Deliverer of Birthright

by romeoraiden

My First Story. Two Nations. One desperate enough to bring a terrible war, the other more concern for themselves, and at the center, a sheltered Princess is forced to make difficult choices for the good of all. In her quest to do what's right many will stand with her and many more will oppose, throwing her in a state of despair. And from the chaos a Fallen Hero will rise again.

32. Chapter 32: Dawn Breaks

A/N: Before we begin this chapter, I have an announcement to make. I would like to apologize for the long wait but I regret to confess that while I remain a supporter of Fire Emblem, an old flame has reignited, which is my love for Bleach and because of it, I've been distracted enjoying the good manga and anime, including the novels. Bothersome for a lot of reasons, I know but it's a good one so I can't help it. With that in mind, I've decided to make this the last chapter of this story, unfortunately I'd had to scrap my original ending because I hit a roadblock with new ideas that didn't fit with what I was going for and the more I thought about it, every good idea for a proper ending just couldn't click well with the way Birthright is like, if this were a Revelations tale, things would've been more to my liking and honestly I regret to say I'm running out of gas with Hoshido. I was always Nohrian at heart to be honest so I'm more relief for this to be over. The reason I went along with this the first time is because it was more tempting to change the original story as the weakest of the three in my eyes and I couldn't resist. As for future updates and stories, I can't say anything with certainty, this entire year has been exhausting both emotionally and otherwise for all of us so I can't be certain about anything except that for what is worth, I am happy that I spent two years working on this and grateful for all of you for reading my epic tale for this long, I've really had a lot of fun and I hope you have too.

And to prove that this will be the last chapter, this one will be long, really long, we're talking over 30,000 words long, something I at any other point would've killed myself before doing but I didn't want to make this a two part thing. Well… with nothing more to say, here it is. The final chapter of Deliverer of Birthright:

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Chapter 32: Dawn Breaks

"Okay! Ladies and gentlemen! Give it to me straight. How is everything because what I've picked up myself on the recent skirmishes hardly satisfied me so I hope you've had better luck." Empress Morgan of New Valentia demanded as she is sitting in a roundtable with several of her advisers, influential noblemen and generals that have gathered to discuss recent events that have left her Continental Empire to halt its progress of recovery from the previous war. Among these advisers are Tiki and Say'ri, though despite so many people here with a no nonsense mentality, there is one person missing as the chair on the Empress's right is empty. Just as the first person was about to speak and commence this meeting, Morgan raises her voice. "WAIT!"

She startles everyone with her outburst. "Where's Lyon? When was it in the Empress's best interest to have these sort of meetings without my righthand man."

"A thousand apologies, you're Grace but Chief Adviser Lyon was requested to settle the matter in Rosanne. Not ideal for one of his caliber to do so, I know but we were short on options that day and he volunteered. He should be back by tomorrow." A man explained.

"Rosanne. Why wasn't I told of this? I can't go around not knowing things, especially when it involves my Roundtable." Morgan asked mildly annoyed.

"In our defense, dear, you did take it upon yourself to lead the exploration for Dolhrian activities in Demon's Ingle despite our insistence that you remain and lead from the sidelines where you would be better informed. Sending messages from the frontlines is risky given the wicked machinations of our enemies." Tiki reminded her. "We're just lucky that you didn't follow the lead we found in the Warrior's Tomb otherwise you would've been gone a lot longer."

"Okay, you have me there but I was right about there being trouble in Demon's Ingle." Morgan replied. "Fine, let's carry on. Lord Silbern."

"Yes, your Excellency. Following the report of the recent battles you've won for us we can safely affirm that at least one of the two opposing forces that threaten the safety and tranquility of the Empire has set foot on our soil. The Dolhr Cult, yet their recent actions have been none threatening to say the least." He informed. "All they've been doing for the past month is try to settle and make a proper base of operations, which there are a dime a dozen places for them to do so, of which we pinpointed and compiled a list of every possible location they can take to begin their reign of terror but it's not as much as these would suggest." The lord in question informed, while showing large files of reports over the recent actions taken for the wellbeing of the Empire. "As a man who prided himself in exploration of landmasses and historian it pleases me to say that there are still so much of Valentia left to be discovered, or rediscovered, of the time of Old Valentia, or even before that. Though in this case, I can only express shame since there is a terrifying possibility that our enemies may know our home better given how long they've stuck to the Shadows of Valentia."

"So they're still hiding like the rats they are, so what. They've slipped up before and no matter how cautious and clever they think they are, they'll slip up again." A Bald General with an impressive beard said a bit boastful and menacingly.

"True, you have a point General Mustafa. What all cultist have in common is their mountainous egos. They're so convinced that they know how the world works and that they're in the right, even the ones who knows what they're doing is only degrading the world instead of improving it feel like what they're doing is worthwhile so if we play our cards right, we'll get the upper hand again." Morgan agreed

"All well and good but we can't play right when we have so little cards in our hands." An adviser said not having the same enthusiasm.

"Fie, my friends, we aren't even in the midst of another war yet. We have every single right to act now and eliminate those abominations against all humanity but we also have to bring into consideration that striking first may be what they want us to do." Say'ri spoke against.

"It's true, we haven't fallen into any traps yet, thank Naga, however they aren't in any position to really pose a threat and thus far our skirmishes have been no different than hunting down brigands and rushing things has a bigger likelihood of leaving us exposed." Tiki warned.

"Playing a waiting game does not help me sleep at night knowing I could lose my wife and sons to those blackhearts and their devil rituals any day now and I had too many close calls defending these lands from the Wings of Despair and his minions of the damned." Another general said with bitter reluctance.

"We all have families to protect, therefore we are all desperate and screaming inside to end this already. But we didn't destroy the Grimleal in just one night. That war went on for a thousand years in secret and prolonged skirmish by skirmish and we all lived to tell the tale of the final battle against Grima." Say'ri regretfully reminded everyone of those dark days. "We don't know if the Dolhrians and Loptrians still have gods worth reviving and if that is the case, they'll need the Fire Emblem, the only true divine relic left in the world that can be of use to Immortals like Medeus and Loptous. And the Binding Shield remains with Exalt Chrom and that's not leaving his sight, especially since the Loptrians have been spotted in former Plegian Territory."

"You mean especially since it was stupidly decided that Ylisse would be entrusted with all five sources of that old antic's power." Morgan said with a huff voice, now agitated.

"Milady, we talked about this." Tiki said in a lecturing tone.

"We are not having this conversation again." Morgan raised her own tone at the Voice to be silent, and no one has the nerve to intervene in whatever this is and the Empress makes it a point not to even look at the green-haired dragon until this meeting is finished. "Back on point, Lady Say'ri's right. The waiting game and remaining on standby is not pretty and it may certainly be costly but as far as New Valentia is still concerned, there is no enemy in our soil to threaten us, at least not at the scale that Walhart or someone at a mere fraction of his level poses to invade a single county, much less a dukedom, or here directly at us in New Plegia. Right now the lot of them think that the reason why our army is on patrol is to make doubly sure that all is well, and me on patrol as an excuse not to be in the castle."

"Fun times for you maybe but the commonfolk aren't as stupid as some of us still view them as. We can control their curfews and credits but we can't stop them from putting two and two together and start flocking through the streets doing everything in their power to make our lives miserable and all of that will fall mostly on your head." A Duchess reminded the Empress.

"Bah, nothing but hogwash and baseless slander at the end of the day." Morgan shrugged now lazily on her chair. "But if people are going to raise a complaint regardless of what we do, we might as well properly show them that we're trying to make them feel comfortable and most importantly safe, we come up with sugarcoat excuses here and there to reinforce security without making them feel like they're under house arrest, or under arrest period, all the while still keeping a watch out for the Dolhrians."

"We can't possibly protect every city in the continent." A Marquis objected.

"Obviously, that could be, no, will be more fatal than leaving them all defenseless, ensuring that our soldiers are more well-kept and prepared than any other is better for all of us. I know that seems harsh but a defense is worthless without defenders in peak condition." Morgan decreed. "If we can't all be in agreement on the course of action than I call for a compromise regarding what we all want."

"Well said, Empress." Mustafa nodded in approval.

"At the very least those vultures can't warp around thanks to our cancelling magic, much less have it backfire on us." Another raised his approval with her decision.

"You're welcome." Morgan takes credit as she used the same spell Robin used on the Nohrians, except that her use of it spread through all of New Valentia and no one can retaliate with a similar magic, let alone shut it down.

The rest of the day proceeded relatively smoothly and to Morgan's dismay, the meeting lasted until sunset and now all the young empress wants is to go to her bed and the second she enters her room chamber she jumped right into it and crashed down and if she had used anymore force, it could've all crashed down by how delicate it is since it's filled with water. She made it herself, though she claims the idea belonged to another.

"Ah… mother, your gift to the universe is the best way to have a real sleep." She sighed dreamily, imagining herself in her mother's arms, sleeping for the first time in a waterbed, just the two of them. Though she is unable to enjoy herself as her thoughts return to her father. As great as it was to find out that he's alive, she can't shake how much he seemed to change, and she knows why.

"You have no intention of coming back. Aren't you, father? Good." She shrugged with both pride and coldness. She moves to a more comfortable position and stares at her ceiling. "Then all is still going according to the Destiny that birthed me. As broken and torn to pieces as you are, all you've done is run right into mother's arms and once she builds you from the ground up, you'll at least walk the courage to make things right once and for all with Uncle Priam and the rest of Titan, and then-CRAP!"

Morgan gasped upon sensing something incredibly powerful outside and despite her weariness, magical adrenaline runs through her and she rushes out of her room from her window and goes right in the front of her castle. It's a good thing that she hadn't undressed already.

The commotion she felt also got the attention of the guards and thankfully none of the citizens of her Capital will be bothered by this, much less take notice as what is most definitely a portal of sorts is opening up right in her doorsteps.

"Wonderful, I so wanted someone or some beast to slice to ribbons after such a dull day." Morgan said sarcastically, all the while Say'ri and Tiki are at the scene beside her.

"What sorcery is this." Say'ri demanded with her sword in hand ready to strike. "This can't be the work of our enemies."

"Definitely not, this magic is not of our world." Tiki affirmed.

"An Outrealmer is coming." Say'ri said.

"I wonder…" Morgan muttered, lost in thought about what to expect.

"Someone's coming!" One of the Knights on guard shouted as they see a humanoid figure coming out of the portal but they can't make out who.

"Nobody move! Nobody do anything without my word!" Morgan demanded with her hands extended and steps forward, all the while she is emitting an aura of destructive magic power, as she's the only one here besides Tiki that can handle such supernatural forces. Just then the individual comes out of the portal, revealing himself to be a young man that makes Morgan widen her eyes.

