It didn't take us long to get to the camp. My eyes narrowed at the sight before me, lips peeling back in a sneer. Risen were everywhere. It was like looking at ants swarming over a log. Purple ants.

"Gods, this must be…" Chrom trailed off.

"The work of that other Robin, yes," Robin confirmed. "It doesn't make much sense to me to attack us so soon after agreeing to supply us with ships, or with Valm still at our doorstep, but we have little time to ponder."

"Agreed," I grunted, unsheathing the sword at my hip. Luckily, I still had my armor on. I'd be in trouble otherwise. "Kill them all?"

"They're Risen," Chrom replied, Falchion at the ready. "Leave none of them standing!"

"Right," I nodded. "Robin?"

"I will not allow another Shepherd to die under my watch," Robin said. "As you said, Chrom. Leave none standing!"

And with that, we were off. My armor clanked with every step, a satisfying sound to my ears. A Risen heard our war cry, turning to us. Its rotted mouth opened, a shrill screech tearing into the air. A moment later, its head went sailing, falling to the ground and dissipating before the rest of its body followed. Chrom and Robin immediately got to work and fought.

I'd almost forgotten that Chrom was basically superhuman; the guy was cutting Risen down left and right. Their purple and decayed bodies fell to the ground in droves, black blood staining the earth before evaporating into smoke. Robin wasn't idle either. His lightning magic blackened several Risen at once, causing their bodies to jitter and spasm before the force of his magic tore them apart completely, leaving nothing behind.

I cut another Risen down, my sword drilling into its chest and out through its back. It fell to the ground with a wet 'thump' and disappeared, its empty eye sockets staring into nothing. I saw another Risen get swept up by a Pegasus Knight, her spear going straight through the chest before being sent hurling through the air. It dissipated before it even hit the ground. Glad we were able to keep a few of the Pegasus Knights with us, including Cordelia and Sumia. I had no doubt that they were making mincemeat out of them, especially considering the Risen had no air support of their own.

My mind was blank as I punched a Risen across the face, a momentary pain shooting through my right arm as the monster reeled from the iron fist. I cut off its arms when it tried to strike me, and my sword slashed across its exposed chest a second later.

They are endless.

The Shepherds were strong. We were strong. But the enemy was many. Too many. I cut down my fair share of Risen, my heartbeat steady. That was, until I realized they were separating me from the rest of the army.

It was a tactic I was familiar with. It was the same one that killed Donnel years ago. They were coming at me at all sides.

If only I had a shield…

One of them grabbed the plating on my back, causing me to stumble. The bastards had incredible strength, but that didn't stop me from flipping the offender over my shoulder and slamming it into the ground with a 'thunk'. Stabbed the bastard through the chest, but I wasn't able to celebrate my victory for long before another one charged at me, colliding with my side and sending me to the ground sprawling. I swiped with my right hand, catching the Risen across the face. The pain that shot through my arm that time was worse, almost too much for me to simply ignore. It was successful at getting the purple monster off me, though, and with my sword still in my grasp, I plunged it into its stupid face.

I tried getting up, but I stumbled again. This gave another Risen enough time to send me to the ground, this time with a boot to the chest. I felt it through the armor, able to hear my ribs fracture, able to hear the sound of the Risen's foot breaking against the metal, but it didn't care. Corpses couldn't feel, after all. My sword was knocked out of my grasp, but that didn't mean I stopped fighting. I used my good hand, protected by my gauntlet, and punched the Risen as hard as I could. The abomination was sent to the ground.

A sharp pain through my back, and I was down on the floor again. A Risen had come up behind me with a halberd, and more of his fellows were on the way.

Am I really about to die here, to these bastards? No!

Easier said than done as I felt something holding down my arm. I elbowed a Risen next to me, sending it to the ground, but it wasn't enough. They were everywhere. They were infinite. The rest of my limbs soon followed.

And I was beaten. It didn't matter how strong I was. Even the strongest bastard in the world could succumb to sheer numbers, and I wasn't even the strongest. A Risen, taller than most I'd seen, walked up to me, large greatsword in hand. It aimed the tip of its blade at my neck, the area with the least amount of armor.

I didn't stop fighting, even if my rational mind told me that struggle was futile with so many pinning me down.

Luckily for me, the struggle wasn't futile. It didn't go unnoticed.

The grip on one of my legs went slack, and I kicked with all the force I could muster against the large Risen. Its blade sank into the earth just next to my neck, and soon enough I could feel the vice on my left hand loosen as well and I fought with all my might to break free.

