The Dragon's Table stood as a citadel within the bleak desert. The ruins of a civilization long gone surrounded it like bones picked clean and bleached by the scorching sun. There was no more sun, though. All that remained were the dark clouds that circled and swirled through the sky, surrounding the Table. It looked so much like Castle Ylisse did while Grima was within. I half expected the Fell Dragon to pop-up out of nowhere in his full dragon form and incinerate us all.

My nerves were getting to me. My hands were shaking and I could not stop myself from pacing. The clanking of my armor and the light rustling of soldiers going to and fro felt like nails across a chalkboard. I remembered that I used to like that sound. Found it comforting. That was no longer the case, obviously. I had to keep myself from tearing my ears off to silence the infernal noise. It was maddening. I just wanted it to stop. But until Grima was destroyed, once and for all, I'd always hear it. I'd hear it until the end of my days.

I just wanted to calm down before the battle. Find my center. And to that end, I sought out the only person who could do that for me.

She was with her other pegasus knights, making sure all of their equipment and mounts were ready. Feathers softly fell and covered the ground, there were so many of them. Every able-bodied man and woman would be needed for the final assault, and that included the Pegasus Knights. They'd made it far with few casualties, but I wondered just how much longer that would last. Whatever the case was, I approached them.

"Cordelia," I said, my voice uncharacteristically shaky.

Cordelia dropped whatever it was she was doing and turned to look at me. After exchanging glances with her Pegasus Knights, she grabbed my hand wordlessly and pulled me to a secluded area of the camp, away from everyone else.

"Alex," Cordelia whispered, suddenly hugging me. "I'm glad you came to see me, before we…"

"I couldn't help myself," I murmured, embracing her back. All I wanted was to remain like that forever. Was that so much to ask? "I needed to see you. I can't calm down. Every time I try I keep looking at the Dragon's Table and think about what happened in Ylisstol. I can't…"

The phantom pain of a sword jutting out of my chest, and the feeling of my blood boiling out of my veins surged through my body. I shivered.

Cordelia lightly disentangled herself from me and placed her hands on my cheeks. For a moment, she looked up at me until her gaze drifted down to my chest. One of her hands came down as if to lay against where the fatal would once was.

"You're afraid," Cordelia stated quietly. "That's okay; I'm afraid too. I don't… I don't want to lose you again. Not after I just got you back. If I were to find you bleeding out on the battlefield again, I don't know… Gods, love, I don't know what I'd do."

It was my turn. Raising my hand to cup her cheek, I said, "Then we'll make sure that doesn't happen. We'll be by each other's side. Watching each other's back. Or as much as we can with you in the air and me on the ground."

Cordelia let out a small chuckle, despite our environment. "It will be just like old times, then, wouldn't it? Me in the sky, making sure you don't get yourself into too much trouble."

I shrugged. "That's how we met, remember?"

Cordelia raised a brow, confusion evident in her tone. "We did? I thought it was when you approached me while I was fixing our supply manifests."

"That was actually the second time," I replied, "You were probably not in the best state of mind back then, but we actually met when you saved me from getting my head split open by a wyvern rider's axe."

Cordelia's face scrunched up as she tried to remember before her eyes went wide with realization. "That's right! I, er, I may not have thought much of you back then, but-"

I took a step back as if I'd been slapped across the face. "Damn, Cordy. If you wanted to kill me you have a lance to do it with, you know."

"Oh hush!" Cordelia lightly chided, stepping up to me with her hands on her hips. "Your form was sloppy! And you weren't paying attention to the sky when wyvern riders were about! What else was I to think!?"

"I dunno, maybe be a little kinder?" I lightly chuckled to myself before stepping forward and gathering her into a hug. "Your face is really cute when its scrunched up like that."

I could feel the heat of her blush through my armor. She smacked my breastplate before eagerly returning the embrace. I held her like that for a while, just basking in the sound of her breathing and her warmth.

"Our wedding will be beautiful," I said softly, causing her breathing to hitch. "Didn't think I'd forget, did you? It'll be the most important day of my entire life; how could I forget it?"

"I almost lost sight of it," Cordelia whispered, "I almost lost sight of it after all that has happened. It's hard to imagine the world as anything but desolate and gloomy after fighting under these dark clouds for so long. But with you by my side, things will finally start to look brighter."

