The war council Chrom called only lasted around five minutes. Not long at all, considering the ones we had before then usually lasted for hours. Then again, Grima and Chrom's curse were a lot more simple threats than the Valmese. Not because Grima was any less dangerous, no, it was just clear what was happening, and considering winter was on its way, even the scaly doom-bringer himself would have to hunker down in Ylisstol.

I hope the Shepherds we left behind are alright.

Knowing them, they probably were, in some capacity. Either they'd escaped, or they were the leaders of the isolated pockets of resistance Verrat spoke of. I realized I may've been giving them too much credit; they were still human, and Grima and his forces weren't. Nothing would come from me agonizing about it, though. I knew that much. I had my own problems to worry about, namely the plan that we hatched up.

It was clear that without divine intervention, Chrom was going to die. Slowly. Painfully. I didn't even need to hear Tharja say it; Chrom constantly looked as if he was on death's door. Only under the constant supervision of healers could he stand, let alone fight. The curse was eating his body from the inside out. Certainly one of the more unpleasant ways to go, in my mind. And I couldn't imagine how his family must've been feeling.

And their daughter is in trouble, as well.

That was what got to me the most. That felt the closest to home. When I thought of that, I just wanted to give Chrom and Sumia a hug. I was going to be a father myself soon too, and I was already a bundle of frayed nerves and stress. To have your own flesh and blood captured by an unearthly abomination was nightmare-inducing.

Maybe it was because of that that I decided to stop putting off checking in on Severa.

It wasn't a conscious thing; the opposite, actually. There was a lot of shit that needed to be debated about and done. Hell, I was on the team that retrieved Vert from the ruins of Valm Castle. I hadn't even spoken to Cordelia for more than a few minutes at a time since the end of the last battle.

I had to admit, though, one part of me was dreading it. Severa's last words to me before I went to check on Chrom a few days before echoed within my skull.

I'm sorry…

There was nothing she needed to be sorry about. In fact, I was the one who should've apologized. For being such a shit father in the future. For allowing myself to become Verrat. Maybe if I'd died earlier in the future, she wouldn't be the way she was. She would've grown up without me. Perhaps she would've even had a higher opinion of me. She'd grow up with stories of her heroic father, rather than the rampaging fuckwit who only thought of his own revenge and anger rather than focusing on the one shard of family he had left.

My future self didn't deserve Severa. And he'd never have her again. I would make sure of it. Even if I had to plunge my sword into his chest. He wasn't me.

For once, I believe myself.

Severa had been discharged from the medical tent I laid her in. Besides a few bruises and scratches, she was fine. I knew that when I placed her there, of course, but I couldn't find anywhere else to put her back then. She was catatonic.

She recovered. Because of course she did; she was strong. I couldn't say for her emotional state, but she was definitely up and about. With that in mind, I decided to go to one of the few places I knew she could go to. Whenever we set up camp, we'd always clear a small area for training. Keep our skills and wits sharp and all that. We had crates upon crates of training dummies, and if we ran out, we could make more easily with scraps around the camp. It was actually pretty easy to get things going if we really wanted to, so much so that there'd be more than one training ground, even in surrounding camps.

I knew she was there the instant I saw the poor dummies on the ground, broken and mangled beyond recognition. Severa was a vicious fighter when she wanted to be.

She sat upon a crate nearby, sharpening her sword with a whetstone. The constant noise of stone against metal would be enough to drive anyone mad if it went on for too long, but I actually found it soothing. Apparently, she did as well. Her blue eyes were staring at the blade, but they were unfocused; they looked into nothing, as if she was off in her own little world.

I should've found her sooner. No doubt Cordelia had been by her side since the instant she returned

"…Severa," I called out uncertainly, walking toward her.

Severa stopped what she was doing and whipped her gaze up to me, completely focused on my every move. I knew that look in her eyes. Fear, mixed with anger. A combination I knew all too well. It broke my heart to see her like that. Even more so when I remembered that I, or a version of me, was the reason why she was like this. Why she had such tumultuous emotions.

It was my fault, and I was going to do everything in my power to fix it.

"…Dad," Severa mumbled, looking back down at her sword. "Did you need something?"

"I came to check in on you." I rubbed the back of my neck, looking towards the massacred training dummies. "Looks like you've started committing genocide against our poor dummies."

Severa grumbled something under her breath. "Oh yeah, and what else can I do? This is all I know. What would you do if you found out your father had been turned into Grima's puppet?"

I pursed my lips. "Well… can't say it'd change my own dad all too much. Your grandfather could be a bit of an asshole sometimes."