I am so glad those pegasus knights came with us-!

Red hair whizzed past my vision, and a shiny spear went straight through a Risen's skull.

…Cordelia…!

"Alex!" She shouted. "Are you okay!?"

I blinked, completely forgetting what was happening for a second before coming back to my senses. I stood up, my back aching with every step.

"Y-yeah," I replied, my voice barely audible because of the sound of battle. "We need to… get to the rest. I got separated. Where are they?"

Her spear pointed towards the center of the camp. Of course they'd be there. I couldn't even recall why I'd been separated from them. Stupid bloodlust on my part, maybe? Severa'd kill me if she found that out, and that wasn't even factoring in Cordelia. Who I was right next to.

I stopped myself from facepalming; that'd be a horrible thing to do, considering I was wearing gauntlets. Instead, I picked up my sword and made my way to the others.

Things were a lot easier with Cordelia at my side, her spear stabbing Risen left and right. I was able to clean up a few she missed. She was practically unstoppable; every time a Risen got close, her pegasus retreated into the air, buying her time to counterattack. She was like an angel, white wings and all. And the way her body moved through the battlefield, effortlessly cutting down her enemies-

I distracted myself from my stupid thoughts by focusing on getting back to everyone else.

The Shepherds had formed a circle, surrounding those who couldn't defend themselves. Those people being Frederick and a few of our clerics, including Lissa. I was spotted within a few moments, the person who did being a good friend of mine. It was actually more like a defensive perimeter, with physical obstacles for the Risen trying to get through, like hastily placed crates or makeshift walls of planks.

"Alex!? The hell're ya doin' out there!?" Sully shouted, pulling me into the circle while a Risen came up on her flank. My sword stopped it from sneaking up on her, and a minute later I stumbled into the protective ranks of the Shepherds. "Gods damn these dastards! Where'd they all come from!?"

"Maybe if you pray really hard, Naga will tell you!" I shouted back.

"Oh that's just damned rich, huh?" Sully replied sarcastically. "If ya weren't injured I'd boot you in the groin."

"If that attack doesn't end up paralyzing me, maybe I'll give you a good shot at it- Fuck!" I tried getting up but found myself faceplanting into the ground. "-My back got fucked up something fierce!"

"Get to the clerics then, ya moron! I ain't got time to carry you!" Sully snarled, a Risen barreling into her shield and nearly knocking her off her feet. "Where the hell's Kjelle when you need her…!?"

"Will do!" I tried to find my footing, but unlike before my back refused to allow me to stand up. Whatever the Risen had done to me had been getting worse. So, I just laid back down and attempted to catch my breath.

I didn't have to wait long for help to arrive. A flutter of wings and boots hitting the mud alerted me to her presence.

"Alex," Cordelia whispered, before shaking her head and hoisting me up, putting my arm around her neck. "We need to get you to a healer. Now."

"D-don't need to tell me twice. I can barely stand- Jesus-!" I hissed as I took step after step with her.

A look of concern flashed on her face for just a second before it deepened into a determined frown. Through the pain, I felt awful for having caused her to do that. Another, more primal part of me felt happy that the agony would go away soon. Every step, even with Cordelia's support filled my back with jagged white-hot spikes.

I saw them, finally, staves in hand. Lissa was leading them, from the looks of it. As far as I could tell, a few of the Shepherds were there too. Stahl and Gregor, from the looks of it.

"P-put me down right there," I pointed shakily to a crate. "Let-let the healers do their work."

"I'm not leaving you," Cordelia said, an edge in her voice as she placed me as gently as she could, leaning against the crate. "Not when you're like this."

"W-who said anything about that?" I laughed, before coughing. "Damn, I took a beating. Where's the-?"

"Right here, sir!" A female cleric with brown hair squeaked, coming up with a staff that had a glowing green light covered in a glass ball. "I-I'll get you back up on your feet in no time!"

I let out a breath. "Thank the Lord." I looked up at Cordelia. "I'll be fine, sweetheart. Just got banged up a bit. Too stupid for my own good. If you hadn't-!"

"What did I just say, Alex!?" Cordelia snapped, before blinking and pinching the bridge of her nose. "I'm… I'm sorry. I just told you I'm not leaving you like this. I refuse to-!"