"We'll get our baby back," I said, "I'll go there myself if I have to. And when she's safe in our arms, I'll rebuild the chapels myself until we can finally do it."

"If you think I'm not coming with you, you're mad," Cordelia responded, her voice low. "But first, we must destroy the Fell Dragon."

I sighed as we broke apart. Looking down at the ground, I muttered, "I wish that could have lasted longer."

Cordelia cupped my cheek one last time before she walked past me. "It will last forever once this battle is over. I promise."

"Now that," I replied, walking beside her, "is something worth fighting for."

The battle ahead would perhaps be the most brutal one of my life. Of all our lives. But I knew it would lead to a beautiful sunrise.

The hour had come.

We stood thousands strong at the precipice of annihilation, or of salvation. Before us awaited an army of the undead. Our fellow countrymen turned into horrid monstrosities, innocent Plegians betrayed by those who were meant to protect them, and other simply folk caught in the crossfire. Hundreds upon thousands of red, burning eyes stared us down, searing us with their glares, but we stood firm regardless. It was the last battle. One last fight. After that day, the world would either be free of the Fell Dragon and those who willingly worshiped him, or we would be the final gasp of a dying resistance, and the final nail in the coffin for the human race. The Dragon's Table swirled with power; Grima was gathering lifeforce, either trying to restore his draconic body or trying to simply keep himself alive. Whatever the case, he was desperate, and so were we.

The Shepherds stood at the front of the formation, ready to charge the bulk of the massive horde so that a select few would be able to attack Grima directly. The rest of our army stood alongside us, ready to bring their wrath upon the Risen crowd.

As I stood there, memories flooded into my mind. I remembered that time in the Altean Wasteland all too well. The battle where I finally broke, where I lost my right hand, where I lost Donnel. I prayed I wouldn't lose anyone else that day. Not even myself. I had too much to live for, and having already died once, I wasn't too keen on going through it again. Cordelia and Severa needed me, and I reviled the thought of disappointing them a second time.

Chrom stood at the head, alongside those who would charge in with him. Robin, Lucina, Tiki, and Morgan. The rest would be drawing the ire of the horde. The pegasus knights awaited the time they would soar into the sky and clear the air of any pesky undead wyvern riders or other pegasus knights.

In the darkness, I saw Chrom unsheathe Falchion from its scabbard. The golden blade blazed with holy fire, and the world around it seemed to grow brighter. The very air itself had been tainted by Grima, and it shrunk away from the godly sword. The completed Fire Emblem's gemstones glowed in tandem, casting Chrom in their light, making him look like a holy crusader. The wind picked up as the dark clouds swirled overhead. The moans and roars of the Risen reached our ears, and I felt myself tremble.

It wasn't that long ago that we'd been fighting them within our own city, cutting down one purple monstrosity after another. How many of those bodies we were going to be fighting were once our own countrymen? How many of them were simply people caught in the crossfire? How many of them had been Grimleal dastards, ready to throw the entire world away because they thought Grima's return was inevitable? I would never know. None of us would. And in the end, that didn't matter. What mattered was that, on that day, they would be freed. If they were anything like Verrat, they deserved that much.

It was a small, comforting thought that my future self would finally be released of his torment by the end of that day.

Chrom pointed Falchion forward, and finally said what we'd all been waiting to hear.

"Shepherds! Soldiers of Ylisse and Regna Ferox! Warriors of Chon'sin and Rosanne and Valm! Charge! The Fell Dragon will meet his end today! For the fallen!"

I unsheathed Sol and raised it high, as did all the others. A thousand weapons rose up in a singular purpose: to strike down those who followed the Fell Dragon. I walked forward and turned around, holding my arms out.

"Let's fucking do this thing!" I shouted boisterously, turning back around and charging as the other Shepherds followed.

Pegasus knights took to the air, their wing beats ringing in my ears as the clanking of my armor filled my head. Shepherds and soldiers together ran past me or stayed in line, but all the same, we crashed into the Risen horde. They met us in the wastes, just before the ruins that led into the Dragon's Table interior.

When our armies clashed, it was as if a giant firebomb had gone off. The noise was deafening, nearly making me stop in my tracks, but I kept going. There was no room for stopping. Not then. And when the Risen finally met me, I was ready.