He seems to be at least two years younger than her, wearing armor strikingly similar to Corrin's Nohrian White Veil of Trust but more masculine and is also barefooted but instead of a blue cape, he's wearing a blue scarf. What's more, his eyes and hair also match Corrin's, but his is shorter and spiky. And that's just the tip of the iceberg as he even has the Yato blade with him on his hilt.

"It can't be…" Tiki uttered in shock but not at the man in question but the sword he wields. She knows that sword.

"Kana!" Morgan gasped in both shock and joy.

"Morgan! Is that you?" The boy in question looks at her with both anxiety and worry but also anticipation. "I hope I got the right one this time."

"Oh my Gods! It's you!" Morgan cried with joy as she rushes to the stranger with the two quickly embracing in a tight hug.

The guards can do nothing but watch as their Empress and this Kana start laughing their lungs out and even shed a few tears, confirming that they know each other and are really close.

"I can't believe it!" Morgan continued to be frantic, she can't remember the last time she was this relief.

"Oh, Gramps finally came through, it really is you." Kana cheered, just as overjoyed. "Gods on high, this long journey is finally over. Though now the problem is figuring out how to get back home."

"That's a bridge we'll have to cross when we get there." Morgan smirked.

"The family's famous last words." He shrugged.

"Ah… Empress, you know I hate to interrupt such beautiful scenes like this but… who exactly is this man who radiates power almost as fierce as yours?" Say'ri asked just as confused as everyone in the vicinity.

"Right… wow… I never once brought him up, have I? Hell, after all these years I am so disorganized." Morgan chuckled nervously after the two cease their embrace and turns to them all to make introductions. "Everyone, I would like you all to meet Kana, my younger brother. I know, I know, he lacks my dad's good looks, I'm the dominant one but what he lacks in father's cunning he makes up with our mother's wits and raw talent for kicking ass."

"What's up." Kana greeted. "I know this is inappropriate but it's nice seeing you two again, Lady Tiki, Say'ri, we haven't chronologically met yet but you're both as lovely as ever."

Silence filled the front of the castle as everyone, especially the two women are somehow unable to process this information and that honestly makes little sense since they should be used to something like this. This is what, the fourteenth time some kid shows up out of seemingly nowhere, claiming to be a child of someone they know despite being so close to said parent's age.

"You… have a brother." Say'ri finally replied.

"Robin has or will have another child." Tiki added, the most caught off by this. "But he smells like a dragon."

"Oh, that's because our mom's a dragon too, well, half-dragon. I just resemble more my father because I was born more humanish." Morgan explained.

"WHAT?!"

"I know, right. My dad has a type and he's going to go for it. Go dad." Morgan joked squealing with delight. "I never really got the chance to use a Dragonstone in front of everyone except for my dad and because of the amnesia I suffered it scared me out of my mind." Everyone did not get the joke.

"How did I not… how could… this is one headache too many for me." Tiki groaned as she walks back inside the castle.

"I don't… Lady Tiki, what's the rush?" Say'ri muttered.

"She's as lovely as ever." Kana mused.

"Don't try to deny it, little bro, we both know which period this is so you should know what your arrival means." Morgan sighed now annoyed.

"Okay, so this isn't a complete joyous reunion but at least I finally got… yo-wait a minute!" Kana snapped, realizing something. "Why did Say'ri call you Empress? Speaking of which, why are we in a castle and everyone looks like you own the place."

"Because I am an Empress and everything you see around you and all of Valm, or rather, New Valentia, is all mine." Morgan smirked with sadistic humor but not one that everyone can take seriously but her brother certainly does take it.

"WHAT?!" Kana screamed her lungs out that practically everyone in the castle, if not the Capital heard him. "WHAT?! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Keep it down! You're going to wake the children I'm having stay here with me." Morgan lectured him. "I had an orphanage built right next-door that I manage."

"I've been looking for you for six years! Working my ass up traveling dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension after dimension AFTER DIMENSION AFTER DIMENSION AFTER DIMENSION! Looking for you and as it turns out you've been screwing with the next old fart you see that has the prettiest chair! It was bad enough waltzing into parallel realities where our parents never even met, much less fell in love and had alternative versions of ourselves that look and act like us but they aren't us at all because they ended up with other people! And when I'm not somewhere where I am instead sisters with one of the stupid women who spurned my affections and friendzoned the shit out of me I find you as the sister instead of Laurent, Brady, Gerome, Yarne, or even LASLOW or ODIN! Or worst of all, you're instead MARRIED to one of those goddamn degenerates! I can't even look at you right now when the thought of Soleil or Ophelia calling you mother comes to mind." Kana said looking like he's having a panic attack. "I don't know if it's possible for someone of my age let alone with Dragon blood to have a stroke but I'm feeling something in my chest about to pump."

"Alright, alright. Keep it down already. I don't need you mimicking one of the episodes mom or grandma would give me whenever I go out looking for some evil deity to slay, I already told you, we're close to my orphanage." Morgan insisted, rubbing her brother's shoulders to ease his nerves. "You may have inherited more of mother's powers but that doesn't mean you should go losing it like her."

"How can we not lose it when we have you in our lives." Kana hissed bitterly.

"HEY!" Morgan snapped as she slaps him in the head. "Don't you use that tone with your big sister, especially when you're trespassing on my property, aka my very own Empire. Now why don't we go inside, take a deep breath and I'll tell you everything." She insisted, walking him inside. "Why did you even went looking for me on your own, you could've found me much, much sooner if you had brought dad along."

"And do what, how was I supposed to face him and mother and tell them that you got sucked into an unstable Outrealm Portal? They would've just rolled their eyes if you've brought it on yourself and created the damn thing in the first place but the truth was far more unbearable and plus it was my fault." Kana mumbled, looking like he's going to cry again.

"Enough, enough. I'm fine now as you can see and changing history to my benefit." She mused. "Can someone please go and check if the kids are awake or not. Noctis I'm not worried for since that boy can be hit with a real tornado and he'd still be asleep."

"Yeah, we'll get on that." Say'ri said as she unsheathes her sword. "Of course it would be one of yours to pull off something like this Robin. One Goddess of Chaos give us enough energy to spent on as is but two of them?"

---

The room typically used for meetings either political, warfare or anything concerning the Royal Family no matter how minuscule was more silent than it ever was when it is all empty. The tension is so unbearable that not even someone as narcissistic as Zero or violent as Peri had to admit that they couldn't stand this. The treacherous Princess, who was really Nohr's prisoner, Corrin returns to Castle Krakenburg and now stands before the whole family she left behind and has been fighting against in this war. The nerve of her to return is not really the likes of Nohrians have a right to criticize about, in fact, they occasionally praise someone for being so bold, when they are not in a foul mood that is. How she showed up here without any of them noticing is the real question, though considering that the weapons that were just thrown at her phase right through her body and she didn't even so much as flinch indicates she's not really here physically, a common illusionary magic perform by Warlocks, though the reports about the Hoshidans recently performing this magic indicates that it's far different from their method of it. A thousand thoughts must be going through the heads of the Royals, likely as the same amount of reasons they have for hating Corrin as well as still care about her. So many things they thought were meant to be, so many things still unsaid and much more they could've done together that perhaps would've ensured a different outcome on their lives.

Xander said all he believes he had to say about her when he led the attack on Suzanoh, he was ready to kill her for becoming one of Nohr's greatest threats, the guilt would've hunted him for the rest of his life but he had been forced to shoulder great burdens before, enough that he believed would've made familicide less heartbreaking, somehow, at the very least he is more than prepared for receiving the scorn of his other siblings for committing such a deed, especially from Camilla. Leo would never admit it but he still misses Corrin, Xander was sure he would receive a cold shoulder onward by his younger brother and Elise would've become distant as well, he'd long since decided that the wellbeing of his Kingdom comes first and Corrin had become a detriment, his father would undoubtably approve and his stepmother would eventually understand. However, there is no denying that he would've preferred, a thousandfold that Corrin had remained with them, as their middle sister, his little princess and so forth and Corrin can deny it as much as she likes but if she had sided with them Hoshido would be gunning for her head instead. He knows the Hoshidans well, their virtues, their honor, their own values on comradery and family, it's all commendable and wonderful but he also knows their sins, their deceit, and wrathful approach to criminals, especially traitors, Corrin might've received enough leniency to avoid execution and with true compassion a chance at parole and perhaps redemption but there is no way he could bear to even think of her enduring such a fate that she be better off dead. Destiny is so cruel and even now as she stands before them, his conviction as the future King of Nohr and Patriarch of Krakenburg is again being challenged. He honestly doesn't know how much more of this he can take.

Camilla is not what people would consider normal, those who work with and work for her would know best how complicated she really is. She is a kind person, a responsible Princess, fair with her subjects as she is strict with her subordinates, and always compassionate, preferring to be merciful and avoid things from becoming bloodied but she is Garon's daughter and of Nohrian Nobility so it shouldn't surprise anyone that she has a few ''screws detached'' but being royalty isn't so much an easy life as the common folk make it out to be and she's had her fair share of heartaches that make her aggressive nature more understandable if people are willing to see her side of things. And like anyone else, her best source of comfort from her hard times is her family, and yes, she's way too clingy and overbearing, she admits that she's given one too many impressions that she's obsessive but again, if people could just see her side of things, she wouldn't seem as such. She's not like this because she's unstable, not that she cares what people think of her, she never could care about her image. Her birth mother is not someone she ever wants to talk about, she was the farthest thing from a role model and like Leo and Elise's respective mothers, she was just a means to an end to secure their place as Royalty, a far cry from her stepmom Arete who truly treated her like a daughter.