I looked to the side, pursing my lips, before surprising the cleric next to me by leaning forward to grab her gauntleted hand in my own. "Then stay with me. Sit with me, if you want. When I'm back up, we'll both head out there and kick ass and take names."

Cordelia looked down at my hand, closed her eyes, and let out a shuddering breath. "You… I'm not sure about that last part, but alright."

"Hah! Don't worry about it. Just take a seat next to me while she helps me."

"I won't be able to help you if you pull stunts like that," The cleric grumbled next to me.

"I can't just leave my wife hanging like that, could I?" I shot back, feeling the healing light of her staff washing over my back, the familiar prickling sensation of muscle and tissue stitching itself back together coursing through me. Cordelia had taken a seat next to me, and at my casual admittance, muttered something under her breath.

"I love you, Cordelia," I coughed out vehemently. "You and Severa. I'm not about to let a small injury like this take me away from you."

I could see her lip quivering just slightly, and I put my arm around her for a brief moment before looking around.

The small base we'd eked out for ourselves was messy, but defensible. The ground had turned from a gentle prairie into a muddy battlefield, with the broken, rusty weapons of Risen strewn about. Hastily carved wooden spikes acted as barriers in some places, keeping the Risen at bay for a while. I sighed, running my good hand down my face. I blinked when I saw a streak of long, blue hair nearly whizz past me.

"Lucina!" I called, causing the future princess to stop in her tracks and look to me. "Been awhile. Do you know where Chrom and Robin are?"

She didn't answer me for a moment; she only looked at me, watching as the cleric nearby did her work. "You're injured."

"Oh my God- It's just a flesh wound! Christ," I could feel Cordelia's slight glare at my side and coughed again. "Please, tell me. Where are they?"

Lucina pursed her lips, her hand on Parallel Falchion's pommel, before she turned and pointed forward. "He's at the front of the formation. Both of them are, I believe. I was on my way to join them."

I breathed out a sigh of relief. "Thank God. Alright, just wanted to confirm. You go an-!"

A familiar scream echoed across the prairie, and when it faded away it was as if the entire world had gone silent. Near our camp, there was a hill, larger than most of the ones around. A black armored figure crested the hill, looking down on us with red pinpricks behind a helmet.

"…Oh God," I whispered to myself. "I-it's-!"

It screamed again, charging.

My head hurts.

I struggled to get up, my back not yet fully healed. The cleric next to me squawked like a bird, saying something unintelligible herself. Cordelia rose too, her eyes planted firmly on the armored Deadlord charging our ranks.

Lucina gasped. "That's…! It can't be!"

"That's the Deadlord," I nodded. "I haven't seen that bastard since the day Emmeryn died. I can't say I've been looking forward to seeing him again."

"I…" Lucina eyes remained wide, and her already pale skin grew paler still. "Could it be it followed us through time…? Sir Alexander…"

"Huh, maybe that's why I get chills up my back looking at it," I commented. "Anyways, I'm feeling fine now. You healed my back, right?"

The cleric next to me nodded. "As best as I could, sir."

I nodded. "Good. Cordelia, I think we need you back in the skies. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Lucina? Let's go."

We found Chrom and Robin leading a group of people towards the front of some sort of formation. It was a bit like a spearhead, in a way, with Sully and others in the back, protecting the healers and other noncombatants, while they both led the charge against the Risen that assaulted us. The Risen, however, had stopped coming as soon as the Deadlord's roar flowed through the plains.

Robin noticed us approach. "Alex! Thank the Gods! When we lost you, I almost thought-!"

"It'll take a lot more than these fuckers to take me down," I replied briskly. "I guess we'll be your backup. Where is it?"

I saw Chrom then, his expression contorted into an angry scowl as armored footsteps rang across the battlefield. Falchion was pointed squarely at the Deadlord, with Chrom standing as still as a statue.

"Father, that thing is…!" Lucina attempted to say.

"I know," Chrom growled. "I know what it is. It's the monster that murdered Emm."

"Chrom, as your tactician and as your friend, I would suggest not facing it alone," Robin said, walking up next to the blue-haired lord. "We know very little about this enemy."

"Thank you," Chrom breathed. "All of you. I am blessed to have companions such as you by my side. Now," Chrom stood straighter, his cape billowing behind him. "Who are you, Deadlord?"

The Deadlord was as silent as the grave. Then, its armor shook, and it took me a moment to realize it was laughing. It was a hoarse sound, like sand being shaken inside a sack. It spoke then, its voice guttural and unnatural.