Silicate dust fogged the air as I met one, an axe-wielder with patchwork and rusty armor. Sol clashed against its axe as I pushed it back. Once I was fed-up enough, I pushed forward and knocked the purple zombie onto the sandy floor, and finished it off with a stab through the chest. I swung Sol through the air with surprising ease. For a while, I thought it would be difficult to pick it up again. To use it in the final battle, but I felt no such thing. It was almost as if I'd never stopped. A Risen got too close and had its head slashed in twain. Another found my blade stuck in its guts before I roughly shoved it off. Black blood spilled onto the sand, disappearing into puffs of smoke as the Risen fell to us like wheat to a scythe.

In the heat of the battle, I almost missed Chrom and those with him make their way into the ruins. I heard the sound of Verrat roaring somewhere, far away, but I kept my focus on the Risen in front of me.

Sol struck true through those fights. The Risen fell to me in droves, collapsing to the ground in purple heaps and falling apart into smoke. I spilled black blood in waves that I didn't think possible. My mind became blank, completely subservient to pure instinct. With each stab and slash, I felt myself falling into the carnage, allowing it to wash over me as other Shepherds around me followed suit.

Vaike's axe carved a bloody path through the undead that dared to get close, while Sully's sword guarded him from places he could not reach. I saw Lon'qu dance between flurries of blades all on his own, slicing and dicing the poor bastards into tiny pieces.

We were not without our own casualties. The Risen made short work of lesser-trained soldiers. Little bugs skittered across the ground, raising our dead to fight alongside the enemy. I only hoped that they didn't become like Verrat; their souls still trapped within. I doubted they were. Verrat was a Deadlord, above the usual Risen, but the fear was there all the same.

Fear was what it all came down to, when I really thought about it. Fear of loss. Fear of death. Fear of the unknown. Was I fighting because of that? Or was what I was doing courageous? I had plenty of time to think, what with my body moving without my say-so. Sol tore through flesh like a hot knife through butter, spraying gore across the ground and sandstone walls. There was no reprieve. Even with Sol's magic keeping me on my feet, I could feel the exhaustion approaching. Far off still, but my muscles would soon find it hard to keep up. Cutting down so many bodies in so little time, anyone would begin to come apart at the seams.

Even then, I kept fighting. Kept killing. I saw the pegasus knights in the sky, flying every which way in a frenzy. It was hard to tell our own pegasus knights from the pale imitations Grima had resurrected, but I only needed to stare for a few moments to get a handle on it. I knew I saw Cordelia up there, culling the soaring horde above, her lance glittering with the little light available as it tore through flesh and bone.

I heard the roars of dragons, freed from their human forms and fighting within the Dragon's Table. Terrible light surged through the stone spire as the battle stopped for a brief moment. It was like everyone, alive or dead, was transfixed by what was happening within the ancient structure.

And then it happened.

It started off as a dull rumbling, just below our feet, until the very clouds themselves became red. Horrible lightning surged from the sky and landed wherever it wanted, scorching the ground. I nearly collapsed as it felt like the ground itself would soon splinter and crack under the immense strain. Something big was coming. I could feel it.

Eyes became visible in the black and red, and they stared down at us with malice and hatred. Teeth the size of men grinned at us from the dark, shining with unnatural light. Curved horns broke through the gloom as black-feathered wings thumped through the air.

The roar that echoed across the wasteland sent shivers down my spine and nearly deafened me. I covered my ears but it didn't help; I could hear it in my head. In my brain. I saw a man drop his lance, his lips quivering as he turned tail and ran as fast as he could, only to be torn apart by Risen.

Grima's terrible form sprouted from behind the Dragon's Table, looking upon us with disdain and rage. It shook its massive head before looking towards the sky and opening its maw. Purple, iridescent flames surged from its mouth and hit the clouds. They turned the same color, and upon us fell a hail of terrible fire. It smashed into the ground and turned the sand to glass. Everything it touched it reduced to ash that blew in the wind. The smell of burning flesh reached my nostrils and nearly made me vomit. I felt myself nearly pass out, then, but I kept myself centered as best as I could. Staying still meant death, as it did for so many others. The Risen surged forward again, ready to slay anyone who wasn't paying attention to two things at once.

When I looked upon Grima a second time, I realized that not all hope was lost. He was only half a body, disappearing into the Dragon's Table. The only explanation I could come up with in my mind was that he hadn't had enough lifeforce to build himself up completely. It wasn't a sign that we were losing; it was the opposite; we were winning. Whatever Chrom and the others were doing within the Dragon's Table was working. What mattered was that we were all around to see the aftermath. All we needed to do was last as long as possible. Just until Grima was defeated.