That's really it, she was made to feel like a person and not some object by someone who isn't family by blood, that had a huge impact on Camilla, growing up, she learned how important blood ties are in the upper echelon of societies and how little those who begin life as ''street urchins'' are seen as such always, especially those who managed to earn their way into nobility instead of being born into it. This belief is especially harden in the family she was born in because as Garon's child, she is blood descendent of the same god that created the Kingdom she is meant to rule if her older brother cannot. Because of her blood of darkness. Arete helped her see the error of this pathetic philosophy and how wretched her mother was for using her just to secure her post as her father's queen and why she is glad that her ambitions were shattered, even though she was still devastated that she died so suddenly and abruptly by assassins sent by one of her rivals, heartbreaking as it was, she was ultimately nearly free to control her life, Garon certainly did little to make her feel like she was a means to an end but her own person. Then came Azura and later Corrin. She spent time with Azura because she is the daughter of the woman who was a mother to her as well, she protected her because she was her own sister long before the marriage and she wept for her when she was kidnapped because she couldn't protect her from Hoshido. Corrin was trouble from the start, she knew that, but in spite of her true nature, Camilla only felt anguish when she first laid eyes on the younger girl's lifeless eyes and in the back of her head she knew that what Corrin deserved was protection, nurturement and most of all love, and she gave it her all. Garon's brutality aside, he made it clear in his own way to her and Xander that they should look after their younger siblings and like with every other order she'd obeyed like her life depended on it and it always felt that it did, in her mind she convinced herself that if she were to lose just one member of her family that her will to live would drop significantly. Being someone Corrin, Leo and Elise could depend on was something that gave her pride, that's why she would behave so hostile when they chose someone else to be there for them. The retainers are the exceptions because it's their job to be there for them and their lives literally depend on them staying safe or else. Robin was no retainer, let alone a friend of the family, he's an actual urchin that was also a contagious parasite and look where that got Corrin for embracing him, a billion targets on her head and in spite of her hatred, admittedly jealous hatred, she finds it right to blame herself for failing to realize that Robin meant something that they never gave Corrin, a real connection to the outside world.

It's never been easy with the lives they've had, Leo for one has always felt more discomfort in his life than wonders, sure he's the Prince of a mighty nation, he's proud of his family lineage, taking pride in everything about it and himself, even the bad stuff, he had the will, and the ego to power through his obstacles, even some of the ones that he shouldn't have taken on his own but that served more to prove his arrogance and recklessness that made him more a danger to others than himself, luckily he's always had his faithful, admittedly too faithful, subordinates and family to back him up and the latter to scold him harshly for his moments of naivety, which are more often than he dares admit, either way, his life is one worth living, no matter how bad things get, even now as he is on the brink of losing everything in this war that is being spearheaded by the one he once joyously called sister. The bond Leo had with Corrin was pretty standard among big sisters and little brothers, he'd even go far and say the two were generic, they get along well one day, butt heads on the other, butting heads being more frequent, he found sadistic satisfaction in being smarter than her and teaching her about history and combat tactics, sure he always intended to help her succeed and boost her IQ but it really was entertaining to see her lash out whenever she failed. She's such a drama queen. Yeah, visiting her in the Northern Fortress was fun, his little getaway from his duties as Prince, he truly wished he could've visited more often, those were good times but then Corrin went and got into her rebellious face that every teen goes through, he had his own but she took hers to the EXTREME! For all his smarts he couldn't fathom what'd happened, everything he'd come to know fell apart right before his eyes and by the time he could really process what was going on, all he could feel is contempt for Corrin's betrayal. Practically everything up until she was sent to that mission suddenly meant nothing to her, yeah, her remorse was written all over her face every time they crossed paths afterwards, not that it mattered, she still chose to stand against them, all that talk about doing right by Nohr and praising the Dusk Dragon proved to be nothing more than a lie. Damn her. If only father had killed her that night after all, everything would've turned out for the better.

Would've solved the Robin problem by itself.

Elise remains conflicted as she's been since this whole disaster started, she didn't know what to make of the war, she'd known it was coming, fully aware of all the preparations her parents were making and her older siblings contributing here and there, more so Xander and Leo and once and a while she would offer to help in some way, not because she wanted to fight but because she wanted to contribute to the family, she hates being left behind more than her peaceful days being disrupted and she's proven to be more committed than even Garon expected, she's been making her usually stone cold father raise an eyebrow with intrigued way too frequently. That's a good thing but not healthy for her, she has a kill count now and everyone's worried about her mental state, of course the true source of her sorrow is really Corrin. She's still not sure if her outburst in Demon's Falls was really her own but it felt right and really good lashing out like that so if nothing else, she's truly all in for Nohr's cause now. Even still, having her former sister for an enemy feels wrong, so wrong that she's not sure what the right thing is anymore, if they were ever in the right, remaining silent and try to avoid looking at her and do nothing to step out of line. Arete notices her discomfort as she wraps her hand on her head to show her comfort and help her remain at ease. Her father will be doing the talking.

"So, I take it that this is your last attempt to talk things out? If so, I'll admit that the spine keeping you going forward must truly be your own to come alone, even if what we're seeing is just a projection." Garon said as sternly as ever but with an obvious hint of respect, his warrior spirit demands he acknowledges the prowess of his enemies, no matter how vindictive he may feel, and Corrin has come quite far. "Still, I find it appropriate to say this at least once. Welcome home, child."

That was low. Everyone knows that he meant that as an insult, not unexpected but if this really is what he claims it to be Xander would hope that he at least be more professional about his approach as King, but that's just the big brother in him still talking. Corrin does not seem deterred by his words and proceeds with what she wants to say.

"As little as you meant it, I still appreciate the greeting all the same, and as you said, this is basically a last attempt at a parley, as premature as it is, I knew you'd never agreed if I'd sent a messenger so I chose to barge in." Corrin replied casually to her adoptive father.

"Hmph, not one to waste time or ask for permission anymore, I see. a true dragon may yet course through you." Garon said giving an actual praise this time.

"You know there is." Corrin replied again, this time more somberly but none paid mind to that.

"Still, I find it strange that you would come alone for this, if this is really a parley, it is only right that at least more than one member of both Royal Families meet to discuss one's surrender." Garon continued now either speaking overconfidently and assuming too much or just saying it to make an example.

"Hoshido has no more words to give to Nohr. You'd made all your intentions perfectly clear, it's all or nothing now and you're not going to give up so we will continue to respond in kind until one of us can't fight anymore and it's obvious how that will turn out for the loser." Corrin declared with a stern voice that is forcefully cold and dare they say vindictive considering this is coming from her, and it ultimately gave the effect she was going for, at least for the Retainers in the room while the Royals remain either neutral or indifferent.

"Yet here you are, wanting to try anyway." Garon accused, knowing the kind of person Corrin is to predict much of her behavioral patterns.

"This war was just between Nohr and Hoshido, the ones who for one reason or another have dragged the rest of Horus into their problems over and over again, Cheve I can let slide because they are a very hazardous lot, I'll admit and of course, what happened to Exio…" Corrin said starting out strong before going somber again by the mention of Gunter's son who they were all fond up before returning to being serious. "But using Niflheim like you did was one taboo too many, even for you, Garon."

"You made it necessary with your continued defiance, admirable as you have been." Garon replied heartlessly as she expected. "Though, you have little room to complain about getting outsiders involved when it was your Homeland's method of execution that dragged Nestra into this fight for our benefit."

"That wasn't us and you know that wasn't us." Corrin retorted with a hiss.

"It wasn't us either."

"I'm not saying it was you, stop avoiding the subject." Corrin demanded. "All of you, even you has to know by now that this has gone too far now. Practically everywhere we go there is chaos and discord. And before you start with ''this could've all been avoided if you'd learned your place, you stupid girl!'' crap, keep in mind that even if you'd taken over Hoshido, their warriors, such as the Samurais and Ninjas would've kept on fighting anyway, even if it meant burning their own crops just to spite you."

"You think we would've never had expected such barbarism from them, let alone planned for such an outcome? They've done so before during the first and second time we've gone to war with them and won." Garon shrugged without care. He perhaps has already made plans for if they win, way too egotistical but Corrin can't complain since she has done so herself.

"This is different. It's not about food and water, past grudges and egos anymore, there's a third party involved and you all know about them!" Corrin snapped louder, even slamming her hands on the table and despite being just an astral projection, she can still make physical contact as the impact on the table was felt and heard clearly, that did caught them off but not as much as the reminder of the Seven Deadly Sins, though the Royals, minus Garon have only seen one of them. "The Seven Deadly Sins are real and they're the ones who orchestrated this war the way it was. Them and Iago."

"Iago." Xander uttered, not really shocked to hear this, Arete told them all of their Chief Tactician and Grand General's Fall from Grace and the inhumane power and form he acquired but she did not mentioned anything about the Seven Deadly Sins even though she heard everything Corrin and Robin were saying when talking with the Rainbow Sage. There were different reactions to this news, none so shocking concerning Iago's betrayal, it was genuinely unexpected but all the retainers practically witnessed the Dark Tactician's madness and what he'd done to their Queen. Garon's reaction was the most concerning, that being one who lacks a reaction period, looking very indifferent. That really bothered Corrin, not because she's disgusted for seemingly not caring about his wife's near death but rather by how much he is taking this in stride.

"And you choose now to bring up this mysterious threat, when both sides of the war have used up nearly all their strength in wiping each other out to propose we what? Band together, cease all hostility to fight the same enemy." Garon snorted. "I see now why Xander and Gunter couldn't drill the first lesson of negotiation into your thick skull."

"You knew about this other threat already, way before my United Army made our march from Cheve, don't try to deny it. You saw what happened to the Valley of Ahsoka." Corrin accused them of negligence. "I didn't come to you sooner with this because I already knew what your answer was going to be. You're not going to let a greater evil stop you from your ultimate goal, no matter the outcome or what happens afterwards."

"You dare view me a fool? I know not the true extent of the threat these demons pose but that does not mean Nohr is not entirely prepared. After all, we possess more than just Qliphoth's Army." Garon said confidently knowing something Hoshido doesn't.

"Robin said you'd go and say that. It's true that your new power is terrifying and formidable compared to my own. But if you want to know the truth, you just got lucky, catching us by surprise." Corrin boasted. "We're on to your tricks now."

"Is that a fact?" Garon questioned, actually pleased with her response, possibly welcoming the challenge, unlike his youngest son who can only scoff at this.

"Are you listening to yourself, you're either here to warn us or talk big. Make up your mind." He hissed.

"I didn't come here to gloat! I'm giving you all a chance. The only reason this is all continuing is because you're letting it continue. It doesn't have to end this way." Corrin pleaded.

"And yet it must." Garon declared as he rises up from his chair as he stares at his former daughter more intently. "Horus can no longer continue in its current existence, divided into so many nations, there are too many ideals and opportunists keeping us divided by old traditions and squandered all attempts to forge brighter futures based on true unity. Nohr has suffered for too long and will not stand to survive on the pity of others anymore."

"And as you weighed the victims the war claims now against the victims of future generations you chose to sacrifice the former." Corrin concluded.

"Precisely, I know I have chosen the best path. It is not the only one, many here would claim that there are others, and they may be right but as my fellow Nohrians, and you, our former Princess can see the truth of my words. With Nohr as all that there is in Horus poverty will lesson, the fighting will eventually settle down. Never cease altogether but enough to buy us time to forge a newer peace." Garon declared with pure conviction.

