were to kill Aversa, and to recover Sable.

My memory of Sable was murky at best. I knew it held Naga's power, like all the gemstones did. Beyond that, though, all I knew was that it had something to do with dark magic and was used by Gharnef in Shadow Dragon. It was a minor concern at best, considering what our actions would mean in the long run. Not having to come back to Plegia during the endgame would already be a wrench in the plot, but on top of that, Emmeryn living?

If it wasn't already before, then canon was fucked.

A majority of the front-line fighters such as Sully and Vaike would be with the main force, while the second group, the one I was a part of, would be made of odd balls. I knew Panne and Gregor were with us. Gregor was fine, although I'd only said a few words to the man himself, but Panne was another matter. Every time I looked at her, I felt a shiver crawl down my back. And when she glanced at me from the corner of her eye, her red eyes, I wanted to get out of there as fast as possible.

I was able to swallow my anxiety, though. My feelings didn't matter anymore. What mattered was Emmeryn getting out of Plegia alive, and to do that, we needed the pegasus knights. Cordelia and Sumia would be shot down in an instant if they even got close; the evac had to come from the inside.

I breathed in and out. It was time.

The pegasus knights were being held a small distance from the main battlefield, in an old, sand-blasted ruin. I couldn't even tell what it used to be. What mattered, though, was that the pegasus knights that guarded Emmeryn would be executed as soon as she was. The enemy encampment was small, but only a small group such as ours could get past the army that surrounded Medlun. It would have to be enough.

"Manspawn, you are shivering," Panne noticed, crossing her arms and leaning against a crumbling pillar. "Do I disgust you so much that you cannot hide your revulsion even now?"

"Y-you don't disgust me, Panne," I replied, wincing as I stuttered. "It's- God, I'm just not used to you, alright?"

"It is true we have not conversed much," Panne agreed, her red eyes glinting. "But none of these other manspawn have such a reaction to my presence; you act like a deer on alert."

"Perhaps battlefield nerves? Gregor used to have bad nerves. Grew out of them with time!" Gregor surmised, smiling jovially. "Do not worry, Alexander! Real battle happening, eh, over there? No need for the shivering and the jittering!"

Gregor was an odd, but one that was slowly growing on me. Sadly, I didn't get much of a chance to speak with him before that day. Something I was hoping to remedy before the end of the war.

I noticed Donnel nearby, looking out at the soon-to-be battlefield. Walking up to him, I put a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, Donny?"

He jumped, eyes wide, but he calmed down once he saw me. "A-Alex! Just, er, just havin' bad thoughts. Don't mind me none."

I furrowed my brow. "You sure? We got a few minutes until the battle starts. Uh, I think."

Donnel fidgeted, putting his hand on the pommel of his sword before taking a deep breath. "Just thinkin' 'bout the battle, yeah? Ain't gonna be a lot of people what gonna walk outta that, ya reckon? Just hard to think 'bout all that death. Even if we ain't friends with 'em, they're still people, right?"

I froze as Donnel said that, old feelings from before I'd joined the Shepherds welling up in my mind. Shutting them down before they could get problematic, I shook my head. "I mean, yeah. But it won't do any good to think about shit like that, Donny," I looked back at him. "Just, well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't think about it. Stuff like that is meant for bald guys in academies. We're… I guess you could call us soldiers at this point. Ain't our job to think about it, we just do it, you know?"

Donnel blinked, switching his gaze back to the partial desert that surrounded the Plegian capitol. "Shucks, I reckon I understand. Still just a bit hard to think about."

"Yeah, for me too." I replied, staring at the capitol myself.

Medlun was built in what was supposedly the remains of Grima's first body, specifically the titanic skull that created a giant area of shade where the jaw should've been. The architecture was difficult to make out in the darkness, but some of the buildings easily reached up to the roof of the giant skull's mouth. Lights glittered like stars in the darkness that Medlun was built in.

I'd almost say it was beautiful in a dark kinda way. Too bad it's the home of crazy cultists and rampaging monarchs.

"Everyone," Robin's voice rang out, gaining all of our attention. He walked down a set of stairs, the sun outlining his form. "The battle will begin momentarily. The minute we hear the sound of horns, we march. Is everything in order?"