Severa shook her head. "Point still stands. I don't wanna talk about it. Hell, I don't wanna talk at all right now. And definitely not to you."

I felt a pang in my chest. "Not to me specifically, huh?"

Severa continued to grind her sword's edges. "Nope."

She doesn't mean it.

Severa could be prickly at the best of times. I knew that, but hearing her say that still hurt.

"I'll, uh…" I coughed into my iron fist. "I'll be sure to give you some room, then."

"Yeah."

I walked away, my chest feeling heavy. Apparently, not everything could be made better with a single conversation.

We would travel to the Divine Dragon Grounds in a small group. Chrom would be going, obviously, along with a small contingent of Shepherds. Unsurprisingly, Chrom's family outright demanded to go with him. Beyond them, though, me, Robin, Tiki, Tharja, Libra, Gaius, and Brady would be going as well. The two priests would be used to keep Chrom from wasting away on our journey, with Tharja to monitor his condition. Gaius would scout ahead to make sure that the path ahead was clear. Robin and I were to act as extra protection.

We wouldn't be away long; we were a smaller group and could move faster. Still, I was anxious about leaving my family again, even if this journey was to be our last time apart. I understood why Cordelia or Severa weren't coming along, of course. Cordelia was pregnant, and not even the baggiest of clothes could hide it anymore. Meanwhile, Severa had completely isolated herself, barely taking the time to talk to anyone else. She needed time to recover, and she couldn't do that while on another mission.

And so it fell to us.

I spent a few days before we were to leave preparing myself for what felt like another battle. Outside of Rudol and the surrounding areas, we had no idea as to the state of the rest of Valm. We had no idea if the rest of the continent had fallen to Grima's forces as Ylisse had. All I knew was that dark clouds still hung in the sky. Unnaturally so. It was like Grima's taint had polluted the air even this far away from where he sat.

It snowed a few days after the battle. The first snow of winter. I didn't expect to see the sun again. Not until Grima was dead and gone. Or sealed.

On the day we were to leave, Cordelia and I said our goodbyes. They quickly turned into more than that, of course.

We were in our tent, the only light being the oil lanterns we'd set up. I was in my armor and Cordelia in her usual baggy clothing. As I said, could still see her swollen belly. And considering Severa's birthday was closing in…

I gulped.

"…I'm sick of this," She mumbled out, her hand clutching mine. "I'm sick of saying goodbye to you. I'm sick of staying in camp all of the time. If I had it my way, I'd be out there with you. Helping to cure Prince Chrom, helping keep you safe."

I looked down. "Feel like we've had this conversation before… It won't be much longer now, I think. It's the middle of November, Cordy. And Severa was born in January."

Cordelia placed a hand against her stomach. "I know. Gods, I know, and it's making me nervous. The closer the day gets, the bigger the pit grows in my stomach. Er, figuratively, of course. I just… Love, I want you to promise me something."

"Anything," I instantly replied.

Cordelia looked to be on the verge of tears; I could see her lips quivering before she placed a hand against my cheek. "I-I know it's selfish of me to ask this, especially with so much going on. Your mission is important. But… but please, promise me you will be here when our child is born."

My heart skipped a beat.

Cordelia avoided my eyes for a moment. "Gods, that sounds worse now that I've spoken it aloud. I just… I'm tired, Alex. And if only for a brief moment before we charge off into battle, together again, I want to share this moment with you. We've taken lives and destroyed throughout our careers as knights in sworn service to Ylisse. For once, I'd like to nurture, to create…"

That was a sentiment I could get behind. One I hadn't thought about in a long time, but it was there all the same. I raised my gloved left hand to cup her cheek, feeling on the verge of tears as well.

"I promise, Cordelia," I said, trying my best to smile. "I'll be here, no matter what it takes. I wouldn't…" My voice cracked. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

We embraced. Not too hard, considering I was still wearing my armor, but it was nice all the same. I laced my fingers through her hair, which had gained some of its length back. I felt her breathing, rapid as it was as a small sob escaped her.

When we separated, I chuckled to myself despite it all. "Maybe it'll be a good thing that I'm gone, at least for a little while. For Sev, at least."

"She wasn't kind to you, was she?" Cordelia asked. "Please, Alex, I know she might've said some hurtful things-"

"I know, Cordy," I nodded, scratching my cheek. "She didn't say anything personal. She made it clear she didn't wanna talk to me, though. And honestly, I can't blame her. I… I'm Verrat. My future self is. Her real father. I can't even imagine what she's going through right now."