"Even though you've surely been paying close attention to those who have suffered the ravages of war, you would still cast aside the ideals of the world over your own. The Future is like an ocean trapped in an eternal storm, not everything can be predicted. You can't do something like changing the survival to the fittest cycle with something like this." Corrin insisted.

"Nor do I intent to. This cycle is the only thing in this world that is truly immortal and will never end. Some day in the future, Nohr will wither and rot away and from our soils new nations will be born to either carry out our legacy or surpass us. My goal has always been to leave our mark on this world and letting all know that our home was not only the strongest in human history but the most beneficial. One that stood the test of time with the power to always defend and benefit those who lived within her. Was this not your wish once before, daughter?" Garon questioned her.

"Yes, this is something I dreamt of many times, but I never dared think I would have to force this belief on to others. Not all people are born to be as strong as us, nor are they born wise enough to accept the necessity of change so abruptly when they exist to a different way of life. Even our faith outside of our Church and so forth." Corrin persisted. "This dark path could never save or please everyone."

"Save and please everyone? Now you are purposely misinterpreting my own words. It was never my intention to save everyone. We may have been born to the blood of the gods but we lack their power, wisdom and cunning to do the impossible. We as humans were deemed unworthy from the moment of our birth and rightfully so. Our use of Qliphoth's army is another matter entirely. In this world, there can be no achievement without heavy choices to make, someone who cannot sacrifice anything, can never accomplish anything. Everything in this world, even the rode to Heaven has a price, and you cannot bring Paradise down on human tainted soil without bloodshed." Garon declared, closing his right hand into a fist with dark magic coursing through it.

"I suppose you're right on that front at least. I honestly do not know yet the true meaning of sacrifice but I do understand that power and wisdom aren't enough to make up the strong nation you hope to build and leave behind. The ones who can truly change the world and have a better chance at making it a better place are not the rulers of the world but the people who actually live in it. Pushing your own ideals on to just one person is not righteousness but a depravity just as terrible as betrayal." Corrin countered fiercely before growing somber again. "Look for no greater example than me, someone who thought she had the world figured out while trapped in a fortress for so long. Yes, you all had a role to play on my fate but upon seeing everything outside for the first time, even when I slept, my eyes could not stay close to the true nature of everything and there is still so much left to learn. And Clearly the same can be said for you."

There was a brief amount of silence after that. Practically all of them wanted to step up and speak their minds on this matter but none dared to, especially Leo who did not have the nerve to speak out of line again, this is the first time Corrin and Garon have had a real conversation ever and if they're being honest, it is a sight to behold, no one ever thought it would ever be like this and themes like philosophy would be put in the equation. Definitely not something they would want to interrupt.

"As someone of two worlds and relished the privilege of being a highborn in both, I highly doubt you would know what is best for the world, nor how it's people truly feel about such matters." Garon said dismissively. "Humans are weak in every sense of the word, the weakest of them all are not the ones who cling to gods for purpose or answers to their suffering but those among the peasants who they themselves would rather bark demands and riot about their daily routines being interrupted rather than actually doing their part to make the world a better place because that is a job that will never be completed and will continue on endlessly. It doesn't matter that the embodiments of Sin are out on the loose for their influence has infested Men long before their presence became supernatural. People want to live in peace but they don't really want things to change, only destroy what they don't like and make way only for their desires to come into fruition."

"You raise a lot of good points, in truth I don't really know how the whole world thinks and feels, and many would rather ask for change than to make the change happen but is that not our duty as nobles and royals, to use the great power that is our birthright to make that change happen, that instead of giving them what they ask for, we give them what they truly need to fully grasp their own lives and be the better parts of themselves." Corrin replied.

"As King, my very nature extends beyond the needs of the people who live under my many shadows. I was born meant to know which path is the one needed to forge a future with the greatest benefit, and if I waste even an ounce of effort on thinking what those beneath me would want that could ever be considered more important than what I set out to do then I be doing more than wasting precious time on what will undoubtedly be ultimately nothing but I would become a traitor to the Kingdom I have dedicated my whole life to preserve but also a traitor to everyone who shared my vision and no longer stands by me in my ever approaching moment of triumph." Garon groaned with irritation but not one directed at Corrin but more so to his past shortcomings and losses to keep Nohr from falling apart so far.

"I see. So if that is your decision, then I will not try to persuade you any further." Corrin finally relented, though there was strangely no sadness in this defeat, they're not sure if this is some kind of contentment but she's definitely not too upset over her failure to convince Garon to agree with her wishes.

"Then there is nothing more to say." Garon declared, believing that perhaps Corrin will finally leave.

"No, there is definitely so much more left unsaid but I will only ask one question that I want answered." Corrin requested.

"Out with it then?" Garon consented, already having a good idea what she wants to say.

"Why did you let me live that night?" Corrin finally asked. "I know now that I was the White Behemoth that once ravaged Nohr during it's already tragic period when King Sumeragi was unjustly assassinated and you were the prime suspect. I no longer doubt that you didn't have anything to do in my father's death but it doesn't bring clarity to everything."

"What is there to understand, you were truthfully a convicted criminal charged with crimes of mass murder, collateral damage and the near deaths of the Royal Family. Even still, only a fool and a coward would do something so wasteful as destroy an asset as valuable as the sorely missed Dragon race, hence why I had you kept in the Northern Fortress your entire life. Your prison of stone, followed by the eventual sentence to a life time of servitude to Nohr for the crimes you have committed against us."

"So a weapon is all I was, eh?" Corrin replied while lacking emotion but looking like she understands. The others make no respond to Garon's confession, as that is the kind of thing they'd expect him to say, though deep down Corrin knows there's more to it than what was told.

"And as for your adoption into the Ancient Family of Qliphoth, it's simple, you were born and raise to be a Warrior Princess of Light and defender, like the previous Queens of Hoshido before you, and so I made you instead a Princess of Darkness simply out of obligation to Sumeragi for his agreement to help Nohr out of its Famine and nurturing for you the way a Princess should be taken cared off was the proper way to honor the fallen king, especially since we have no choice but to conquer Sumeragi's Kingdom and burn much of it to the ground and take his soils for Nohr's benefit once and for all. And as for my true children, it would've been a hassle to keep you a secret from them and I saw no point in keeping a Princess away from her peers and allowed them to decide how they should treat you, Xander and Camilla were old enough to remember your true self, anyway."

'The previous Queens of Hoshido before me, he says…' Corrin thought. 'Does he not know that I am not really Sumeragi's daughter by blood, or does he not care for blood ties, odd considering the kind of person he is but… wait a minute.'

"Agreement? I was told that he refused to form any truce with Nohr so that Hoshido would remain self-contained." Corrin countered.

"At first he was as stubborn and foolish as any typical Hoshidan would be, however I'd eventually convinced him to see the benefits of putting the past behind us, which made his death all the more unfortunate and would've made me the bigger fool if I had killed him, wouldn't it?" Garon retorted.

Corrin said yet nothing but was left wondering, she thinks back to when Robin once brought up what he learned of Nohr's previous attempts to forge an alliance with Hoshido and how many rumors claimed that the truce was actually accepted. "Well then, I guess there's nothing more to be said then."

"Corrin…" Camilla began, wanting to speak up next but Garon figuratively brushes her aside.

"No, there isn't. and the next time we cross paths, it will be in our final battle where you Hoshidan warriors will draw your last breaths." Garon declared.

"Just keep this in mind, that we tried to be merciful, in spite of everything. You've been warned." Corrin said as she takes a few steps back from everyone. "And in case I wasn't explosively clear all those times before, last time you were lucky. You were damn lucky, old man."

"Your faith in your boy is not misplaced, as I have deduced for myself but you forget that you don't have all the cards in place. We have his little friends in our clutches, and unless he's willing to throw them away this time when he couldn't before, I'll plant their heads as my new lanterns if you set one foot on our capital." Garon warned her, making his children feel really disturbed at the notion of Selena, Odin and Laslow being used as hostages, yes they are not happy about them withholding what they know about Robin, things that could've helped them overcome the bastard but as mad as they are, not even Camilla has the stomach to endanger their friends like this, not even to win this war. "Unless the removal of both cancel spells is your idea of a final master plan?"

Corrin makes no response to Garon's threat, in fact, she has nothing left to say and just fades away, not sparing anyone else a glance. She only came to talk to her foster dad one last time, enough was said with his mother and brother from Nohr to help her feel content with herself. She wishes that things could be different for her other sisters and brother but whatever's left of their relationship that can be salvage has to be done in the possible future.

"CORRIN!" Camilla cried out for her while also standing up but she was far too late that the only thing she can do is bent out by punching the table. "GODS DAMMIT! GODS DAMMIT!"

"Camilla. Camilla, that's enough!" Arete pleaded with her as she forces her into a hug to calm her stepdaughter down. She struggles for a bit but eventually she settles for just crying in her mother's shoulder, while everyone else remains dead silent, even Elise, with no tears threatening to come out this time. Wordlessly, Garon spares a glance at his two sons who quickly nod in understanding and get up to go prepare for war with most of the Retainers following suit.

---

Corrin sighs exasperatedly after that mind blowing ordeal. She wants to cry so badly right now but none are coming out, her eyes are again all dried up.

"Is that all that was left to say?" Lilith asked her after ceasing the Astral Projection.

"Yeah… that's all I have left to say. Even if there is a sliver of a chance to mend the wounds I gave them, a chance to at least start over as maybe friends or useful colleagues or whatever, it'll all have to be held up until this all blows over." Corrin said looking as strong as she sounds. She's either doing a lot better at hiding her pain or she has truly matured. Robin believes it to be the latter.

"Well said, Cor. You're still the youngest heroine on the block, you got nothing but time to make your future a bright one." Robin said walking towards her and placing a confident hand on her shoulder. Even though he wasn't visibly present for the whole thing he could still oversee the event. "You handled yourself quite well over there, you should feel proud for standing your ground."

"Really? I feel like I made myself look like I was overselling, or something fake like that." Corrin said concern.

"Nah, you looked like a real philosopher trying to break the mindset of a madman. That in of itself takes more courage than it takes to slay a dragon, trust me." Robin mused in attempt to reassure her.

"I'm right here, you know." Lilith replied a little offended by that somewhat of a joke.

"He's not racist, Lilith. In fact, he's the biggest dragon lover that there ever was." Corrin said, now more optimistic and even flirty as she grabs a hold of his face.

"Oh, come on, I'm just doing what every Humanitarian should aspire to be outside of the usual duty, especially since a Dragon's sanity depends on them being more human." Robin shrugged now blushing.