I looked around, noting that we were all armed to the teeth. Except Panne. She'd turn into a giant carnivorous rabbit, though, which was basically a weapon.

Murmurs of affirmation came from us, and Robin nodded. "Good. As far as we know, there's a small garrison stationed here, and the prison where the pegasus knights are being held is down below the main ruin. We must find a way to get inside, release them, and allow them to get Emmeryn out of here. Any questions?"

Silence.

"Alright. The minute we hear the horns, move out."

My heart beat in my chest like a drum. Unsurprising, considering it was finally the day. It was hard to believe I was trying to avoid that outcome just a month and a half before. Back then, I said nothing, and Emmeryn was doomed. Then, she had a real chance at life. I almost couldn't remember why I didn't say anything before. Fear? Definitely.

For over a minute we stood there, waiting for the battle to finally begin. The waiting always got to me. I just wanted to get in there and get out. Save Emmeryn as fast as possible, I guess. Being hasty wouldn't save her, though. I had to trust Robin.

Then, in the distance, a horn blew.

"There we have it. Let's go!" Robin commanded. He entered the crumbling ruin, and we followed.

Immediately, we found Plegians. An entire group of them. They were lazing around when we came in, with two playing cards on a table and several others looking out sundered windows to the desert outside. They weren't resting for long, though, and we moved into action.

Panne turned into her Rabbit of Caerbannog form, surging forth like a speeding bullet at one of the Plegians. She took him to the ground, and I tried to ignore his screams. Gregor and Donnel took on two Plegians like back-to-back badasses. Robin pulled out his tome, lightning crackling in his gloved fingers.

I charged myself, isolating a Plegian. He was ready for me, blocking my blow and trying to gain some distance. I didn't let him, though; I kept the pressure on. His block broke eventually, and I cut him across the chest, and then stabbed him through the stomach. He spat out blood and fell to the sandy floor.

The noises of battle could be heard in the unnatural silence that followed.

We took them out clean before they could alert the others. Surprisingly fast, in my opinion.

"Heh, is no challenge for Gregor." Gregor remarked, shaking his sword and spraying droplets of blood on the ground.

"This manspawn is confident," Panne's flanged voice commented. "Almost too confident."

Donnel and Gregor had easily dispatched the Plegians that engaged them, and Robin had as well. Panne, though, I couldn't tell. Probably because I refused to look in her direction. Knowing her, she took note of that. I could even feel her glowing red eyes piercing through the back of my head like a laser.

"Quickly, we must find an entrance into the lower ruins," Robin ordered, as we began moving. "The faster we get those pegasus knights out, the faster Emmeryn can return home."

I was almost a bit concerned for Robin. He was pushing us hard, but I wondered just how well he was doing. I could count the number of words I'd said to him in the past few weeks on one hand. It may've been inappropriate, given the circumstances, but I still considered him a friend, and I was honestly beginning to worry.

He was right, though; we needed to hurry up. Gangrel wasn't going to wait forever, especially if he figured out what we were doing.

In the game you only lost if all your units, or Robin and Chrom, got killed. The story was completely static. Here? There is a very real chance that things can go wrong. This isn't a game, and things are not static.

The ruin was a lot bigger than expected, with rooms missing a roof as well as broken in walls leading outside everywhere. I didn't think the Plegians stationed in the ruins were the cream of the crop, so to speak; they were nothing like the mercenaries Validar had hired for Emmeryn's assassination. They were more like the soldiers we battled back at Maribelle's Trial and the Battle of Breakneck Pass. The only explanation I could think of was that they were conscripts, people given a spear, sword, or axe and told to go fight in a war they may not have even wanted.

The thought was chilling, but I ignored it so that I could keep going.

Donnel and Gregor seemed to have paired up for the duration of the mission, with both of them watching the other's back. I was too unnerved by Panne to do the same with her. Not that I was sure she would even want to. We still cleared room after room with ease, leaving the ruin filled with blood and bodies. Well, mostly bodies, and whatever the hell Panne left behind when she was done with somebody.

I'm beginning to think she really traumatized me.