Once the Fell Dragon was done, he turned himself upon the Dragon's Table, as if to look inside. He roared again, as if in pain, before focusing entirely on the battle within.

Fire still fell from the sky, along with the red lightning that had made its presence known before Grima appeared. And I still kept fighting. There was nothing else I could do. It was either that, or cold death. I was not going to feel that again. I refused. Never again would I feel the lightning flowing through my veins, frying my organs and spilling my blood.

Even with that durable mindset, I could feel myself beginning to give out. Little scrapes and bruises were practically instantly restored by Sol, but the bigger ones took longer. A large gash across my side, for instance, which came from a Risen with an awful, rusty sword. It was only by sheer luck that it didn't disembowel me.

It wasn't until I looked up that I started to feel truly weary. Pegasus knights who were struck by the flaming hail fell to the ground in heaps of burnt flesh and gore. They were like meaty bombs that came from the sky, crushing anyone unlucky enough to be under one. I saw Cordelia among them, then, apparently ordering a retreat. I couldn't hear her, but her movements were obvious. It was only confirmed when the pegasus knights did as they were told. They fell back to just beyond the breadth of the flaming hail, either waiting it out, or waiting for anything to try and attack them.

Cordelia wasn't so lucky, though. Before she could get out, Aurora was struck in the hindleg. I saw the pegasus buck midair as they sailed through the air, trying to put out the flame. If my heart wasn't thundering in my chest as I watched, I would've remarked just how unlucky that pegasus was; to be flamed not just once, but twice in the span of a year. Cordelia hadn't been hit, but Aurora was landing in an area swarming with Risen.

Gritting my teeth, I clashed with one more Risen before shoving it to the ground and savagely piercing its chest. It went limp and disappeared a moment later, and I hurried with all the strength my legs would grant me towards Cordelia's position. Our other troops were being pushed back, but I pushed forward. I wasn't going to let her fall, not when we were so close.

I cut through over a dozen Risen before I came even close to her. Their stench filled my lungs as I surged forward, slashing them apart with Sol. It was at moments like that that I missed Pippin. I would have been at Cordelia's position in half the time if I were on that horse. I had to make do, though. And no amount of inner complaining would bring him back.

A large Risen slammed against me and tried to get his greatsword in through my armor. The metal bent but didn't break, and while I felt something break, it wasn't anything I couldn't shrug off. I thanked whatever gods were listening for good plate armor as Sol sparked against the Risen's greatsword. The purple dastard snarled at me from behind its faceplate like an animal as I pushed it off me. We circled each other for a moment before clashing against each other once more, sparks flying between our swords until I got the upper hand. Literally, as I slammed my iron hand directly into its face and knocked it off balance. I jammed Sol into its chest and pulled downward, disemboweling the undead. It fell to the ground with its rotten innards, and it disappeared into violet vapor a moment later.

I approached one of the lone sand hills that surrounded the ruins and heard the sound of fighting.

Cordelia. I'm here.

Cresting the hill, I saw her below. Aurora was beating her wings and whinnying as if the world was ending. She bucked and shook as the Risen simply ignored her in favor of my wife. Her red hair whipped around her as she took on several of the undead at once, her lance dancing between them and cutting them to pieces. She was protecting Aurora, but that left precious little time for herself; she had numerous cuts and bruises on her exposed skin, and that wasn't even accounting for what was beneath her battered armor. But she was still alive. By Naga, she was still alive, and that was all that mattered to me.

With not even a moment of hesitation, I jumped into the fray. The Risen didn't see me coming, they were so distracted by Cordelia. Cordelia's eyes brightened at my arrival, and she fought twice as fiercely as she had before. Before long, we were at each other's backs, our weapons pointed at the encroaching Risen.

"You," Cordelia gasped, catching her breath, "I knew you'd come!"

"Would've been a lot faster, but I had about a dozen or so Risen between here and where I was," I chuckled good-naturedly, despite the Risen that surrounded us.

They circled us, like wolves around a wounded animal. Our weapons were pointed at them, ready for them to make a move.

"This isn't a good position, is it?" I asked loudly.

"It isn't, no," Cordelia confirmed, holding her side while still pointing her lance forward. "I can't let them near Aurora. I can't… Gods, look at it!"