"And of course he's the shy kind of lover." Corrin continued to tease, getting Lilith to giggle as well. All jokes aside, they go to meet up with the others, the time has come for the final battle against Nohr, once that is done, the real fight against the Seven Deadly Sins can begins.

"Was Garon telling the truth. Did Sumeragi really agree to help Nohr with its famine way back then?" Corrin asked.

"That's a question I think your mother is the best one to answer but speaking from what I know, it would make sense for your stepdad to try and break the cycle that has caught Hoshido off from the rest of the world, if not for the Greater Good, than to spite the elders who he holds responsible for his first wife's death." Robin speculated.

"You're a conspiracy theorist now? You're making it sound like the true perpetrators were actually Hoshidans." Corrin muttered not liking the sound of that.

"I'm just thinking out loud what I've been trying to deduce in your place, don't worry about that now. The truth to reveal all truths will be upon us once Garon has been dethroned and the Grimm wiped out." Robin said.

"Yes but are you sure you're up for this, your friends are back in Windmire and the Nohrians did not respond well to their secret connection with you. They'll kill them if we go through with this." Corrin said to him, worried for Robin going through this again. In what should've surprised her but just made her sigh, her love gives a cocky smile.

"And what makes you think I would allow those three knuckleheads go back intentionally, knowing the world of trouble that was waiting for them. The fact that they helped save the lives of the Royal Family members twice is my solace that they'll be fine long enough to get them back again."

"You're terrible." Corrin protested while sorely tempted to hit him again but instead settled for another sigh since she's more amused. "What would become of the world if you were a bad guy?"

"Armageddon." Was his only reply but he actually looks smug about it.

"Am I missing something." Lilith said confused by the exchange of words.

"That's between us Lilith. Why don't you go and tell the others that we're ready to march." Corrin instructed.

"Alright." Lilith replied, though before she heads out, Corrin notices how anxious she is getting.

"Hey, what's wrong? Goosebumps getting to you. If so, it's okay if you want to drop out of the final showdown." Corrin offered.

"No, it's not that Corrin. I'm not afraid. Anxious, definitely. I honestly didn't think I'd last this long. My life hasn't exactly always been one with certainties that were actually good." Lilith confessed, revealing the concern she has for her own life, that Corrin feels concern over.

"Hey now, you're fine. Everything is going to be alright." She assured the younger dragon as she places her hands on her shoulders. "As long as we stick together, we'll make it through this mess and then some."

"Do you always have to say such cheesy things when someone gets all down?" Lilith questioned with visible humor, feeling a little better now.

"I do like me some cheese." Corrin shrugged in her continued attempt to keep everyone's mood from dropping.

"Adorable, you went and got yourself a new sister and this one has more in common with you." Robin smirked, somehow always seeing Corrin be so sisterly to Lilith is a treat.

"Wow, look at that, the unfunny man finally found his funny bone. Where was it this whole time? Your tome's pocket dimension or was it up your butt this whole time because I have noticed for a while that when you walk it looked like you had a stick up your ass." Corrin taunted.

"A while? You mean recently because your poor eyesight couldn't have noticed much back then." Robin fought back, earning her a scoff and hit to shoulder by Corrin. "You're too easy."

"Assbutt." Corrin shrugged just as she departs from the two.

"She's staying strong for all of us." Lilith noted her master's sudden shift in attitude.

"More importantly for herself, something I like to keep her as such until I know she'll really be fine, which will be after all this blows over." Robin said.

"Only if we actually win." Lilith wondered out loud.

"Yeah."

---

"It's now or never everyone. There truly is no turning back." Ryoma declared to his comrades and soldiers as the time for resting is over, now is the time to launch their final march into Nohr.

"This is almost too good to be true." Takumi said a little anxious as he finishes putting on his gear with Oboro helping him make a few adjustments.

"Oh, but it is true and nothing can stop us now." Hinoka boasted, more than ready for this.

"They won't know what hits them until it is far too late." Scarlet added, while she pets her faithful wyvern, just as eager as her for this final fight.

"I'm glad to hear it, once our two keystones are ready, we can begin." Ryoma said.

"One of them is already here." Robin replied as he arrives to greet his allies.

"That's partially excellent. And Corrin?" The High Prince asked, not noticing how the Tactician rolls his eyes by his first comment.

"She requires some time to adjust herself after the mind boggling stunt she was adamant on doing but rest assured, that she's more determined than ever." Robin said with confidence, though Ryoma is still taken by unease as he was made aware of Corrin's plan to speak to Garon one last time alone, something he was heavily against for far too many good reasons, insisting that he at least be there as it is customary for more than one royal to engage in something so ''delicate'' but she wouldn't budge.

"The amount of painful scenarios she puts herself into is what's truly mind boggling." Ryoma sighed, not able to imagine what his sister is going through right now. "You know that this is clearly your fault, right?"

"I'm a lot of things, Ryoma but I am most certainly not contagious." Robin muttered annoyingly.

"LIAR!" Jakob snapped while appearing between the two men seemingly in the blink of an eye and pointing accusingly at Robin. "And just when you promised Milady no more lies, you go and puke more lies."

"Shut up, Joker!" Robin snapped back.

"It's not that he's lying, but that he is obviously in denial of himself." Sakura replied.

"True."

"Can Pick on Robin Day wait after this all blows over or I'm dead? Either of those are more preferable." Robin pleaded, especially since having Sakura of all people be a part of this is what hurts the most.

"Everyone really needs to chill because we're all on edge and venting poorly. There, I said it." Rinkah pointed out, picking up from the start how anxious everyone truly is.

"Coming from you, that's more a concern for us all than something to take into consideration." Hayato mocked.

"OH! So you want me to vent ''properly'' is that it, punk!" Rinkah hissed, adjusting her knuckles.

"If you're going to blow some steam, you might as well go to the Astral Plane and settle things there." Robin suggested.

"No. Cracking Nohrian skulls is the best medication." Rinkah sighed, wisely choosing to drop the matter for once.

"Thank Sephiroth." Ryoma sighed exasperatedly.

"Good, everyone's maturing at a promising rate, on to war then." Robin smiled.

"Speaking of the war, you know fully well that this is hands down the riskiest plan you've concocted thus far, right?" Ryoma asked.

"Indeed, though, Corrin volunteered to plan our final strategy and after much consideration, this is actually quite brilliant." Robin assured him. "Figures that she would choose now of all times to show the results of her tactical training."

"You sure it's not too late to surrender?" Takumi asked with a lot of humor and fake fear upon the mentioned that Corrin actually helped plan the attack on Krakenburg, which did get a laugh out of most of them and none even considered scolding him for the insult because they understand his intentions and in actuality they all share his concerns with Corrin contributing to their plans to invade the enemy Capital.

"Unfortunately it's far too late to turn in the curtain. Just because Iago's head was turn to mush doesn't mean Nohr is short on creative and deceitful warlocks that won't find a way to get rid of the barrier and Corrin surely ticked them off in a way that will make what comes next mandatory to pull off." Robin said.

"We're going to commit practically everything we have into this assault, something we've thankfully been able to hold off until this very moment, so as the Nohrians love to say a bit too much. It's all or nothing now." Hinoka said. "You sure our chosen location to start the march is the wisest."

"Without a doubt, especially now that they know Corrin will be all over this attack, the place that will jump start the downfall of Garon's tyranny will be the one place they'll never suspect her to set foot on again." Robin said now with a seriousness that sucks the fun they just had seconds ago as they now become solemn at the detriment they're depending on to lead them to victory. "A poetic justice that's been on my mind ever since I learned the truth of Corrin's past, and despite my many, many shortcomings, I'm a lover of irony."

"Well, holy shit, man. This is hands down the darkest, yet most satisfying thing I've ever heard and I'm not sure how to feel about it." Hinata mumbled and next to him even Saizo is mixed about where they're going to go first before invading Windmire.

"What matters is how Corrin feels, so expect a very silent march, along with some hellfire of our own." Robin replied.

"Hellfire, another poetic way to bury the past." Jakob noted.

"Indeed, but one that I feel must be done if Corrin is to truly commence her future here in Hoshido. This day will be one of many regrets, my only hope is that we truly possess the strength to move forward and if not, our unity will have to be enough." Ryoma said as he looks up at the sunny sky.

"Our unity is the only thing that's kept us together and safe in this war, in any war. Hold fast and steel yourselves for anything, and I mean anything. Nohr will be at its most vulnerable now, but also at their most dangerous, just the way we're counting on them to be if we are to win, the slightest unpredictability could potentially prove fatal." Robin instructed.

"If the last strategy didn't go so well, what makes you think this one will go to perfection this time?" Takumi asked.

"I don't, every Endgame should be filled to the brim with unpredictability but I will still be able to control enough of the battle's flow to make us the victor, it all depends on if my theory regarding a key weakness in Garon's transformation holds true." Robin explained.

"You've already deduced the key to slaying Dragon Garon?" Orochi asked almost surprised. "Wait, don't answer that. I feel stupid for questioning you."

"Don't worry about it, there's no shame in harboring doubt, the anxiousness towards the end is always too much. But you are all the proudest of warriors and the most dedicated of comrades, if nothing else, if we go down, we go down fighting the best way we know how and we do it together." Robin said encouragingly and with a bit of humor. "So feel free to glare at the Nohrians as much as you like without feeling sensitive about it."

By his words, Oboro did not hesitate to show off her demon face, however this is the first time anyone has seen this look with a sinister grin.

"I regret everything I just said." The Tactician muttered after staring at such a nightmare. Strangely, though, most of them instead got a laugh out of Oboro's look.

"Go crazy, babe." Takumi encouraged.

"You know it, hon." Oboro smirked.

"Hell yeah! Let's kick some Nohrian ass!" Hana cheered, the enthusiasm back into the atmosphere. "Alondite and I are going to rain heavenly fire all over that city!"

"Sorry girl, but Heavenly Fire isn't nearly as intimidating as Hellfire." Hinata said.

"I know but it's appropriate for us. Me and my sword, I mean." Hana replied.

"You know you'll have to return that to me when this is over, right?" Robin reminded her.

"DON'T RUIN THIS FOR ME!" Hana completely snapped at that reminder and could not help herself but to yell bitterly at their Master Tactician, who can only drop a sweat at her response.

"Saw this coming." Robin sighed at the awkwardness while Sakura tries to calm her retainer down from her outburst.

---

Corrin takes a deep sigh as she walks to the outskirts of Shirasagi, watching Suzanoh from this distance.

"Water for your thoughts." Mikoto said as she arrives beside her daughter and offers her a glass of water that Corrin wordlessly accepts and drinks.