"Your eyes hold hatred. Anger. Fear. All of you," It snarled, its head twitching. "I once held such emotions. Now I feel nothing."

"I guess Grima doesn't like it when his minions can feel, huh?" I commented.

"I take no pleasure in doing this," The Deadlord intoned. "My name has been washed away by time. Now, I am Verrat, Dog of Grima. Let my existence serve as a warning to those who follow in my footsteps."

He pulled a sword from his back, a blade of shining, glimmering silver.

"That's Sir Alexander's sword!" Lucina shouted, Parallel Falchion at the ready. "What did you do to him!?"

…What?

"Alexander is dead," Was Verrat's simple reply. "The Last Shepherd perished. The final nail for the future's coffin, until you fell back through the stream. The time for talk has ended," The Deadlord's helmeted head looked up, red light vanishing for a moment. "War has begun anew, as it always does. Come then, warriors! Have your resolution!"

The Deadlord screamed again, a sound so filled with pain and anger I nearly took a step back. Its shining sword glimmered, as if it was excited for the carnage to come and the blood it was going to shed.

Three of us charged at once, while Robin stayed behind, lightning dancing between his fingertips as he readied a spell.

Chrom's Falchion struck first, meeting Verrat's own blade and sending a shower of sparks to the ground. They clashed again before Verrat pushed him back to block Lucina's own swing, stopping it from connecting with his neck. I made my move then, attempting to stab his shoulder, where the armor looked weak, only for the Deadlord to raise his right arm and stop my blade in its tracks. Verrat jumped back, farther than any human could go, gaining distance.

I could feel exhaustion creeping in bones. Hid it as best as I could, but between being swarmed by Risen earlier and having my back injured recently, I wasn't fighting at my best. Cursed my own stubbornness, then. I should've stayed behind.

Chrom, Lucina and I stood just in front of the still Deadlord, swords at the ready.

Wish I had my own Falchion…

A blast of lightning erupted behind us, surging towards the black armored foe. Verrat raised his right hand and braced. The lightning slammed into him, sending him back a little. He kept his footing, though, and once the dust had settled, he stood tall.

He was properly intimidating. I'd give the bastard that.

Verrat charged with speed I could barely react to. He swung his shining sword in a wide arc, just barely bisecting all three of us in one. Chrom attempted to get a jab through his armor, but Verrat parried and kicked Chrom in the chest, sending him a few feet back. I dashed forward only to have the Deadlord move to the right a little and send an elbow into the middle of my shoulder blades on the way down, causing me to tumble across the muddy ground. Lucina tried again, this time her blade connected with the being. It screeched against his plate armor, and Lucina soon joined her father on the ground. Robin sent another bolt of lightning through the Deadlord, but the bastard just fucking tanked it. Yellow sparks shot across his armor, his body jittering a little as his muscles moved of their own volition, but after that and beyond an odd grunt, there was nothing.

Verrat raised his sword, ready to bring it down on a still recovering Chrom.

A crow got in his way.

A damn crow.

The black bird came in from the side, slamming into Verrat's helmet, fluttering and squawking. Verrat stopped his sword's plunge, and his right hand came up to remove the offending bird. Unfortunately for the Deadlord, this gave Chrom just enough time to get back up, and I watched in awe as Falchion glowed. A blue light burned through the air and he struck, shouting. Falchion grazed Verrat's steely hide, burning through the metal, but not hitting the flesh within. Verrat jumped back again.

Henry.

I had completely forgotten about the little Plegian dark mage. It'd been years since I thought about him at all. Wherever he was, he apparently saw fit to save Chrom's life. I'd be grateful, but if he made a single hand pun I'd punch him in his stupid, smiling face.

I shook my head and got back to my feet. I had much more important things to worry about.

Lucina and I stood at Chrom's side, staring down the Deadlord who, except for the scratch against his breastplate, seemed none the worse for wear.

"That could have gone better," I breathed out, my eyes not leaving those of the Deadlord. "Nature's on our side, at least."

"It may have something to do with the boy we met earlier," Robin said, coming up behind us. "But that is for later. His defense is strong and his attack… Chrom, are you alright?"

"Father?"

Chrom chuckled, his breathing somewhat labored. "I'm fine. Dastard got me good but I've had worse," Chrom's azure gaze focused. "We can't keep this up forever. Magic seems to distract him, for a moment. Any ideas, Robin?"