My gaze lingered on the Fell Dragon coming out of the Dragon's Table. Its eyes focused on us, somehow. It looked at us, with that grisly smile spreading across its bony lips. The Risen stood by because of it, waiting for us to be fried by their master. Purple light gathered in its mouth as it prepared to burn us into nothing but ashes.

"Cordy…" I breathed out as the light covered us. She turned to me, her expression resigned. "I love you."

Cordelia's left hand left her side and grasped mine. She squeezed as our eyes met for what might've been the last time. "I love you too, Alex."

I could feel the heat on my skin, and with Cordelia at my side, I prepared for the end. There would be no resurrection, no way to escape. The only solace I had was that she was there with me. I was not going to die alone.

Severa…

Our daughter across the sea and the one still in the battle. One would grow up without parents and the other would have to relive her parents' death. I promised myself that that wouldn't happen, but what was I to say then?

I awaited the flame to lick away at my skin and turn us both to ash. It never came.

Grima's head swung away as if the fist of god himself came and smacked it across the face. A roar of rage and pain unlike anything I'd ever seen erupted from him as it curled in on itself like a snake. It spat and hissed like one, too, as it looked inward toward the Dragon's Table again

I didn't know what was happening but I wasn't going to wait around to find out. The Risen were all too prepared to leave us at their master's mercy, but after he was out of the picture they looked around, as if confused. Cordelia and I exchanged glances, and we sprang into action instantly.

I used whatever strength my body had left to fight against the onslaught of Risen before us. A slash across the face here and a stab through the gut there, and they fell before me. Cordelia and I covered each other's flanks and supplemented each other's weaknesses. I blocked whatever strong blows were aimed her way, while she kept the Risen on their toes with her quick stabs and slashes. We worked like a well-oiled machine, and the Risen could not touch us.

Before long, their numbers began to thin. Dozens of them fell to our combined might, and soon enough, there were only stragglers. They fell apart to us well enough, and when they did, my gaze was drawn to the spectacle in the sky. It almost looked like Grima was tearing itself apart. Its carapace-like face was cracked and falling apart, showing the flesh beneath. What I saw, I refused to acknowledge. It was not something meant for me to see. I needed all the focus I could muster on that battlefield either way. To be distracted would mean death, and the Risen could pop up again at a moment's notice.

"Do you think they're alright?" Cordelia asked, taking in deep breaths as she stepped up beside me. She held her side while her other hand still grasped her gold and red lance. "In the Dragon's Table, I mean. It is easy to make assumptions, but from this distance I'm not sure."

"Grima's face is falling apart," I pointed out, "I'd say they're doing as well as they can be. I don't know what happened to make him flinch like that when he had us dead to rights, but…" I shrugged. "I don't really care about that right now."

"I thought for a moment that we were doomed, Alex," Cordelia said softly, "I thought for sure we would be burned alive."

Placing my hand on her shoulder, I smiled. "Well, we're still here, aren't we?" I asked, "I'm sure the others could use our help still. How's Aurora?"

Cordelia sighed. "Her wings are burnt badly. I'd try to get her out of here, but she can't fly because of that, and with the Risen no doubt preparing another attack, I'm not sure what I can do. She'd need a healer, and my staff was lost when we landed here."

I looked around for a moment as if I'd find it, only to see something in the sky moving towards us. A black rider upon a dark mount slew through the sky, yellow lightning gathering in its extended palm as it surged forward. Without thinking, I shoved Cordelia out of the way. Lightning shot toward me and struck me directly in my right shoulder, puncturing the armor and burning into my skin. I was sent a good way back as Cordelia screamed and the black pegasus knight landed between us. I raised myself to my knees, glaring at the rider. There was no mistaking who it was.

"Such heroic nonsense," The black rider spat, looking between us and towards her wounded master. "It makes my heart weep to see Lord Grima in such a state, truly. If we are to lose this day, then you all will join him."

"Oh, just fuck off," I growled, forcing myself to my feet and readying Sol. "When I get my hands on you, I swear I'll tear you apart. You're the one who took Severa and the rest, and I've been meaning to get payback for a long while now."

"Payback, hm?" The Deadlord hummed, her voice echoing from her winged helmet, "Careful with vengeance, Alexander. It is a cold, harsh mistress. One your future self learned about the hard way. And we both know what happened to him, don't we?"