After what felt like hours, we found stairs leading down further into the ruin. Torches lit the way down, showing nothing but the dusty stone staircase. It looked like the beginning to a giant dungeon, where we'd find horrible monstrosities from beyond the void.

"Yeah, I didn't sign up for dungeon crawling." I said glibly, my grip tightening.

"Crawling in dungeon is bad idea, no?" Gregor commented, crossing his arms. "Is not so bad. Been in many dungeons, always come back out!"

"It's mighty dark down in there," Donnel remarked, narrowing his eyes and moving his head forward. "Can't see nothin' beyond them few torches."

"Nonetheless, we must keep moving," Robin said, taking a torch off the wall and descending the first few stairs. "Let's go."

"Oh God, here we go," I murmured.

"You act more like prey with each passing minute, manspawn." Panne said.

I flinched at Panne's words, but I still followed Robin's lead and descended down the stairs. The darkness was suffocating, almost unnaturally so. I began to wonder if the pegasus knights could even survive for more than a few days like that.

Whatever the case, once we reached the bottom of the stairs, we kept moving forward. The torches felt less and less effective, only illuminating a small portion of the crumbling walls that were separating us from the sand and dirt just beyond. We found a few jail cells, but nothing was in them. I could tell Robin was losing his patience.

"This is ridiculous," Robin said quietly, but even then, I could still hear the venom in his voice. "The soldiers we faced topside were barely-trained conscripts, and then we find none below. This does not make any sense."

"Maybe you should go tell Gangrel that. Tell him how shit of a job he's doing guarding his prisoners," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.

Robin was silent as we kept moving.

It wasn't long after that we found the cell that contained the pegasus knights. I nearly gagged when I looked inside.

There were three, yes, and they were alive. Only it seemed the Plegians were doing the bare minimum to keep them alive. They were skinny, but not too skinny; they could probably still move around. They're cell was absolutely filthy, though. The smell of urine easily flowed out of it. When we arrived, one of them came up to the bars.

Phila.

Her silver hair was a disheveled mess and was much longer than before. She wore what amounted to rags, and her skin was almost paper white.

"Gods," She rasped, grasping the bars. "It's you. The Tactician! You've… you've come for us!? Please, get us out of here!"

"Peace, Phila," Robin soothed as the other pegasus knights began to stir. "We are going to get you and your friends out of here. I need your help to save Emmeryn."

"Her Grace?" Phila murmured, nearly slumping back. "Do you really believe that the woman who let her be captured should be the one to save her?"

I looked away, trying to stare at anything that wasn't her. The dark hallway seemed slightly brighter than before.

"Nonsense; I'm sure you did everything you could," Robin replied, gathering fire in his hands. "If it really bothers you so, this is your chance to make up for it. Are your pegasi unharmed?"

"You- I mean, they were taken from us and put in the stables towards the back of the ruin, so I gathered," Phila explained, her voice trailing of slightly seeing Robin work on the lock. "I imagine they're still there. They are bonded to us, and these Plegian dogs would be hard-pressed to break a pegasus without hurting or killing it."

"Good!" Robin let out a slight laugh in relief. "Oh thank the Gods! Now, we need to get moving. Can you all stand?"

"I, er, yes, we can," Phila confirmed, walking out of the cell, along with the other two pegasus knights. "We were not given much, but it was enough. We should be able to do what you ask of us, at least."

I squinted as I stared down the hallway, noticing a red glow. "Uh, what?" I whispered to myself.

"Before we leave, why weren't there any guards down here with you?" Robin asked. "There were plenty topside, but none to be found here."

"I can't say for certain, sir," Phila replied. "I've seen red lights dancing in the darkness and my nightmares, but a Plegian always came around to give us the muck they called food."

"Intriguing," Robin said. I could imagine him holding a hand to his chin in a classic thinking pose. "I wonder-"

"Er, guys?" I asked, looking back and pointing down the hallway. "I'm not the only one who sees that, right?"

Spots of light filled the darkness like red stars twinkling in the night sky. There were less than there were in the forest all those months before, but that didn't make me feel better. We were in an enclosed space, after all.