Cordelia pursed her lips. "You are not a Deadlord, Alex. Stop saying that you are one. The man you were in the future is not the one I see in front of me."

"I know, I know," I grumbled. "It's just… It's easy to say that when your face wasn't the one looking back at you when the helmet popped off. Severa went into conniptions just from that alone. It was fucked up, Cordy."

"Regardless of how 'fucked up' it was, my point still stands." Cordelia crossed her arms. "And every time you say it like that, my frustration grows. You shouldn't have to deprecate yourself for actions you haven't committed. You are a good man! Stop treating yourself as if you aren't."

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Well, uh, if you say so, Cordy."

Cordelia's gaze softened at my reaction. "Severa will be fine given enough time, Alex. She just needs space. As much as we'd want everything to be fine, I suppose this is one of those instances where it won't be. Not for a while."

"Well, that fills me up with confidence," I responded dryly. "But I get what you're saying. I just hate to see that look in her eye, you know? Reminds me of…"

"…of your father?" Cordelia finished for me, quietly.

I nodded slowly. "I'm going to do everything in my power to be the best father I can be. The best man I can be for you and our family. I know I've already said all this before, but I just want to reaffirm it, I guess. I love you. All of you."

"I know you will, love," Cordelia smiled. "I know you will."

I was going to leave, then, but I remembered something awkward. "…Uh, Cordy, I've been meaning to tell you something. Have you heard anything about Robin recently?"

Cordelia raised a brow. "What could you mean? The fact that he's the Fell Dragon's vessel, perhaps?"

"…Yeah, that'd be the one."

Cordelia looked as if she was trying to maintain a stern expression, but it quickly melted away as she sighed. "It's stupid, Alex. My entire grudge against him has gone on for far too long, and it has done nothing but hurt me. I'm done with it. I may not know him well, but I know that he'd never willingly destroy the world. Though now that you mention it… wasn't it said that the King met on Carrion Isle looked exactly like him? Face and all, minus a few scars?"

I nodded. "Yep. We thought they were twins, but, well… Now it's out that that's Grima, come back from the future to bring the end of the world. Fun times, huh?"

Cordelia let out a humorless chuckle. "Fun times? Hardly."

I barked a laugh. "Oh yeah, I know. Don't worry; I'll be out of your hair here in a sec. Good to know about that. I wanted to tell you, but, well, no time."

I turned around then, hearing the sound of my armor clanking with each step. I yearned for the day I'd never have to hear it ever again.

"I love you, Alex," Cordelia said, her voice frail. "Please, stay safe. Come back to me."

I turned my head slightly and gave her a smile. "I always do. I love you, too."

My smile fell as I left the warmth of the tent and felt the cold chill blow across my face. I watched as the snow fell from the black clouds above, covering the ground in places.

This is our reality now.

It'd been a while since I rode on Pippin. It felt good to be on horseback again as we trotted over to the convoy. Chrom was housed in a small wagon, covered with fabric to keep the snow out. All around him we stood, the Shepherds were chosen to escort him to the Divine Dragon Grounds. Brady and Libra were to be by his side at all times, on a rotation. Chrom's family were with us the whole way through, with Sumia and Cynthia riding upon their Pegasi. Everyone else either decided to stay on foot or grab a horse.

Tharja in particular looked comical. She seemed more like a bundle of cloth atop a steed rather than an actual person. I could still feel her hateful little eyes on me, though, staring at me from beneath the mountain of warm fabric.

"Everyone ready?" Robin called, putting Fulmen within his scabbard and looking around at us. "This'll likely be the last truly hospitable civilization we will see for some time. If you need anything, please get it now."

"Ah, thanks for reminding me, Bubbles!" Gaius said loudly. "Forgot my sweets! Looks like I won't be able to go just right now-!"

Gaius made the mistake of passing by me as he said that. I held out my iron hand in front of his face and he deftly avoided it.

"We can find sweets on the way," I rumbled. "I'd rather we get this over with as fast as possible."

"Was just joking, Sailor. Damn, something's gotten under your skin, huh?" Gaius whistled, looking up at the sky. "Guess that kinda sky would make anyone antsy. Should be morning but you can't tell when dawn comes or dusk falls."

"If you believe the kids, this was the norm where they came from," I breathed out, seeing my breath fog in front of me. "Can't say I find it too comforting. I was at Khadein. Shit like this was all we saw for two months. Can't imagine what it felt like for the kids, never being able to see the sun…"

"Probably good for Bubbles, though," Gaius commented. "Hard to figure out why he doesn't melt when the sun hits him."