"I have a plan, yes," Robin began. "I shall hit him with magic, and while he's reeling from the spell, all three of you attack at once. He can't block all of your attacks at once."

"Sounds good to me. Not sure how long he'll wait for us here, so better late than never," I grunted, looking to Chrom and Lucina and nodding.

"Go!" Chrom shouted.

We shot forward, a bolt of lightning once more marking our path. It struck the Deadlord, and like the first time, he seemingly caught it with his hand and was pushed back. Chrom went for the middle, I went for the legs, and Lucina performed the maneuver both she and Chrom used back in Arena all those years ago; she jumped, far higher than I ever could, and she spun with Parallel Falchion in her hands, zooming towards the Deadlord.

We all struck as one. Our blades connected with both plate and flesh, as evidenced by the black blood that painted the ground the second our swords hit.

It's not over.

I turned around to see the blood-splattered form of the Deadlord, still standing. He was obviously wounded, but not enough to kill. Because of course it would never be that easy.

My next action was, admittedly, a stupid one. Either it was the adrenaline coursing through my veins or the primal part of my head that moved me, it didn't matter. I attempted to strike Verrat, alone.

That was a mistake.

The Deadlord's hand shot straight towards me, hooked underneath my breastplate, and lifted me off the ground. A sense of vertigo pervaded me as he swung down. My back hit the ground with a loud 'clang!'. I coughed, tasting iron in the back of my throat. I tried to get back only to have Verrat step on my chest, pinning me to the ground.

That was the beginning of the end.

Lucina attempted to get him across the side, only to have the Deadlord's iron-like fist jab her in the stomach, interrupting her long enough for him to strike again. Lucina was barely able to block it, but was sent to the ground regardless.

Lastly, Chrom came in and defend his daughter.

Their swords clashed once more, the Deadlord's silver against Chrom's steel and blue. The clashed several more times, sparks occasionally lighting their faces up. After one more climactic burst, Chrom fell back a little.

The Deadlord was fighting Chrom to a standstill, and I got a good look at it from under his boot. The near crushing weight on my chest was lifted as Chrom went in for another round, and I was lifted into the air once more.

The Deadlord grabbed me under the breastplate again, using me as a makeshift shield against the two lords. I struggled to move, attempting to do anything to get him to let go of me. A snap decision led me to crashing my sword into his neck, hoping that it'd strike something, anything to either incapacitate or make him retreat.

My sword connected, and my heart dropped into my stomach as I watched it break on him. One half of the blade fell to the ground behind the Deadlord, while I was left holding the broken hilt.

"You were always too stubborn for your own good, Alexander," The Deadlord rumbled. "Reckless. Stupid. That is what made it so easy to kill you. Not even the Exalts before me dare to attack while I hold you. Can you see them?"

"Fuck… you…!"

"If you are not careful, one day you shall end up as I. But that is enough talk, I feel-"

I stabbed my sword into the helmet's visor, jamming it directly where I thought one of the Deadlord's eyes were. The 'squelch' of something popping inside reached my ears. The Deadlord did not move. Only one eye stared at me, with what I thought was bemusement.

"Did you not hear me, Alexander?" The Deadlord asked. "I. Feel. Nothing!"

The next thing I knew, I was sent careening through the air. Wind roared in my ears as I soared. The ground flew beneath me, a blur of green and brown. My mind was an utter blank, only feeling something again when I slammed into someone. I felt as I collided with their chest, felt the sound of the precious air being forced out of their lungs.

A dark ring surrounded my vision, slowly engulfing my sight as I saw the battle continue, with Verrat fighting Lucina and Chrom at the same time, both Falchions flying like partners through the clear air towards their shared opponent. Verrat dodged, blocked, parried, and tanked most of their hits, with only a few cuts across his armor and the occasional spray of black blood to show that he was even taking any damage at all.

The last thing I heard was the sound of the person I'd slammed getting up as they shouted. My last sight was Chrom and Lucina clashing with the Deadlord one final time.

The darkness took me.

No dreams or visions, only black and white. Blankness. Complete and utter non-existence. It was like looking into the abyss only you were the abyss and it was all around you and you couldn't escape from it-

Is this what death is like?

That was the one lone thought I had before pure light breached the dark and white. My eyes opened, sluggishly, as if they were being held down by weights. When my vision was finally clear, I was greeted by an unfamiliar ceiling. The fabric of a tent, the light of the noonday sun falling in through the thin sheet.

"…What…" I rasped, attempting to sit up. "What… happened…?"