"No, I see them too," Robin said quietly, getting in front of Phila and holding lightning in his palm. "It seems I have my answer," He looked to me knowingly. "Aversa's doing, I suspect."

"Ohoho! Many beasties hiding in the shadows!" Gregor guffawed, twirling his sword. "Is time to show how many black-blooded monsters we take out, yes? How many you be thinking we can cut down, Donny?"

"Er, I don't right know myself, Mr. Gregor. Maybe fifty or so?"

He clapped Donnel on the back. "Ah, is too small number! Will beat easy!"

"I suppose it is in the nature of manspawn to show levity. Even when they have become the hunted," Panne surmised, her form twisting rapidly. "It will not remain so for long."

The Risen hiding in the shadows did not wait long before they shot forward like a flood.

The dark hallways became chaotic with sound. Black blood flowed from the undead bodies like a river, almost sounding like a waterfall before their disgusting forms disintegrated into dark smoke. I was holding my own better against them than I did before, almost surprisingly so. They were many, but somehow, they felt weaker than the ones we'd faced before.

So either I really had made progress, or those ones were just weaker because they were most likely summoned fresh, rather than fallen from the future.

I flinched, gritting my teeth as an axe buried itself in my shield. Silently, I prayed that it wouldn't break like almost every shield I'd had by that point. Luckily, it held, and I pushed, knocking the Risen off balance. I swung across, decapitating it.

Donnel and Gregor were at my side, cutting down Risen like wheat to the scythe. The hallway would've been filled with bodies if the Risen didn't conveniently dissipate once they died. Didn't understand the process of how a person turns into a Risen, and I doubted I ever would, but whatever it was must've be horrific.

"Christ!" I shouted over the screams of the Risen, cutting into one's stomach. "How many of these ugly bastards are there!?"

"There can't be much more! Fall back to the entrance! Go!" Robin ordered, backing up slowly.

Panne looked monstrous as she tore through Risen like paper. Several arms and legs would go careening into a wall, splattering black blood over the stone before it all disintegrated into smoke. She, along with Donnel, Gregor, and I, fell back in line, slowly forcing our way back towards the entrance. The pegasus knights were behind us, and thankfully no Risen had come from that direction. We just had to keep fighting.

"Heh, Gregor does not think so!" I heard Gregor laugh. The next thing I knew he hoisted A Risen by its rotten clothes and fucking threw it back into the swarm.

Let's not make an enemy out of Gregor, holy shit.

Light bled into the dark corridor from the stairs, emboldening us as we drew closer. Before long, I could feel the sun's rays on the back of my neck. We'd made it. The Risen were still coming, though. Not as forcefully as before, but still there. Before long, however, not a trace of them remained except the broken and rusted weapons they used.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I wiped the sweat off my brow. "Oh, thank the Lord. Not sure how much longer I could've kept doing that."

"Eh, is not so bad. Been through worse." Gregor said, unflinchingly.

I didn't really know what to say to that.

Luckily all the Risen in there were mooks. I dreaded the day more powerful Risen showed up.

"They were an excellent time waster," Robin remarked. "I'll get these three to their pegasi. The four of you, however," Robin thought for a moment. "Join the battle. Help Chrom and Frederick stall for as much time as you can. Emmeryn's life hangs in the balance!"

Gregor nodded, giving a thumbs up.

"Sure will, Mr. Robin! Won't let ya an' Her Majestyfulness down!"

"Hmph."

I saluted. "Will do."

I didn't know how much help I'd be. Stalling for time was easy, but the Plegians, even with their main army still around Ylisstol, outnumbered us. Of course, most of them were probably conscripts, while the Shepherds were seasoned warriors and the Feroxi troops' entire lifestyle was based on combat. It could've gone either way, but I still thought we were going to win. With the added bonus of saving Emmeryn's life, it seemed like a net gain.

For once, I didn't feel fear going into battle. As long as my mistake was amended, I felt like I could do anything asked of me.

Fighting in an open battlefield was very different from fighting in close quarters. That may have seemed obvious, but the differences to me were staggering. Because I didn't mentally prepare myself completely, I nearly died upon entering the main battle.