In one hand she held a twisted lance, and in the other she held a tome. If I got hit by magic too many times, I knew I'd fall apart, but the only way I could do damage was if I got close. Cordelia and I exchanged glances, preparing to charge at the same time. Meanwhile, the Deadlord stood upon her undead mount, waiting for us to make a move.

When we did, it was disastrous. I was able to avoid the first volley of lightning she sent my way, and Cordelia swung down with her lance and nearly decapitated the Deadlord's pegasus. If she had been a second faster, she would have. Instead, the Deadlord took to the air once more and prepared another volley of lightning.

Or she was, until Cordelia threw her lance. The glittering spear jammed itself straight into the undead pegasus' wing, and the Deadlord was permanently grounded. Cordelia's lance fell to the ground, and she charged forward while grabbing it. I wasn't far behind her, ready to end the Deadlord once and for all.

So focused was I, I didn't notice that the Deadlord still had her tome. Before my sword could even reach her, my vision was darkened as a blast of lightning struck me directly in the chest. I could feel my armor buckle under the force as I was sent through the air. I could feel that familiar sensation of my muscles spasming and moving on their own as a shout loosed itself from my mouth. I heard Cordelia scream my name before I fell down the hill, rolling all the while.

I came to a rest at the bottom as the sound of battle surrounded me.

My eyes threatened to darken completely as I took in breath after shallow breath. I could taste the blood at the back of my throat. My limbs felt as if molten lead had been poured into them, and I struggled to get back to my feet.

Instead, I simply settled for crawling. I buried my iron hand into the sand and dragged myself upward, while the other one clung to Sol. The edges of my vision turned red as I refused to allow myself to die. Not there. Not again. I would not die while Cordelia needed me, while Severa needed me. The world had changed. The future had changed. I would not squander the gift that I had been given. I could hear the Cordelia fighting, could hear the shout of pain echo in the air, and all it did was galvanize me. I dragged myself out of the hole and upon that hill again.

Cordelia had been beaten. I noticed that the instant I crested the hilltop. I could see blood dripping to the sandy floor as she used her lance to even keep herself upright. Her teeth were gritted as a small cut on her forehead streamed blood over one eye. She hadn't given up, but with the way she was, she was outmatched. Even with the Deadlord having lost her mount, Cordelia was too weakened to stand up to her.

"My existence may end here, alongside my master," The Deadlord spoke as I forced myself to my feet. My legs screamed at me to stop, but I ignored them. Sweat dripped from my brow, and I ignored that too. "But so will yours. How does it feel? Knowing that you failed to live while your child fights in that hideous maelstrom? While your lover lies bleeding down the hill, praying that you will live as his body shuts down once more? I know not how he survived Lord Grima, but it does not matter. Soon, you will both be reunited in the grave. Prepare yourself, Cordelia, Flight-Commander and Savior of Warreth. I wish I could tell you that it was difficult, but it wasn't."

Sol was in my grasp still, and when I was ready, I demanded my body to move. I rushed forward while the Deadlord raised her twisted lance, ready to kill Cordelia where she stood. I did not let that happen. Sol pierced straight through the Deadlord's back all while I snarled.

"Did you really believe it would be that easy!?" I roared, taking my iron hand and grabbing the Deadlord's face from behind, wrestling her to the ground. "I will tear you apart!"

"F-Fool!" She gasped, blocking a blow from Sol with her lance. "You may have survived my magic, but you will not- Gkh!"

Whatever the pegasus knight Deadlord was about to say was cut off as Cordelia, with the last ounce of her strength, buried her lance into its side, allowing me an opening to swing upward. I felt the spray of cold, black blood against my face as Sol cut through the Deadlord's neck. Her head fell to the ground, ebony blood oozing out of it as it rolled around in the filthy sand. The body raised its hands, as if to try and feel where its head had gone before falling to the floor alongside it. A moment later, the body began to disappear into violet smoke. The final wisps of the Deadlord vanished into the air.

I took deep breaths as Cordelia and I looked to each other. A small smile made its way to her lips that I couldn't help but return. When I tried to move, however, my knees finally gave out. I coughed, and my blood lightly dripping against the ground. Cordelia fell as well, just beyond my reach. I could hear the Risen getting closer, their moans and roars of hatred filled the air. They had returned, but Cordelia and I could not fight in our condition. Not anymore. My breastplate was melted and broken, my arms feeling as if they had lost all feeling, and my legs refused to budge. Cordelia wasn't in a better way; her side had grown worse as blood freely soaked her undersuit.