I thought for a moment, trying to remember how, exactly, I ended up on a cot in a tent. When I looked down at my torso, I added 'covered in bandages' to that list. My eyes narrowed, staring into nothing as I pondered.

The memories hit me like a cavalry charge. The Deadlord. Lucina. Chrom. Robin. The Risen. We were under attack-!

"God!" I gagged, my chest screaming in protest every time I so much as twitched in any direction. I fell back to the cot I'd been laying in for God knew how long, unsure of what to do. One thing was clear to me, though: I'd been useless in that fight. Probably less than useless, honestly. For all my strength and armor, I could barely lay a scratch on the Deadlord. Not like Lucina and Chrom had.

There will always be a bigger fish.

I had no idea if they'd even won the fight after I got unceremoniously thrown like a sack of rotten potatoes. Although considering I was in a ramshackle, if comfortable, tent and cot, we won. Or at least fought to a standstill. I groaned, bringing a hand up in pinching the bridge of my nose, feeling a sudden headache coming on.

Hearing shuffling next to me, I turned only to see my fiancé sitting in a chair next to me.

Cordelia.

She was still wearing her armor. Her eyes were closed, and her red hair flowed over the chair behind her, with her mouth was ever so slightly agape. She looked peaceful like that, just sleeping.

I didn't want to wake her up. Unfortunately, I didn't have a choice in the matter. Slowly her eyes cracked open. She yawned, before her gaze met mine.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, unblinking. It had felt like years since the last time I felt uneasy staring into her gorgeous red eyes, but I felt it then.

Her lips pursed, and her eyes narrowed looking down at me. I felt like a kid who was about to be scolded.

"Do you know how injured you were, fighting that Deadlord?" Cordelia began. "Your ribcage was nearly pulverized, the wound on your back had reopened, and your leg was broken. I sat here and listened to them tell me how wounded you were."

"I-I," I stammered. "I didn't think I'd…"

"Evidently, you weren't thinking at all. Then again, I should've..." Her expression nearly broke then, but she kept whatever emotions she had raging within her under wraps as she continued, her voice a disturbing monotone. "I should've insisted that you stayed put. Maybe then you wouldn't have gone gallivanting off to the front lines again and nearly gotten yourself killed."

"Cordy, I'm sorry," I whispered. "This is my fault and no one else's. I guess I must've gotten cocky. Too many battles where I came out unscathed. You're right; I wasn't thinking. I don't ever think when I'm in battle, I just do. I act. And this time, I should've thought. Should've stayed and healed more. I fought that Deadlord with Lucina and Chrom and Robin and I was the first to go down."

We were both silent for a few seconds before Cordelia spoke again, her voice quavering slightly.

"I didn't think I needed to remind you, Alex," Cordelia said. "That before I found you and Severa, I'd almost lost everything dear to me. I was broken, now that I look back on it. But then, you came. You came and held me while I wept over a broken heart. And then you told me you loved me and I…" Cordelia straightened up. "When Severa came, and you told me she was our daughter, I felt complete. Like I had finally found what I didn't know I'd been searching for."

"Cordy…"

How to tell her that you feel the same way?

"I realize that we are at war, and that we are both knights in service to our lords," Cordelia added. "Even if I cannot find forgiveness for Robin, I understand your devotion to him, to protecting him, but would it be selfish if I said I wished you'd show the same for me?"

"I don't care if it is or not, but I know you are absolutely right to think that," I said, forcing myself to sit up. Unsure of what else to do, I reached out a grasped her hand in my own. "There's nothing wrong with feeling that, if that's what you're asking. You are a strong, capable woman. You've pulled my ass out of the fire more times than I can count, heh. Robin, though? He's got magic, and he can use a sword if he really needs to, but he's, well, squishy. And hell, it's my job to protect him. Even if he had two others capable of defending him I still felt like I was needed. That… That doesn't excuse the fact that I got the shit beaten outta me so unnecessarily, does it?"

Cordelia shook her head. "No. No it doesn't."

"Yeah, this is still a fuck up on my part, but let me tell you this," I'd been avoiding her gaze, at least a little, since the conversation started. I ended that; I looked her in the eye. "I won't die. Never. I won't let the future come true, or some dark version of it. I've already promised you this, remember? When this war is finally over, all I'll want to be hearing is bells and all I'll want to see is you in a wedding dress as I carry you out the aisle."

I saw Cordelia clench her fists. "Gods damn you! I'm supposed to be angry with you right now!"