"Thank you." She finally replied, the water really hitting the spot.

"So, you're all set for this, aren't you?" Her mother asked with ever present concern.

"Yeah, everything is in motion and any and all chances for me to back out have all set sailed. There's nowhere for me to go but forward, and I can't do that without going back to where it all really began for me." Corrin said, her determination never leaving her, there is no one who could tell if there is even the slightest hint of hesitation in her.

"Oh, Corrin. Seeing you and the others like this is always hard on my everything the longer you all put up with madness like this, and knowing you, you're just itching to find more trouble." Mikoto said somberly.

"Someone has to put up with so many evils so that the commonfolk and powerless don't have to." Corrin retorted.

"Yes but… maybe, just maybe, you'll all be doubly safer if you had an extra healer/archer coming along." Mikoto volunteered.

"You wanna tag along? So that you and Arete can start Super Smash Mothers Brawl?!" Corrin spoke up with clear reluctance. "Have you learn nothing from Melee?!"

"HEY!" Mikoto raised her voice over the reminder of her humiliating defeat against Queen Arete. "Round two will technically be Melee, Brawl is only if there's a round three."

"Are we even in the same topic anymore?" Corrin asked, feeling awkward.

"I have no idea, it's the anxiousness. The whole Kingdom now knows that the End is upon us, so we're all going a little crazy." Mikoto sighed, calming down. "It's one thing to know when another fight of a war is about to commence and be able to suck it up and conquer the nervousness but Final Battles? It wouldn't be wrong to have any misgivings about the outcome."

"Yeah, I think everyone else feels the same way, somewhere in the back of their heads." Corrin said all calm now.

"What about you? Do you harbor doubts if we'll win or lose?" Mikoto asked, wanting confirmation.

"None." Was Corrin's only reply, which truly did catch Mikoto off guard.

"None?"

"None." She repeated. "I'm done being pushed around and never being as proactive as I should've been. It's time to take command of my own fate and be who I want to be, and to do that, I will win by thrusting my blade forward, no matter the consequences. If not for the sake of the world, then at least to save myself."

"Oh, Corrin." Mikoto wallowed in sadness but held strong not to express it and instead replace it with conviction. "That settles it. I'm coming with you all. The Barrier can look after Hoshido by itself until we come back."

"No you're not." Corrin raised her tone with adamant refusal to allow her mother into the battlefield.

"I'm going."

"No! You're not!"

---

"Why the fuck did you allow her to come?! This is a poor choice!" Corrin demanded angrily to her big brother over their mother coming along for the final battle, said mother more armed than any priestess bred for battle should comfortably be, her faithful retainers making a few necessary adjustments to make themselves feel content that she'll at least be physically secured, all the while Oboro is standing in the sidelines, biting her nails from anxiousness as she wanted to help her soon to be mother-in law get properly equipped but she was denied by Reina and Orochi as she might go overboard making the Queen stylish and they don't want her to be noticeable but invisible.

"You've… you've known her long enough to know that she doesn't take no for an answer." Ryoma muttered while flustered, more embarrassed than worried for their mother's safety because when Corrin would not budge, Mikoto turned to her oldest who despite being accustom to arguing with her about what they should and shouldn't do, the mother actually has an easier time persuading him, and as the High General and next in line for the Throne, his consent overrules Corrin's protest.

"Ryoma, you coward!" Corrin snapped at the easily manipulated man.

"Don't judge him. Mother is a viper. Something you two have in common, and don't you dare deny it." Hinoka scoffed in Ryoma's defense, however she too is guilty of failing to stop their mother from forcing herself into the final battle.

"Corrin, don't be a worried wort. She's in good hands, the healers were always going to be kept at a safe distance, as usual, and the Kinshi Knights are typically the best candidates to watch out for them, having Reina remain back won't change anything." Robin assured her to relax. Her worries for her mother is valid and is being considered but making a scene and calling their General out is not doing them any favors.

"That's right. Just stick to the plan and we'll make it. And besides, I'll be with her as well so you can leave it all to me. I'll protect mother. You'll see." Sakura declared fiercely, the courage she has accumulated throughout this entire war has finally reached its peak, nothing but a warrior priestess is left before them and her siblings and retainers couldn't be prouder of her, Hana and Subaki are already shedding tears of joy while holding each other in a comforting hug.

"Well, you can't say no to that." Robin smirked at the young princess's words as he continues to look at Corrin.

"Fine. I admit I'm being overdramatic, even though I'm right." Corrin sighed in defeat.

"I'm glad we can all see it my way." Mikoto smiled gently as she wraps her arms around Sakura after displaying such wonderful conviction, resulting in the young Princess returning to a more cheerful tone.

"What's a march into darkness without little wonders to remind us that hope remains strong with us." Azura made a light chuckle after seeing everyone continue with their lighthearted atmosphere.

"Yep, and it's about to get even brighter." Robin said to her as he presents Ragnell to Corrin and switches blades with her as he resumes his role as Yato's true master and upon feeling his touch, the Ultimate Holy Sword shines with power, and this in turn causes Raijinto still in its sheathe with Ryoma to shine as well as both swords synchronize with the Yato transforming once again. The blade is now curved to resemble a wide katana blade, the sword now shines with a yellow aura, and the top two slots on the blade are illuminated yellow. It retains the Noble Yato's cross guard.

"Well, I'll be damn." Ryoma mused as everyone near Robin gaze in awe at the new power the Yato is emanating. The Power of Light.

"All of you give it your all like you'd never had before. This war ends now." Robin declared and they all roar in future triumph as their response.

---

"Damn…" Kana said softly.

"Yeah…" Morgan bemused. The two children of Robin are having breakfast together on the dining room to themselves. They've been up all night catching up after so long apart, all the tiredness completely disappeared from the Empress once she saw her brother again.

"So you not only learned but got to experience firsthand the forbidden history. The deep dark secret past that father struggled to keep from us. Always refusing to disclose how he and the Ylisseans knew each other in vivid detail. Proud of calling such wonderful people his family, ashamed on how their history together truly began." Kana said in awe.

"Yeah, and I got to say, I really wish I could unsee everything I saw. To think that our own paternal grandparents would be like that, how a mother could throw his own son away, lightyears across the unknown depths of eternity and how a father would choose revenge over his flesh and blood." Morgan said with evident sadness, recalling the dark times of the Grimleal War and how their father was driven to suicide, it wasn't really a heroic sacrifice, that was just his excuse to run away from everything. "It still irks me how his death was what brought him to mother, it's as if she married a Risen."

"Come on, don't be like that, if you know from experience then you're the only one who can empathize with father's plight." Kana said.

"I do empathize with him, in fact there's no one in the whole multiverse who feels for him more like I do." She replied. "I actually got to see him again recently, he's in Horus and like we already know he's fighting in the Third Twilight War."

"So good then, the most important parts of our history remain set in stone." Kana mused.

"Yes but at the same time no, and I can assure you that the latter is not because of me." Morgan said.

"That would genuinely surprise me if it were true considering everything you've done and how Valm was never supposed to reform into a ''New Valentia''." Kana lectured.

"Oh, don't you start too." Morgan scuffed, getting off her chair. "The younger version of father abandoned me, okay! Left me with the people I can't bring myself to trust anymore and expected me to live with them instead as if forgive and forget was the easiest thing in the world. I wasn't going to have any of it and Valm's original course to restoration was slower and would eventually lead to civil war that those cultists would exploit for their benefit. I changed that, accelerated the restoration by 75% and reforged it all from the ground up in less than three years. ME! Not Walhart! Not Chrom! And certainly not Lucina! The absolute failure who actually wanted to change fate but instead made things worse. So what was so bad about me reaping the benefits of my efforts and claiming what I am owed from both the living and the dead."

"How about the fact that this is not your timeline, much less your world." Kana reminded.

"News flash, genius. You and I were born of two worlds, our backgrounds aren't exactly mundane, just the way we like it. Besides, Nohr's too gloomy for us, Hoshido's too sunny and Valla's… silent. We were never going to live up to gramps. It was time for me to make my mark and strive for my own legacy. Father always said that independence was its own reward and as you can see, he was right, and it can work for you too." Morgan smirked.

"I can't deny that it isn't tempting. If it wasn't for the new crisis that we've delayed all these years, I'd left for Fódlan then and there, or a bit later." Kana sighed.

"Oh really, because this is the first I've heard of it, and here I thought Almyra was your true bread and butter." Morgan joked as she sits back down.

"After what happened between mom and the so called Demon Queen Tiana I'll just pass by and get out as quick as possible. Dad said so himself that if we want excitement, we should pay a visit to the influential Church of Seiros and score a favor they owe to him and become one of their Knights." Kana shrugged.

"You want to be a Knight of Seiros? Really? What ever happened to being mom's rightful heir and all that stitch you never even tried to shut up about in our youth. Because we both know she'd never let me sit the throne and dad is always relinquishing his political opinions for a more unbiased voice of reasoning." Morgan sneered.

"Aw, you were right, I let her big promises get in over my head and there's so much left to learn and after so many misadventures day by day I've realized that I don't even know the world I grew up in. I have to do what you do and get out there and have some real experience." Kana sighed sadly.

"So you want to follow Siegbert's example?" Morgan questioned.

"Shiro's following suit last time I was in Hoshido?" He replied.

"True story. And when those blockheads actually agree on something, it's rarely not the right call. Good for you, finally growing some real balls." Morgan praised with some little sarcasm in the midst.

"Yeah, laugh it off why don't ya." He hissed while finishing his breakfast. "So, about the real problem we have that you've been neglecting."

At this Morgan can only sigh with frustration. "I don't know. I really don't know." She protested while hitting the table with her right hand. "Like I told you I forgot my past after ending up and escaping from the Future Past with the 2nd Generation Shepherds, you, mom, grandma, our friends have all faded from my memories, except for father who I've held so strongly, and don't even get me started on what I experienced before that in Elibe but now I'm in the middle of something else. We've heard the tales, the Valmesse War of Shadows, or as it will be now called New Valentia's War of Shadows started by Dolhr will drive the whole continent into absolute anarchy, pitting nobles and commoners against each other far worse than ever recorded in Midgard's history and now with me holding it all united under my banner as Alm's true successor I can avoid decades of depression and poverty."

"Why not just leave things to Fate for once, Chrom's the one who's to-" Morgan doesn't let her brother finish as she tosses her plate from the table to break on the floor, again agitated and gets up her chair. "C'mon, sis, we've always loved Uncle Chrom. You've always said that me having a Godfather from another dimension is like the most enviable thing ever."