"I can hear you, Gaius," Robin grumbled. "And I don't appreciate the tone of your voice."

Gaius shrugged. "Hell, Bubbles, I don't mean anything by it. Some people are attracted to that kinda thing. The Voice for one, heh."

"Why did I think it was a good idea to bring you along…?" Robin moaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Clearly, it was a mistake."

Gaius shrugged. "Hey, if you want, I can march right on back to Rudol and stay there 'til you guys get back."

I barked a laugh. "Not on my watch, you goddamn menace."

"That hurts, Sailor. Hurts a lot," Gaius rolled his eyes lazily. "Anyway, was just messing around with you lot. I'm set to go whenever you all are."

Robin sighed, running his hand down his face. Pippin pawed at the ground, sputtering. I was about as ready to go as he was, if not more so.

"Let's get this show on the road, Robin," I said quietly. "I have a promise to keep."

Less than a few minutes later, we were off. A small caravan of elite soldiers heading towards the other side of the continent. Sounded like something from a story, but then again, we technically were in one.

That was one thing I knew I'd forget completely one day, and I couldn't wait for it.

The sun was gone.

It occurred to me that I just assumed it was gone before then. Perhaps it was a gut feeling, but I knew for a fact as we marched through the Valmese countryside, stepping through forests and plains and snowfields, that the sky was not natural. That was obvious, and I knew I thought that before we even left, but I couldn't help feeling it more often the farther along we went. Snow fell in droves ahead of us, blanketing the land in white, and yet the world could not be any darker.

The sun was gone, and we were living in what could've been the final days of the world. Of humanity. If Grima's influence had spread so far so quickly that it was even affecting the sky, what hope was there for us?

I couldn't help but think of that on our journey. As Chrom's body slowly withered away, despite our best efforts, none of us able to help him in any meaningful way, I felt a pit of despair form in my stomach. I could see the others being weighed down by their own. Robin's eyes almost seemed glassy at times, as if they weren't real. As if he were staring off into nothing, seeing something none of us could. The spirits of the dead, perhaps? I couldn't say. Maybe Tharja could have, but I made a point of not asking her.

I never lost sight of hope, though. Not while we were so close. The Divine Dragon Grounds were near. We'd been traveling for weeks by that point; we had to be close.

"Terrible night to be outdoors…" A voice said beside me as I rode beside Chrom's covered wagon. Libra was there, riding upon his own steed. I never really spoke with Libra. Not because I disliked him, no, but because there was never truly a reason to. I wasn't exactly the most religious person in the Shepherds, after all. Not to say it was impossible to have a conversation with him, and hell, I'd introduced myself to him as I did with all the other Shepherds. It just never came about.

"You've got some real powerful magic to figure that out," I grumbled. "Did Naga herself whisper that in your ear, Libra?"

Libra looked to me and chuckled. "If it were possible for Naga to do such a thing, there wouldn't be multiple sects within her religion."

I looked to the dark sky and saw my own breath on the wind. "…You think she's watching us?"

Libra stared at me quizzically. "What do you mean, Sir Alex?"

I shook my head, patting Pippin's mane. "I'm not the most religious guy on the planet; I don't know a lot about… er, what is Naga's religion even called?"

"Truly, you do not know?" Libra asked.

I shrugged. "I don't talk to a lot of priests. And since we're talking, might as well ask."

"A fair answer. To give you an answer, Sir Alex, our religion is simply known as the 'Nagaine'. It is perhaps not the most graceful of titles, but it is one every priest wears with pride. You may simply refer to it as the 'church' if you so like." Libra replied, adjusting the axe attached to his back.

"Huh. Yeah, it ain't all that graceful," I muttered. "Grima has the 'Grimleal'. Rolls off the tongue and all that. Still, it's a name," I let out a breath. "But back to what I asked. You think Naga's up there? Watching over us?"

"Up towards the sky, you mean?" I nodded at Libra's question. "Hmm. Nothing would suggest Naga looks upon us from the sky. She watches over us from her own plane. And not even these dark machinations can stop that."

"You mean there's hope, then?" I queried. "You know, I gave this whole speech a while ago about hope and all that bullshit, but right now, after living under this goddamn sunless sky, I can't help but think we're all going to die. Painfully. I can hardly imagine how the kids were able to hold onto it so long with this crap all over the sky."