We've come so far…

I crawled to her, as best as I could. Cordelia did the same, and we met in the middle. I reached my right arm around her shoulders, and hugged her close. The arm that wasn't holding her side wrapped itself around my waist. In the shadow of the greatest threat to humanity, the cause of our pain and the torment of so many others, I embraced her with all my heart. Even though the Risen no doubt surrounded us, I didn't care. I had her in my arms, and nothing, not even death would change that anymore.

For the second time that day, I was prepared to die.

For a second time, it never came.

I felt it before I heard it. The air itself seemed to burn for a moment before a brilliant beam of blue energy shot out of the Dragon's Table. A presence I'd grown so used to was all at once empty. Vacant. It was as if someone I hadn't known was watching me had disappeared. I looked up to see the Risen I thought to be there looking up to the sky, at the Fell Dragon. Its face had been completely stripped away, leaving only a cruel mockery of a human one staring out at us. Its mouth hung open as if it couldn't believe what had happened.

Then, the moment we'd all dreamt of, had been waiting for, arrived. Grima roared once as its body seized up. Its red eyes turned towards the dark sky of its own creation, as if pleading for mercy before it suddenly went silent. The ungodly red light in its eyes went cold, and the body fell to the ground. The shockwave and debris it kicked up slammed into us, nearly toppling Cordelia and I over. I could hear the Risen screaming and shouting in fear, for the first time since we'd begun fighting them. I watched as their bodies disintegrated, the last vestige of Grima's power falling alongside him. In their final moments, I could have sworn I saw peace in their ember-like eyes.

When the dust finally settled, what was left of Grima's body laid upon the sand, the final reminder of his existence. The shattered rib cage and broken skull stood as his gravestone, and the eyes which he had gazed upon us with not long ago, an epitaph.

I let out a breath as the sun peeked over the dispersing clouds. For a third time, the sun shone on us after a hard-fought battle. I squinted as I looked at it, feeling my breath leave me in ragged gasps.

It was over. We had done it.

"By the gods," Cordelia breathed out, looking at the sky. "It's… It's beautiful."

I looked down at her, a small smirk on my face. "Yeah, it is."

Cordelia looked up to me, her expression confused for a moment before she lightly blushed and looked down. She hugged me tighter, then, and I eagerly returned the favor.

"It's over," She said quietly.

I could feel the tears at the edge of my eyes, waiting to be released. "Mhm. Yeah."

"It's finally over," She reiterated, releasing me from her grasp and looking up at me. "I was beginning to think I'd never see this day."

I sat down, letting the sun's light and warmth wash over me. "Naga, it feels like it's been ages since I just… sat down."

Cordelia placed herself right beside me, and I felt her hand grasp my own as our weapons were laid to the side. For a few minutes, we sat there, simply basking in each other's presence and watching the sun rise over the horizon. I could feel my breathing steadily return to normal as Cordelia's side stopped bleeding.

I let my head fall slightly as I whispered, "Robin's dead."

Cordelia said nothing. She moved closer and rested her head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"I knew he'd do it." I replied, tilting my head. "I knew. There was nothing that was gonna stop him from at least trying. I thought I'd be better prepared for it, but I…"

"It's okay, love," Cordelia whispered into my ear, "I'm here for you."

"I can't mourn," I mumbled, "For all that we've lost. Not yet. We need to… to find the others. Make sure they're alright. Make sure Chrom and Lucina are alright. Make sure Severa is alright."

Cordelia sighed and got to her feet. She limped forward slightly and turned around. I was stunned by her, the way the sun outlined her form, the way her gorgeous red hair flowed with the wind, her beautiful face, unmarred to my eyes by the dirt and the blood. "Lets go, then," She said, holding her hand out to me. "I'd rather not greet this new future we've won for ourselves without my husband at my side."

That made my heart skip a beat. I was transfixed by her, then, unable to muster any words. I smiled to myself as I reached my hand out and took hers. Steadily, she helped me to my feet, and together, we made our way across the ruined battlefield to find our friends.

The only idle thought I still had was what had happened within the Dragon's Table. Where had Severa gone? Those would be answered soon, I was sure. Still, they were there all the same.

I felt the glorious sun on my face and held the love of my life's hand.

This was what victory felt like.

Part 1. See you this Monday.