"That was before I learned what really happened in the Plegian Crusade and later Grima's Revival. I can't look him in the eye again, Kana." Morgan shouted and even slams her face on a wall. "Not without thinking on what's been done. None of it was really his fault, I know that but it's so hard not to think of Ylisse without feeling contempt. I don't even know anymore how and why I can stay so composed when we meet each other for business transactions between Ylisse and Valentia, and if the Shepherds do decide to come help as soon as they've dealt with Loptria I'm sorely tempted to use them as baits and cannon fodders to execute the tactics I can only dare to dream of concocting."

"What would that accomplish aside from sparking civil unrest and tensions between the two continents, and you know Tiki and Regna Ferox will always stand with the Halidom." Kana reminded her. "If you're so composed with the father, the same can't be said for the daughter, can't it?"

"I can't say anything about her because I haven't seen her in all this time. I know she hasn't left my property ever since the war ended and she and the others have been helping my troops whenever possible but she definitely hasn't set foot in my Capital. All the surviving Plegians I brought with me are still bitter about Ylisseans and the brand in her eyes is a dead giveaway where my influence is at its peak." Morgan said with venom Kana has never heard her show before. No doubt, that his sister has changed considerably no matter how hard she tries to maintain her happy go lucky ego but at least she hasn't shown any vindictiveness towards her subjects and citizens.

"Look, Morgan, you want to raise tensions with what pops wants to preserve, you do you but that's not important now." Kana said softly as he gets up and walks to her. "Now that we've reunited, we have to focus on the true threat. They came for us, Morgan, and now they're meddling in ways they've never done so before, at least that we know of, and from what I've gathered, they've started meddling even in the most important parts of our home's history."

"Yeah, I know. I've faced one of them again and he really crossed a line against us. A really big line and is on thin ice more so than any other god forsaken beast we've ever had to deal with." Morgan sighed, calming herself with her thoughts focus on what Kana is saying. "But I can't leave New Valentia now and there's not a chance in Hell that this will be a short ride, we pick a fight with all of them, then it won't just be us declaring war, but us swearing an oath that may as well take us the rest of our lives to finish. Are you really prepared for that?"

"'I'd do anything for ma and pa, same as you. They'll throw a fit knowing we be doing this but we're the ones who missed the opportunity to stop them, and so I don't want to come out empty handed, and besides, they get away with this one we'll lose more than just our chance to fight them again." Kana reminded her of the dire consequences.

"I get it, Kana, I get it. But like I said, where they are won't be a one way trip and getting there as things stand will take forever to get there." Morgan said uncertain.

"How do you think I was able to travel about so many Outrealms and get here to you." Kana reminded as he raises his hand and from it manifests a very familiar crystal ball, one that makes Morgan narrow her eyes.

"Is that what I think it is?" Morgan asked hesitantly.

"Lilith's Dragonstone." Kana affirmed.

"You stole that from mom's vault. Even for my sake, taking that without her consent will earn you her wrath as if you were her worst enemy and you definitely didn't ask." Morgan said grimly at the negative implications of him having this. "You know what this means to her and how she checks up on it practically every day. First time it was stolen she started a citywide riot just to confirm that the crooks were still in the Capital."

"Well, like Nohrians like to teach their Tacticians when the going gets tough, it's all or nothing now, plus I've been doing way too many time and space travels to think about the hell awaiting me home, so if you don't mind, I'll like to take my chances with literal hell." Kana said now with a satisfying smirk.

"Look at you, the good boy gone bad." Morgan grew a smug that could mistake her for a criminal. "Never thought I'd see the day baby brother."

"Does that mean you're in?" He asked expectantly.

"BAH! What the hell, TALIA! NYLA!" The Empress yelled to the heavens and almost instantly two twin maids come running to the dining hall like they were being chased by bandits and are quick to stand up straight like proper maids before their liege.

"Yes, Empress?" The Twin Maids shout in unison and respect.

"You have your own twin maids?" Kana asked in astonishment. "Are they good with a knife when it comes to peeling human skin?"

"And all that's left is to get me some twin ninjas and the family dynamic will be complete." Morgan smirked. "You two gather the council, I have something I have to do and I need to make new short-notice preparations so that they can be able to handle themselves before I go."

"Yes, your excellency!" The duo bow in respect before they leave the presence of the two, only for them to immediately come rushing back to clean up the plate Morgan threw.

"What are they doing?" Kana asked.

"What do you mean what are they doing? They're maids, cleaning up broken plates is part of the job description." Morgan said, looking at him like he's an idiot.

"You broke it, you clean it." Kana lectured.

"Kana, never once have I, nor will I ever clean up after myself, especially now that I'm royalty of my own caliber. Empresses don't associate with what's beneath our feet." Morgan huffed with condescension as she walks away.

"Mother Elena. She's worse than ever. For someone who's never met grandpa Garon, she sure picks up after him. I can already feel the Uncles cursing and the aunts fainting." Kana muttered, unable to process what he just heard.

---

"All clear in this section!" One Nohrian Knight shouted as loud as he could whiles he and his many comrades guard the west section of Windmire.

"North section of the Capital is also secured." Replied another knight from another group guarding the North side of the Dark Capital. They keep communication with each other despite the long distance with the use of more magical devices meant for long distance contact.

Everyone is on high alert, Hoshido has begun its final march and should be nearing Windmire soon but so far there's no sign of them, buying them a questionable amount of time to set up an almost perfect perimeter around the city to protect it, of course this could potentially prove pointless with both sides able to use Warp Magic again and suddenly pop into the city but that would be the most obvious outcome and the Nohrians already have a trap set up for them if the Hoshidans even attempt to do this. The citizens have already been evacuated and relocated somewhere they'll be safe until the end of this, that is if the enemy doesn't discover them by some damn stroke of luck as many of them are certain that their Ninjas have no idea of this secret location.

"Any sign of the enemy?" Garon asked while he stands beside three of his children, as ready as him for the fight that's to come, the Grimm ever present and vigilant.

"Not yet sire. It's too quiet out there, and if they were to make any attempts to teleport into the Capital we would've known immediately before they'd actually done it." A General informed his King on the current status of the situation.

"They won't use Warp Magic to get inside Windmire, let alone Krakenburg. It's too obvious and predictable for Robin's methods." Leo replied.

"Yes, they must know how well secured the Crown City is for them to enter through magical means and disabling the cancelation spells is all but a ruse to make us panic and overthink things." Xander affirmed. "As it stands they're best bet is to make a march on foot and storm their way in, if we could just pin point where they'll be coming from we can intercept them in time and stop them from ever setting one foot here."

"We have scouts everywhere, above and below more than ever, there's no way we won't notice them." Camilla noted.

"That's where the problem lies, we should've noticed them by now, no matter how far they've went to start off unnoticed." Garon muttered, realizing the problem they are presented with. "Clarify for me, all routes that lead here have been secured as instructed, correct?"

"Yes, your Majesty. Just like we planned, every important location, vital point and shortcut that leads here is under our constant watch, there is nowhere for anyone to go or leave without us catching wind of it." Xander reassured his father while speaking to him more formerly as a Prince should to his King.

"Really, only the important vital points?" Garon questioned, his need for absolute assurance growing more and more strong, of which Xander cannot fault him for having so little faith with how dire everything is now and can only try harder to assure him for however long they have left.

"REPORTING FROM THE SOUTH ROUTE!" A female knight cried out, rushing towards the royal and once as close enough as the soldiers are normally allowed, gets on her knees before speaking again. "Hoshidan Soldiers of Light have been spotted coming from the sky. They're wreaking havoc in Demon's Fall and forcing their way through and we have not yet been able to recover from the previous incident."

"A literal frontal assault, eh? If that's how it is then they're in for a surprise." Camilla sneered.

"Wait a minute, only their Light Constructs? What of their actual forces?" Leo wondered.

"REPORTING FROM THE WESTSOUTH ROUTE!" Another Knight comes in repeating a similar report of Light Constructs showing up elsewhere, causing similar chaos. And it isn't long before two more soldiers come with similar reports.

"Chevian Forces have been spotted in the Northwest! We've already lost all communication with Major General Damocles."

"Reports of two Hoshidan Swordsmen laying siege to Lieutenant General James! Everyone there is down." That last report really got a rise out of the Nohrians present and grave terror from the lesser soldiers.

"They're dividing and conquering? That can't be. As things stand now, it's too risky for them to split their forces, they stand a better chance by sticking together." Camilla protested.

"They're not actually splitting their forces but spreading panic and fear by attacking different areas simultaneously but it doesn't seem like they're attacking everywhere so far and if this is really the plan than there's no way they can pull off causing turmoil everywhere. It's enough to attack three or four routes and make us think they're doing the same everywhere else." Leo calculated. "I suspected they might do something like this and if I'm right, they'll only manage to dispose of Damocles and James while the others are standing strong and ignored."

"Still, all our commanders must've received the same reports as us at the same time so the wide spread panic has already begun in their favor." Xander stated.

"Not if we pull something unexpected ourselves." Garon declared. "Sent the order that all our forces are to retreat from their pose and return to the Capital immediately! We make our last stand against the invaders as one!"

"WHAT?! Father, that's insane! We'll left them with so many openings to reach us." Xander argued against.

"Exactly. Too much freedom will lead to limitless possibilities for them to exploit and regardless of the outcome we can overwhelm them with our higher numbers." Garon countered. "It is a necessary risk."

"As bizarre as it sounds, it might actually work. Battles depended on higher numbers is the most favorable course of action, and no better will it be useful in a crisis like this." Leo agreed with his father. "Besides, if you're worried about the clash of so much magic power doing any effect underground Windmire than you mustn't forget that we spared no expense in keeping it tightly secured for our people in case such a disaster were to occur."

"Even still…" Xander wanted to argue more but Garon will not hear any more of it.

"Put aside your fears for that boy at once, Prince Xander! Do not shame your station and your soldiers with such feeble insecurities." He demanded cruelly. "Do not forget that I am here and the advantage is still ours."

'It's not that I shouldn't fear him but that you're not cautious enough because of how fearless you are.' Xander wanted to say out loud but knew how insanely risky it would be to speak out about it now of all times. 'Where could they be coming from? If only we knew, we could avoid such a risk.'

While Garon was presenting his orders to the messengers to deliver his decree, he discretely gave a dark stare at two Warlocks next to him that gave them a wordless command, of which they were previously given and nod, going to fulfill their duty. In truth, Garon has come to be just as weary of Robin as Xander but the King is more willing to do whatever it takes to stop the Tactician and like he told Corrin, he has his three friends as his bargaining chips for this occasion.