Libra hummed. "I have asked myself that question many times, Sir Alex. Ever since Noire came into my life, in fact. The tales she spins of the world in the future are ones that have given me nightmares. Perhaps they continued to fight in such an awful future because they simply had no choice. Or maybe they had something we do not. Either way, we cannot lose faith now. You cannot lose faith simply because the sun has vanished."

"Fear not this night…" I murmured, mostly to myself.

Libra nodded. "An apt phrase."

"I'm being a crybaby," I grunted. "I know I am. Actually, Libra, you know what? I think I know why the kids kept fighting."

Libra raised a brow but said nothing.

I waved my iron hand to the sky. "You were right the first time. They had hope that they'd see the sun again. Didn't matter how long the night lasted as long as they kept that one image in their minds; a glorious sunrise over a green land. Something, anything than what they were going through," I let out a breath, fogging my vision a bit. "I guess it's our turn now. They've done their jobs. Now it's time we did ours. Together. To finish what we couldn't in the future."

Libra nodded, a smile on his face. "A good perspective, Sir Alex. One many could learn from."

I shrugged. "I've had a pretty bad view of the world throughout my entire life. If there's any point where it's good I don't have it anymore, that time is now. I've gotta keep strong. For them. For Cordy and Sev."

"We have not had time to speak to one another," Libra began, "but I find myself agreeing with you, more than you know. We cannot let our pasts cloud our minds. We must look forward, to a future with a beautiful sunrise, as you said."

Looking out towards the sunless world around us, seeing the snow covering the ground and the trees, watching as our small convoy trudged through it all, a single light among the darkness, a warmth kindled within my chest. Despite it all, it was still there. Sometimes it just needed to be checked. To be sure that it never went out.

A spark of hope for your troubles, sir.

Traveling through the snowy wilderness for weeks wasn't exactly the most stimulating experience I'd ever had. There was nothing to do except eat, drink, sleep, and move forward. Keep moving forward. Maybe it was because of that that we were able to move so fast; within just a few short weeks, in the middle of December perhaps, we were within sight of the capital of Rosanne, Wyval.

I wasn't comforted by the sight of the city. Not by a long shot. There were things there that I'd've rather forgotten. But our supplies were running low, and Robin wanted to make sure we weren't about to run-up to the Grounds on empty stomachs.

We approached the city, and I knew they'd be able to see us from a mile away. Our oil lanterns and torches ensured that especially with the clouds. I could see Wyval's own lights, lining the walls. The gate Robin had burst open with his magic still stood broken, with only makeshift repairs having been made so that people couldn't just waltz in.

When we made it, we were stopped by a skinny man in gambeson. "I must ask you to stop. Speak plainly. Why have you come here?"

Chrom was still in his wagon along with his family, so it fell to Robin to explain our situation.

"My name is Robin, of the Shepherds," He said, his voice firm. "Months ago I helped liberate this city from the combined Valmese and Risen forces. Tell Vivien that we have arrived, sir. All that we ask for is shelter and supplies for a day or two at the most."

"R-Robin, you say?" The man stuttered, taking a step back. "The Shepherd's tactician? Gods, my apologies, sir! You may enter. I will summon Lady Vivien at once so that she may speak with you personally!"

Robin nodded. "Thank you."

We were let into the city, right through the wooden gates the defenders had erected. We didn't go far; Vivien would meet us at the gate, and so we opted to stick around while she made her way to us. I checked in on Chrom in the meantime.

Lucina and Cynthia had gone to get fresh air while Sumia stayed behind with him. I walked into the personal wagon, fighting the urge to wince at my uncomfortably loud footsteps. I saw him, then, lying upon a cot with Sumia as always by his side.

I fought the urge not to recoil at his appearance. It may've been true that he could theoretically live for months with his curse, but it was clear to me that those months would be a living hell. His skin had somehow grown paler; as white as a sheet. His eyes were dull, darker, and so was his hair. His chest rose and fell with labored breaths, all the while Sumia stood by, her hand in his as she gently rubbed her thumb against the top of his hand.

It was heartbreaking, but I pressed on anyway. All it did was prove to me that this was our last hope. The only thing that'd decide whether we'd win or not. We had all the materials; we just needed to perform the Awakening.

I prayed that it would work.

"How's it going, big man?" I asked quietly, taking a seat by his side. "Feeling any better?"

Chrom regarded me sardonically. "Why, of course, Alex. I feel just fine. In fact, I might go out for a jog as soon as I'm able!"

"Hell, honestly, you're being sarcastic right now but I believe you," I chuckled lightly. "Ain't no way in hell you're going to let this curse beat you. Not now. Not when we're so close."