"Admit it, it's the face, isn't it?" I smirked, tilting my head up. "You can't resist my charms."

"Hah, your charms?" Cordelia raised a brow. "I suppose you're handsome enough. Now, if only we could fix your head. You'd be the perfect husband!"

"Hey, just because I'm a lil' slow on the uptake doesn't mean you can make fun of me in front of my face!" I rebutted, turning in place and pouting. Inwardly, I was trying to keep from laughing. "It's like I don't even know you anymore."

"Oh, but you do know me," Cordelia replied, getting out of the chair as she knelt beside me. "I'm the woman you gave this gorgeously crafted ring to. And I refuse to let you get away from me now."

"Seems I've been tricked, then," I whispered. "I could've sworn I gave that ring to the most gorgeous woman in all the land. All I see before me now is a gorgeous tyrant- Jesus Christ I can't-!"

I broke down into giggles, then. Couldn't help it. I needed it, though. That sort of lighthearted thing. Especially with the news that my chest had probably nearly caved in.

And the fact that you scared the shit outta the woman you love. Can't forget that.

Cordelia's laugh filled the tent as well, putting me at ease. After giving ourselves a moment to simmer down, I laid back on my cot. "So, uh, did we win? Just curious."

"If you're talking about the Risen and that Deadlord, then yes," Cordelia explained, crossing her arms. "Prince Chrom and Princess Lucina drove him off, from what I heard. They all made sure you got the treatment you needed, but even then, they had other wounded to tend to, and clerics can't be everywhere at once. That is why you have bandages."

I traced my hand along the white fabric covering a majority of my chest, unpleasant memories of seeing Frederick in a similar position flashed across my mind. I shook my head, attempting to dispel them.

"Yeah, I really shouldn't have done that," I mumbled. "Is… Is Robin okay? I think, when I was thrown, I hit him."

Cordelia's brows furrowed, and her lips narrowed. "He was here but a few hours ago. He wanted to make sure you were alright, I suppose. I had a few choice words for him."

"Cordy."

Cordelia waved me off. "I wasn't in the best state of mind, love. Pay it no mind. He certainly didn't."

I opened my mouth to say something but couldn't find the right words. "Well, alright, then," One more thing came to mind. "How's Sev?"

I could tell from the way Cordelia frowned that whatever she was about to say wasn't good.

The boats would be at both sides of the channel between Carrion Isle and the mainland, ready to pick up most our troops except for the few that would remain in Ylisse. We set out the morning after the Risen's ambush. With most of our wounded healed and dead buried, we all wanted off that accursed spit of land. It was like the essence of Grima himself had seeped into the earth of the island. And the Deadlord, well, Chrom, Lucina, and Robin may have driven him off, but I still felt him, lurking in the shadows. It felt like we were being followed. That was my paranoia talking, though. I knew that much.

I had someone I needed to see. Someone I needed to apologize to.

We'd stopped just outside the port town that we'd entered through a few days before. We had been moving slower than anticipated, but we'd get to our newly acquired ships eventually.

I found her, destroying training dummies that she set up herself. She snarled as she tore through one as if it was made of tissue paper, her blade gliding through it like a hot knife through melted butter. She must have heard my approach, because she stopped not long after I spotted her.

"Sev," I called.

"What do you want?" She asked icily, turning around. Her expression was angry, furious even, but her voice was as level as could be. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Busy tearing apart our remaining training dummies, yeah," I rubbed the back of my neck. "I just, uh, came to see how you were doing. Your mom told me that you didn't… that you didn't take my getting injured all too well."

Cordelia didn't specify, but I knew there was some screaming involved.

Severa was silent for a moment, staring down at her boots, before she sheathed her sword and gave me a withering glare. "You said you wouldn't be like him."

"What?"

"You promised me you wouldn't be like him. Or did you already forget?" She clarified angrily. "You, from the future. Of course you already forgot, I guess, since you just decided it'd be a good idea to get back into the fight after being injured, and before that you ran off on your own to fight them by yourself! It's like you're the same person!"

"Sev, I-!"

"I don't want to go through that again!" Severa shouted. "I don't wanna go to sleep every day wondering if my mom or dad will come home this time, or if they'll take me to the shops like we always used to. I just want… I just want a family that cares about me, goddamnit! I don't care if it's selfish! It's all I've ever wanted! But no, you care more about your duty, apparently. You're just like him. You want to go out and fight until there's no more fighting to do, and after that you'll never come home, because you'll be dead."