Luckily, the ruins were nearby, so getting there wasn't the problem. Beyond the differences in fighting in close quarters versus fighting in the open, were our opponents. Gangrel must've saved some of his best troops for the real battle, delegating guard duty to those who didn't want to be in the war in the first place. Strangely generous of him, but it worked out in our favor so I didn't really care.

I nearly died.

I was unprepared, charging into battle like I was. I lost sight of Donnel, Gregor, and Panne almost instantly as I entered the maelstrom. My senses were overtaken by the chaos, and I hesitated. That gave one of the many Plegians fighting an opportunity to kill me.

I shouted as I felt the sword slice my side. My armor kept it from getting too far, but it still went deep. If I hadn't had any armor, I would've died then and there.

Maybe it was this knowledge that set me off. Adrenaline pounding through my veins I counterattacked, swinging my sword wildly and confusing the Plegian, before I buried my blade in his chest and roughly tore it out. The ground became stained with red.

Heart pounding in my chest, and the constant roar of battle and bloodshed around me, I continued onward.

What followed was difficult for me to follow. I fought, cutting down Plegian soldier after Plegian soldier. My sword was red, and the blood of those I'd killed drenched my clothes. It got to the point that I couldn't tell if it was really the blood of the Plegians or my own. Perhaps a combination of both? It was impossible to say. Eventually, I stumbled upon a Plegian I had no business fighting, considering their cloak and tome. Magic and I did not mix, and I was quickly reminded of that when a fireball nearly burned my head clean off.

I fell to the ground, primal instincts taking over. It was becoming too much for me, and the fireball was the last straw.

What an inglorious death.

Like so many times before, the final blow never came. Instead of fire turning me into a human barbecue, I felt liquid splash against me. I opened my eyes.

The mage's head was cleaved from top to bottom, courtesy of an axe. The side with his face fell forward with a wet 'thunk', followed by the rest of the body.

"Gods damn!" Vaike said, approaching me. "Ya look like yer about to fall down dead!" He then offered me a hand.

For a minute, I couldn't even understand the gesture. I shook my head, coming to my senses before taking his hand. He pulled me to my feet easily.

"I feel like it too," I mumbled, rubbing the back of my head before remembering we were on a battlefield. "Er, we should probably- Oh, shit!"

I didn't have time to tell him about the soldier coming up on his flank, so I pushed him out of the way and blocked the blow with my near-broken shield. The wood cracked, but it got the job done. I swung my blade upward, cutting through his rib cage and slicing his neck open. Once he was on the ground, I put him out of his misery.

"E-eh, the Vaike knew he was there!" Vaike explained poorly, getting back to his feet. "Just wanted to let ya get a bit of glory yourself!"

"Yeah, yeah, you're still not wearing armor," I patted my chest. "Saved me a few times."

"Heh, Teach doesn't need armor!" He flexed. "These do all the protectin' I need!"

"Uh huh. We're still in the middle of battle," I pointed out, looking around at the fighting. "We got a game plan or...?"

"Er, yeah!" Vaike said, picking up his axe and preparing to charge. I planned on following. "We gotta get to the courtyard! Captain's orders!"

"Chrom. Got it," I answered, nodding. My sword arm felt tired and heavy. "I'll go with you!"

"Ha! Good to have you, then!" Vaike laughed.

We charged.

Again, carnage predictably ensued. Only that time, I had direction. The courtyard was nearby, but considering the amount of Plegians on the field, it would be difficult to get to. They had to run out of troops at some point, I thought to myself. I shuddered at the thought of fighting the bulk of the Plegian army, if those we were fighting were a small part of it.

Made me wonder just how the fuck we were going to win the war.

Having an objective instead of blindly swinging my sword and hoping I killed every enemy around me did wonders for my constitution. That mindset only grew more effective the further we pressed. Other Shepherds arrived, fighting alongside and with me. It was emboldening. For the first time since I'd come to the world of Awakening, I felt like what I was doing was right.

The long belated feelings of relief swept over me as we pushed ever further. It felt like everything really was going to be alright. Robin was helping the pegasus knights, who would swoop in and save Emmeryn. If Gaius did his part, there would be no Risen to foil that plan. That was the one big obstacle in Robin's plan in canon, and with my foreknowledge he solved it.