Chrom looked over to Sumia. "No. And not when I have so much to live for."

Sumia stared down, and I could make out the ring adorning her finger. The one Chrom gave her at the end of the Plegian War. "You will survive, my love. I will make sure of it."

"You heard her, man," I said, lacing my fingers together and resting my chin on them. "No dying today."

"I will see Ylisse restored," Chrom said, his voice somewhat stronger than it was a moment before. "And I will see my family safe. The future Lucina speaks of will not come to pass. I have… I have hope."

"I believe you, Chrom," Sumia whispered, reaching her hand over and gingerly stroking his cheek. "I believe in you."

I looked at the couple and wished Cordelia was with me. I knew she was safe in Rudol, for the time being, but I couldn't help but feel that way. I let out a deep breath.

"Well," I began, tapping a finger against my knee. "I just came in to check on you. But, uh, I actually wanted to say something."

Chrom ran a hand down his face, sighing. "Gods, please don't let it be another horrible revelation. I think we've filled that quota for the year."

I shook my head and stood up, trying my hardest to come up with a way to say it. It was an old wound, after all, an old black mark on my mind. "Not so much a revelation, Chrom. I just wanted to… well, I think 'beg for your forgiveness' would work, but that sounds a bit too dramatic."

Sumia looked up to me, her eyes narrow and quizzical. "Beg for forgiveness? What could you have possibly done to warrant that sort of language?"

"I killed Exalt Emmeryn," I said simply, the sentence rolling off my tongue easier than I expected it to.

Chrom's face instantly went blank as he sat up, suddenly looking as if he could stand on his own. "What do you mean by that, Alex? Explain."

"It's not a secret that I'm the Deadlord, man," I waved my arms out to my side. "And it was that selfsame Deadlord that killed Emmeryn when we were this fucking close to rescuing her. I just… I just thought I should say something about it. Might not be the best way of coming out and saying it but-"

"Stop talking. Now," Chrom ordered.

I promptly shut my jaw with an audible 'thunk'.

"Gods, Alex, I know you and I aren't the best when it comes to speaking our minds, but this is ridiculous," Chrom shook his head frustratedly. "What in the seven hells do you have to apologize for? Beg for my forgiveness? Are you joking? That Deadlord is not you. True, he may be you from the future, but that is not the knight I see before me now. Whatever it is you became then, I have faith that is not who you will become now. There was no accounting for the Deadlord when we tried to save Emm, but I know for a fact that we would have succeeded were it not for him." Chrom looked me in the eye then. "I also know that you were with Robin for days on end during those times. I can only imagine you had a hand in how that plan went."

I felt my heart seize in my chest.

Chrom shrugged. "I'm not the smartest person in the world, my friend. I know that and I've accepted it. I also don't dive into the private affairs of those who work for me. Whatever was in your past, is in the past. You are not the man you were when we first stumbled upon you in Southtown all those years ago. You are Knight-Captain Alexander of Ylisse, and nothing will change that in my mind. You've fought alongside us through it all, and you'd be sorely missed if you were gone, least of all by us, let alone Cordelia."

I was touched. Sincerely. I wiped at my eyes briefly and took a deep breath. "Chrom, goddamn you. This is why you're our leader." I smiled. "That trust bullshit of yours. People'll follow you just because you were nice to them! You treat them with respect, even though you're the prince of a nation! God, that's leadership. Or brainwashing or something."

"If I was brainwashing the Shepherds, I'm certain Priam and I's last sparring match wouldn't have ended with a draw." Chrom chuckled.

"Yeah, and you both kicked Vaike and me to the side before then. Christ, man, if that's you before the Awakening, you'll be terrifying when we actually perform it." I replied.

Chrom reclined back into his cot, looking to Sumia with a smile on his face. "Heh. Yeah. When we do it."

I nodded. "Yeah, when. Well," I coughed into my iron fist. "Think I've kept Robin waiting long enough. You know, sometimes I feel more like his babysitter rather than his sworn knight."

Chrom raised a brow. "Really? You didn't know? The knighting ceremony was simply a cover. I had to have someone to keep him entertained."

"That is an awful joke and you know it." I waved. "Keep him from dying on us, Sumia."

"I've done so for this long," Sumia said quietly. "I can keep doing it for a few more days."

I left Chrom's wagon with a weight I hadn't realized being there lifted off my shoulders. I felt lighter than I had for what felt like years. Wasn't exactly peace, but it was acceptance. Reflection. I'd been told I wasn't who I used to be or who I was going to be several times by that point, and by God, I was starting to believe them.