Even I didn't think you'd sunk so far.

"I know what I did was wrong, but Robin was-!"

"Robin, Robin, Robin!" Severa parroted mockingly, crossing her arms, and pacing. "Even I didn't hear his name that often in the future. But now it's all you say! Which do you value more? Me and mom, or Robin?"

It felt like a slap to the face, her question.

"Well? I'm waiting!"

I closed my eyes, thinking for the right words to say. In the end, it was simple.

"You and Cordy," I replied easily. "You and your mother mean everything to me. I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of you. Robin will always be my friend and my lord, but were it come to that, I'd choose your safety over his life."

Severa's lips quivered as she looked down. "G-good answer. Maybe you're not too much like him. Yet."

"Severa," I began. "What I did was stupid. Incredibly stupid. It put you and Cordy on edge. I know that. But when I make a promise, I keep it," I looked her in the eye. "I will not become what I was in the future. It's clear to me that my future self didn't do what he was supposed to. I intend to make that right."

Severa wiped at her eyes. "Alright. I-I forgive you, I guess. Just don't do anything too stupid again. You're not that big of an idiot."

"I dunno. I'm pretty thickheaded," I mused.

"Yeah, you're talking to someone who had to grow up around you. I know all about that," Severa rolled her eyes.

"Don't make me tell your mother you're being mean to me again."

"Go ahead and try it. See where it gets you," She stuck her tongue out at me.

Soon after my talk with Severa, we were off. The boats, as promised, were all ours and waiting for us. Our troops on the other side of the channel had been informed of the situation, and were embarking just as we were. Before we set out, though, we had to say our goodbyes.

A good portion of the Shepherds would not be joining us, including Frederick. Along with him, Ricken, Nowi, Laurent, Miriel, Kellam, and Nah would be staying behind.

Everyone else, however, were still up and ready to go. There was one more order of business before we fully departed for Valm though. We reconvened at one more war council, with Frederick still acting as Knight-Commander. Chrom, Sumia, Robin, Basilio, Flavia, Phila, all the most important people in the army gathered in one place.

We mostly discussed how our troops would move, the logistics of carrying horses, pegasi, and griffins over the ocean. Horses didn't do too well on boats, I knew, but I had to admit, hearing so much about Griffins and Pegasi was interesting, at least.

It was going smoothly until Frederick said something that made me question if my ears were working propperly.

"I nominate Alexander as Knight-Captain and bid him act in my stead in this conflict," Frederick intoned.

I nodded, not quite understanding what Frederick said for a moment before I sputtered. "W-what!?"

"Any reason why you want him in your place?" Flavia asked with narrowed eyes. "I know you're going back to Ylisstol because of your injury, but are you sure he's the right choice?"

"Sir Alexander has numerous deeds to his name," Robin said beside me. I turned to him, gobsmacked. "The destruction of Khadein and the evil that dwelt there, the siege of Dolorous Guard to our south, it is clear he has talent in leading."

"I have confidence in his abilities," Frederick continued. "The struggles of command are arduous, but he will not be in it alone. Phila, would you help him, should he need it?"

"I would prefer he be given the proper instruction in a controlled environment, but in times like these there aren't many options. I agree." Phila replied.

"If you all think so, then I believe you. People in Ylisse still talk about Khadein to this day, and it has almost been a year," Chrom looked to me. "Alex, I am promoting you to Knight-Captain of Ylisse. From this point forward until a time in which Frederick can return to his duty, you are in charge of providing sound counsel in the art of warfare, and to aid Robin in the command of our army. Do you accept?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. They all stared at me, waiting for my answer. I could back out. The entire prospect was intimidating. Then I looked to Robin, who regarded me with pleading eyes, and then to Frederick, whose breathing was still wind-like in sound. I thought it over for a moment.

This might keep you from the front lines. This might push you away or pull you towards your family.

My expression hardened. "Chrom, I accept."

And that's a wrap. Finally finished this thing, and just in time too. After this, I'll be taking a week off. I can feel the burnout slowly creeping up on me. Don't worry, though; normal uploads will proceed as normal afterward. Just need some time to relax is all.

Here's a link to our Discord server: discord .gg/9XG3U7a

Hope you enjoyed!

Edited on 3/18/21. This chapter, to this day, still suffers from the revisions I put it through back in the day. It still comes off as disjointed, but hopefully a little less-so now.