And it only took you ruining your friendship to do it.

I didn't care. As long as Emmeryn got out alive and didn't die because of my mistake, I didn't care. Not even my venomous inner voice could take me down.

We breached the castle courtyard, with Plegians still trying to keep us from going forward. I couldn't see Chrom, but it was doubtless that he was leading the charge. The remaining Plegians scattered, while several pockets still fought with the combined might of the Feroxi troops and Shepherds. For once, I wasn't put off by the sounds around me. It felt like I could do anything.

In a brief reprieve, I looked up, squinting as the sunlight blocked my view. I could make out Emmeryn's silhouette, outlined against the shining sun. She stood upon a stone, or bone, precipice that seemed to defy gravity. I was surprised the tip of it didn't break off just from her standing on it.

I laughed a little, an inappropriate joke going through my head before I rejoined the fight.

The battle was coming to a close, that much was clear. The Plegians were falling back into the corners of the courtyard, completely trapped. While the fighting continued, in the distance, I swore I heard the sound of beating wings. I looked up once more.

The pegasus knights were coming. I couldn't get a good look at them because of the distance, but I knew it was them. Two flanking one in the middle. It was the most glorious sight I'd ever seen. They flew through the air gracefully, closing in on Emmeryn's position.

Whatever fatigue I had left instantly faded at the sight. I shouted, either in joy or in relief, I couldn't tell. I charged, cutting down another Plegian who cowered as he saw me coming, curling up into a ball before I slew him.

There was no sign of any Risen archers or Aversa anywhere. I took that to mean that Gaius had succeeded. For once, things were looking bright.

It didn't stay that way for very long. Not long at all.

Everything was, as I'd said, going well. The Plegians were about to be completely decimated, and Emmeryn was going to be returned unharmed. It was the perfect win, with minimal casualties on our side to boot. There was just one thing I'd forgotten. One thing I didn't realize I had to account for, hell, nobody had accounted for.

It was the same thing that had a hand in having me tell Robin everything that was going to happen that day.

My elation evaporated in an instant, and I got the feeling that something very bad was about to happen. That was even before the same scream that haunted my dreams echoed through the battlefield. Many paid it no notice, but I knew it for what it was. It was the scream of that thing.

The Deadlord.

It felt like the remaining battle around me slowed down. I could see everything happen with perfect clarity.

The Deadlord was like a black splotch against the brilliant blue sky. For a moment, it didn't move. Then, it pulled its right hand back like it was about to loose an arrow from a bow.

No. Nononononononono!

I ran towards its position, pushing people out of the way indiscriminately. I didn't even bother checking if it was enemy soldiers I was pushing through or my friends. I tried. I tried my damned hardest to get to the Deadlord.

I wasn't fast enough.

With another scream that would, like so many other things, haunt my nightmares, I saw the arrow sail through the air. Despite my better judgment, I followed its path.

Emmeryn was nearly safe, I could see. She was reaching her hand out to one of the pegasus knights, outlined by the sun itself as it descended below the horizon. I swore I heard the arrows whistle, even among the cacophony that surrounded me. I saw it tear through the sky towards Emmeryn.

The arrow stopped in Emmeryn's chest. Her body fell from the precipice to the courtyard floor.

My heart stopped. For a moment, I couldn't even think. I didn't take a breath. It felt like ice water had been injected into my veins.

I felt a slash to my already injured side, and I spun around. I was too dazed to counterattack, though, and I paid for that.

A Plegian's sword pierced straight through my stomach, and out through my back. For a moment, I felt nothing.

And then I saw nothing, except for the distant sound of my own blood flowing to the ground. It sounded like a waterfall.

You keep trying to be something you're not.

I saw it. Faintly, in the distance. A glowing light. I followed it. There was nowhere else to go.

If you were to go home right now, do you think your friends and family would even recognize you?

It was difficult. So, so difficult. I thought I would die if I kept going. It felt like I did.

You still don't understand that your actions and inaction has consequences. But then again, this is a game, so why should you care?