You are not who you used to be. And I couldn't be prouder.

I found Robin nearby, speaking with an old friend. Vivien wasn't in the garb I'd last seen her in. The word that came to mind was 'regal'; she wore the same lacquered armor she always had, but underneath it, she wore a coat, with fur outlining the collar. She had a different air about her, then.

"Ah, and here he is," Robin said, somehow sensing my presence.

"Don't worry, Robin," I began, walking up beside him. "Acknowledging my presence before I even say anything isn't creepy at all."

Robin scoffed. "I didn't need to see anything. The sound of your trundling footsteps was enough."

"As if you aren't deaf," I laughed before regarding Vivien. "Good to see you again."

Vivien bowed her head reverently. "And you as well, Knight-Captain. I'd ask of your exploits after we parted ways, but I have a feeling you all are not here to exchange war stories."

Robin nodded. "You'd be right. We're traveling towards the Divine Dragon Grounds. We were told they were south of here."

Vivien fixed Robin with a suspicious gaze before looking to the side for a moment, towards the wagon we came with.

"…Is something wrong?" Robin asked.

"Aye, tactician. There is," Vivien replied. "For several nights now we have weathered the assault of the dead. Shambling purple corpses like those we fought at Fort Mycen attack us from the south, in the direction of the very grounds you profess to be going towards. I sent a group of some of my finest soldiers to find the cause, but they have not returned for some time."

Robin and I exchanged glances. He turned back to Vivien wearily. "So we are to expect resistance, then?"

"If you are smart, then yes," Vivien agreed, looking towards the dark sky. "And the clouds… you would not happen to know what that is about, yes? Winters are savage, but this is perhaps the only one I have seen where the sun has never shown its face."

"Grima has returned," I said suddenly, crossing my arms. "We were assaulting Valm Castle when these fucking things rolled in. His goons came by a while later and killed Walhart for us, before setting their sights on us. We barely got out alive."

"…Pray, you do not mean the Fell Dragon? He who will blot out the sun and devastate the world?" Vivien hissed.

Robin gave me a small glare before sighing and nodding. "He has. His servants told us such. Since you already know that, I might as well tell you everything else…"

I stood by as Robin explained our situation, feeling the cold creep in through my clothes.

"Gods above…" Vivien breathed out after a moment, wobbling slightly on her feet before steadying herself. "That such ill-fortune should befall you… I am sorry."

Robin's expression was blank as he spoke. "I'm not sure what is going on at the Grounds, but once we're done resupplying and resting here, we will make haste. I promise you that we will find the source of the attacks."

"Help yourself, my friends," Vivien said, turning around. "I must prepare Wyval and all of Rosanne for the storm to come. Until Lord Virion has returned to us in full, that is my one sworn duty. I wish you luck in your quest."

Vivien disappeared into the cold darkness, leaving Robin and me alone in our little staging area. Everyone else looked to be hiding or trying to conserve warmth. The streets of Wyval looked frozen and uninviting.

"Bodes ill, doesn't it?" I grunted, crossing my arms. "It's never easy, is it?"

"For once, Alex, just once, I would like for something to be easy." Robin sighed exasperatedly. "If something could be, I would die happy. However, perhaps that is simply the nature of the life we lead."

I shrugged. "Well, it's not going to get any easier with us standing here like a bunch of mooks."

"I don't even know what a 'mook' is, but considering the way you said it… Yes, you're right. We have no time to waste."

We were only in Wyval for a day before leaving. Or what might've been a day. Couldn't really tell due to the clouds. We restocked our supplies, food mostly, before setting out once more. The further south we headed, the darker the world seemingly became. The snow became thicker as well, completely blanketing the world in front of us. Pippin's hooves almost seemed to sink a foot into the snow before hitting a stop. I'd be worried for the poor bastard if it didn't seem like it affected him at all.

It only took us perhaps four days before we were within sight of the grounds. They stood upon a hill, and I was reminded of Stonehenge.

"Fucking finally…" I breathed out, running a hand over my mouth. "It's about damn time."

"I'd agree with you if you weren't so vulgar," Tharja remarked, shivering. "If the Fell Dragon is such a big fan of snow, then I'm glad I chose this side."

"I'm not." I shot back.

The dark mage scoffed from underneath her mountain of fabric as we came to a stop. In all honesty, the Grounds didn't look like anything special. Sure, it reminded me of a landmark from my own homeland, but beyond that, they were completely unremarkable.