I flew between unconscious and conscious, never staying in one place for too long. Is this what death felt like? I didn't like it. It was too dark.

You could have done so much if you hadn't waited. You could have turned the tide. Even the you from the future did. Why didn't you?

Sometimes I could hear voices, calling out to me. Sometimes I'd even see a blurry face, looking down on me. The distant sensation of skin attempting to stitch itself back together made itself known around my stomach. A familiar feeling, if physically unpleasant. I went back under-

Did you really believe that here, of all places, you could achieve that which you always wanted? You wanted to be a storybook character. Someone they told tales about. You wanted to make your mark on history.

But in the end, you know the truth.

You're no hero.

It was like a fever dream. Everything felt hot, and I could feel sweat drenching the blankets I was covered in. It was too hot; I needed out. I needed to get away from everything.

"Lie still," A gentle voice said, as I felt a hand push me down. "I've just finished healing your wound. To have it reopen would be catastrophic."

My mouth felt dry as I opened my mouth to speak. "Where," I began, my voice sounding garbled. "Where am I?"

My eyes focused on a face in front of me. He looked like a pretty blonde-haired woman, but the instant I saw him, I knew better.

Libra.

"You are in the medical tent," He answered, picking up his staff as he stood up over me. "It has been several days since you gained that injury. And since… the tragedy that befell you and yours at the Plegian capitol."

…no. No. Nonono…

"Do not move," Libra ordered. "It will be several days before you are able to move unhindered. As I said, reopening your wound would be terrible for you."

It took several moments for my brain to catch up with my body, and I settled back down in the sheets. It wasn't a bed I was laying on. A cot, maybe? I couldn't tell and I didn't care.

I'd failed. I couldn't stop it, and everything ended up happening in the worst way possible.

"Is he alright, Libra?" A familiar voice asked, coming from behind the blond-haired priest in question.

Libra nodded. "If he wasn't found for much longer, he would have died. As with all the others, they should not exert themselves until they have fully recovered."

Robin came up behind him. His eyes were shadowed as he came closer. "Good. I'd like to speak with Alex for a moment, if you don't mind."

Libra raised a brow but said nothing. "If you will it. Remember what I told you." He acquiesced.

I didn't see him leave, but I heard the flap of the tent move as he went out of my sight. Once he was gone, Robin sighed, and sat on the floor next to me. He rubbed his temples.

"…Robin, please," I begged, my voice sounding watery. "Did it… We didn't…?"

Robin looked at me blankly for a moment, before sighing. "It was a disaster, Alex. Almost everyone saw Emmeryn fall from that precipice. I, along with everyone else, had to drag Chrom away." He looked down, his gaze hollow. "That Deadlord. I've heard from several others that it was standing at the edge of the battle. Did you…?"

I gulped, feeling like there was a boulder in my throat. "T-there… I saw him," I rasped, coughing after a moment. "He… he had a bow in his hands. I saw him pull it back, and the next thing I knew Emmeryn was falling from the cliff with an arrow sticking out of her," I closed my eyes, my breathing becoming labored. "Robin… She didn't make it, did she?"

Robin rubbed his eyes. For a moment, I swore I saw sympathy in them. "As far as I can tell, Alex, Exalt Emmeryn is dead."

I felt sick.

"That is not all, however," Robin said. I'd nearly just threw the sheets over myself so I wouldn't have to look him in the eye, but once he said that, what remained of my attention was focused solely on him. "Gaius' mission was not entirely a failure. He did not assassinate Aversa; he told me she was not even there. He did manage to grab this, though."

I couldn't remember what it looked like back in the game, but it was impossible to mistake the dark orb Sable in Robin's gloved palm for anything else.

Dear God, this chapter took me a long while to write, almost as long as the next one. Hopefully I'll be able to finish Chapter 14 before next Saturday. That said, Chapter 15 probably won't be seen until September, unfortunately. On the plus side, it'll probably be one of the longer chapters I'll write.

So yeah, Emmeryn's dead again, despite our wayward protagonists 'best' efforts. The method was different, though. I wonder how that'll play out?

See ya next time!

Edited on 2/19/21. These chapters have been getting progressively easier to edit lol.