Well, that was until we found the bodies, hiding in the snow.

"God-!" I gasped, nearly tripping over one as I dismounted. "Robin! Robin, we got bodies!"

The white-haired tactician removed himself from Chrom's wagon and approached me, his feet crunching with each step. "What is…? Oh…"

I looked down at the body, completely frozen beneath the snow. I let out a breath. "This… this is ugly."

"We haven't come upon any resistance…" Robin looked toward the Grounds. "And Gaius hasn't reported any signs of battle."

"Look at that," I pointed towards the large bite mark across the poor bastard's shoulder, with teeth marks across the back of his neck. "It… It looks like some big fucker grabbed him, shook him around, and then threw him like he was a pile of garbage. Guess we found Vivien's best soldiers, huh? Robin, we need to hurry this up."

He wasn't the only one. There were many corpses strewn across the snowfield, all of them looking as if they'd been brutally torn apart by some sort of monster.

"He knows, Sir Alexander."

I looked up from the corpse to see Tiki holding Chrom up on one side, and Sumia on the other. Lucina and Cynthia weren't far behind, leaving the wagon empty.

"Tiki." I nodded. "I guess we're beginning now?"

"You say that as if that was not always the plan," Tiki remarked, having no trouble keeping Chrom up. The blue-haired lord struggled to keep his feet. "Time is of the essence. And I need you all to defend us while the ritual is performed.

Lucina nodded. "It will be done, Lady Tiki."

Cynthia twirled her spear around, a small grin on her face. "You can count on us!"

"You will take care of him, right?" Sumia asked, her face twisted with uncertainty. "I don't mind fighting outside here so long as he's safe."

"I promise you, no ill shall befall him," Tiki assured the queen. "I will make sure of it. Robin?"

Robin stood up straight.

"Lead them," She said. "It will take some time. And it is clear that something is wrong here. This is still our best chance at saving Chrom's life and preventing Grima's complete rise, but if something should happen to us…"

"Don't talk like that. Ever," Robin interrupted suddenly, unsheathing Fulmen and fiddling with the guard before Sable fell out and onto his hand. "Take it. Get the Fire Emblem and Falchion and save us. We're counting on you."

Tiki smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't just abandon you now, hmm? That would just be needlessly cruel."

I looked around at the corpses that surrounded us. "I wish we could burn these bodies. Suppose we'll have to settle for moving them."

As Tiki readied the Fire Emblem and Falchion, we moved the bodies away. They were as stiff as stones, barely moving when they were pulled.

As small snowflakes fell from the sky, and the completed Fire Emblem and Falchion, along with Tiki and Chrom, disappeared into the depths of the Grounds, we were left alone with only our weapons and armor. Tharja and Libra stood off to the side, with Libra seemingly performing a prayer while Tharja stood by, looking down at him with perplexing eyes. Brady hung back, close to the Grounds, and away from any potential conflict. Gaius was around, flitting between us like a ghost. At the forefront of our formations stood the rest of us; Sumia, Lucina, and Cynthia were flanked by both Robin and I, waiting to see if anything went wrong.

I stood by Lucina while we waited for the Awakening to be performed. My hair stood on end as I felt something happening behind me, directly where Chrom and Tiki had disappeared to.

"Sir Alex?" Lucina asked, turning around. "You feel it too?"

I nodded. "Feels like the Awakening's started."

Lucina pursed her lips. "I have felt this raw strength only once before when we traveled through time. It's the power of Naga."

I noticed something glowing off in the snowfield, and I braced my shield.

"We were never able to-"

I tackled Lucina to the ground as a bolt of purple light soared directly where she was standing a moment before. It crackled against the snow, sending a white mist through the air as the snow fell harder and faster. A lone figure stood up from the snow, his black cloak contrasting everything that surrounded him. Blood red eyes peered at us with mirth and barely held back contempt. A rotting chuckle loosed from his mouth as we all prepared, as the moans of the dead and roar of something worse tore through the air.

"Grima has returned, Exalted ones. And he has demanded your deaths to be long and painful. Prepare yourselves, wretched servants of Naga! Your end has come!"

See that little callback to Chapter 1's title? Look at me, being so clever.

I'm joking. I'm not clever at all.

Anyway, thought I'd let you all know that the rest of the chapters for this fic have been plotted out, and if I stick to it, the fic will most likely end by Chapter 82. Less than 20 Chapters to go, friends. It's been one hell of a ride so far. Let's get the rest of this show on the road!

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Hope you have a good rest of your day!