---

"New orders from his Majesty! All forces are to return to the Capital! We'll make our stand against the Hoshidans from within the heart of our Kingdom!" The voice of a Warlock comes out of a purplish metallic orb that the Nohrians are using to stay in contact for this fight.

"WHAT?! That's insane! We'll be left wide open." The strong voice of a mighty commander also comes from the device, clearly shock and against this order.

"What is the King thinking?" More voices come out of the object as the soldiers are divisive on how to respond to this command but predictably, none will dare to actually disobey. All the while this is happening, the two men who laid waste to Lieutenant General James's forces are overhearing everything.

"This is quite the desperate attempt. You foresaw this?" Ryoma asked Robin who is lying on the floor relaxing after beta testing Yato's newform with the High Prince's aid in wasting this small brigade, said holy sword lies next to him while stabbed on the ground.

"I be lying if I said I did, though Garon making another desperate mood was never a matter of if." Robin sighed as he gets back up.

"What now, it's not like we can turn back?" Ryoma said.

"Obviously but it doesn't matter. Higher numbers is the most common and favorable method of annihilating the enemy and if we were the ones on the defensive, he might've reconsidered doing this but they're the ones with the better defense. However, it's because of the structure of the Capital and the mass of soldiers and beasts there that this will prove fatal." Robin said with confidence. "In fact, things could not be more perfect for us, now we don't have to worry about so many reinforcements. All we need is for Corrin and the others to be close enough to attack."

"But doesn't your plan depend on those three remaining alive, what makes you think Garon hasn't already killed them? He's not one to keep hostages for long." Ryoma questioned.

"They're alive." Robin said no more on the matter concerning Selena, Odin and Laslow and picks up his Warp Tome. "Now let's go meet up with Scarlet and her men. They should be done by now."

---

From the north in the Kingdom of Darkness, hidden behind a fearsome mountain range, lies a once great fortress. It served no tactical purpose in the current age of this kingdom, all enemies to the north long since having been absorbed. It once held a scant few people, exactly seven consistently staying there not long ago. The majority of them lived in service to the young woman who had lived in the Northern Fortress all her life. Now that same Princess lies at a fair distance, watching as the very same fortress that was once her home and secretly her prison being set ablaze by the strongest fire spells in Hoshido's army, the constant darkness of Nohr making it plainly easy to see for miles but with the turmoil, few may bother to notice it as something worth investigating and just brush it off as the doing of their fellow comrades from afar.

As her army marches ahead to Windmire, she and her closest friends since her youth watch their own handy work towards the fortress that held so many memories for them. Robin's idea of her officially making way for her future in their new home.

"Home sweet home… huh?" Felicia said with unavoidable bitterness, as she truly did love her life there, she never could see the bad side of being a maid like her sister, in fact, Flora might be the only one among them who is actually relishing in watching the Fort's destruction but she acknowledges what this really means for them and does her best to hide her smile.

"Wow… I honestly didn't think it would come down to this." Lilith muttered.

"Indeed but I have to admit, that this truly is the best kind of poetic justice." Jakob said as the most apathetic of the group of five.

"How could this place have been left unguarded?" Lilith asked.

"I once heard a curious rumor among the soldiers that Prince Xander was making plans to give the order to leave this place isolated as soon as Lady Corrin was finally allowed to leave. My guess is he figured that once she felt the fresh air of the outside for too long she'll finally see this place for what it was and never want to come back so he might've wanted to make sure this place stayed in her memories, though there was no confirmation on the subject." Flora explained.

"It seems Robin heard this rumor as well and took it to heart, which is doing wonders for us now, and it's far too late for them to realize this." Jakob noted.

Corrin says nothing, just continues to stare at the place she never considered going back to after all that's happened and now seeing it be burned to the ground, it is clear that she cannot find even a shred of satisfaction in destroying it, even though she didn't so much as flinch when the order to set it all ablaze was given. All she can do is remember the memories she gained in this place. Lots of fun times. Crazy times. Scary times. Even sad times. She looks back at everything and the one thing she can agree on is that she would never trade those memories for anything.

'My past is a part of me and I rather embrace my future without having to put it behind me. Good or bad, it's all mine.' Corrin declared to herself as she turns away from the Fort, dropping a single tear towards it.

"Goodbye…" She whispered as she returns to her march, her family, minus Ryoma and Takumi were behind her the whole time, patiently waiting for her to make peace with her former home. She merely gives them a silent nod as they march forward together on to their final destination.

---

"Crap, things must be really going to shit up there." Selena cursed as they can here all the commotion happening above, even feel the rumbling as the last bastion of Nohr's forces seem to be readying to do more than give it their all.

"Do you think they've managed to evacuate all the citizens in the underground town?" Laslow wondered with immense worry over the chaos that will shake the very foundation of Windmire.

"No doubt about it, we've been planning ahead and made too many preparations to ensure that the commonfolk wouldn't get caught in the cross fire in case we'd failed to keep Hoshido away from the Heart of the Kingdom. If nothing else, Lady Camilla and the rest of the nobles will succeed in keeping them safe." Selena said.

"There really isn't any reason to worry about the fair children of the night, the Hoshidans are as tenacious as any army but their code of honor strictly forbids them from attacking the unharmed." Odin replied.

"In war mercy isn't a certainty but with the likes of Robin and Corrin running the shots, I feel a little faith in that possibility but it's not like our ex-comrades can believe that." Selena noted.

"What are the odds that Garon will do something seemingly asinine that will put a dent on whatever master plan uncle has cooked up this time?" Odin wondered.

"Hard to say but knowing him, all their attempts will prove absolutely meaningless. The only people who've ever outsmarted Robin were Validar and Grima and the reason was totally because they cheated." Selena said.

"Nah, Grima definitely cheated in both timelines but Validar definitely outsmarted him fair and square." Odin retorted.

"Owain, don't be a kiss-ass." Selena hissed at him. Just then, they hear doors being open with footsteps coming in towards them. "Oh, great. We're being escorted to be the main event already."

"You'd think they'd send more guards to escort us, I mean, it's not like we're connected to the number 1 war criminal Nohr has ever had to put up with." Laslow joked.

"Pretty sure Corrin's the one who's number 1 because of the emotional harm she caused to the Royals." Odin corrected. "But technically speaking, yes, Robin shouldn't be number 2."

They are quickly greeted by the men assign to escort them to Garon, two of them are the Warlocks the King gave the order to, accompanied by six fellow dark mages and two very intimidating Berserkers.

"Gentlemen, I know Nohr has never been very good when it comes to welcoming committees but you could at least try to improve on your aesthetics." Laslow tried to lighten the ever darkening mood.

"SILENCE, TRAITOR!" One of the leading Warlocks snapped violently, firing a thunder spell at the flirt, sending him crashing into the wall.

"You FUCKS!" Selena yelled as she grabs the bars so tightly that she could've squished it if she had even a fraction of Robin's strength. Her outbursts earned her and Odin the same ''courtesy'', as they are also electrocuted enough to fall to their knees.

"Knock it off Jax! His Majesty wants these three only partially well and presentable when the time arrives to use them as scapegoats." His fellow Warlock scolded him not to rough them off yet.

"I hear ya, Cortez, I just don't take kindly to fuckwads who screw with the Princess." Jax calmed down and ceases his spell. "Now, on your feet, numbskulls. It's time to fulfil your final commitment to the kin-" Jax could not say anymore as a Shuriken is thrown at the back of his head, making him hit the bars of Selena's cell and fall to the floor.

"Hoshidans!" Cortez yelled as the Nohrians turn around to face the intruders but are all instantly killed simultaneously by more shurikens and wind-based arrows shot that kill the warlocks and berserkers, and once that is done the trio are introduced to their saviors who are none other than Prince Takumi, Kaze, Saizo and Kagero.

"You guys…?" Laslow muttered as he slowly recovers from the shock, and without saying anything, Takumi shoots at each of the cells, freeing the three.

"You sure nobody heard this commotion?" Takumi asked the ninjas.

"Certainly, the walls have been modified to be soundproof. They got disturbingly creative in recent years." Kaze affirmed from his short experience as a prisoner in Krakenburg.

"Only recently?" The Archer Prince asked skeptically.

"If nothing else, at least the Castle that governs Nohr tried to be the most peaceful place in this soil." Kaze shrugged.

"What are you guys doing here?" Selena asked and without a hint of her usual stuck-up attitude.

"Don't make it sound like Robin wasn't planning on coming back for you three." Kagero said, almost sounding self-satisfied, likely still having something against Selena after their previous battle in Cheve. Hinoka wasn't the only one thoroughly on the brink of a lousy defeat by the three femme fatales of Nohr, and Selena easily picks up on it.

"Sip it, ninja bimbo!"

"The proper term is Kunoichi." She corrected.

"Don't add more fuel to the fire." Saizo advised.

"You guys being here means that you're here to get us out of this mess." Odin asked, a little surprised to see them here.

"That's entirely your choice, we're just here to properly set up the main event." Takumi said as he reveals a small red cube into his hand, one that is very familiar to the Trio.

"Is that what I think it is?" Laslow said shock to see a relic from the past.

"Of course you'd know what this is. This honestly might just be hands down the most impressive toy that guy has ever made." Takumi mused.

"Isn't that the same gismo Robin used on General Pheros when he let her get away just so he could set her up to be a part of Walhart's downfall?" Odin asked awestruck.

"Yep, but instead of one ticking timebomb, he set up three." Selena hissed as something inside her chest, as well as Odin and Laslow starts to glow in a lime-green light that are reacting to Takumi's cube.

"Oh, so that's why he let us go back here without a fuss." Odin muttered, more amazed than stun.

"Yeah, apparently the asshole still has a little bit of the Fell Dragon in him after all." Selena hissed.

"Now, now, in his defense, it's not like we would've been so open about leaving Nohr altogether even after knowing what was going to happen to us once exposed." Laslow reminded her.

"Quit your moping, you babies, this thing is not going to kill you, releasing the shockwaves from your bodies is totally harmless to the carriers, otherwise he wouldn't had picked you three." Takumi lectured.

"I know how the damn spell works, I was mentored by the douche who invented it." Selena sneered.

"Oh really, then how come you never performed this spell all those times you were being a thorn on our side?" Saizo questioned, causing the redhead to fluster from clear embarrassment.

"I hate you all." She hissed.

"Kaze, how long before the army gets here?" Takumi asked.

"If we're on schedule as calculated, we have exactly twenty minutes left." The Ninja informed.

"In that case a change of scenery is in order. Masaki." Takumi turned to a fifth Hoshidan here that kept to the shadows until now, a Diviner lady with a Warp Scroll in hand.

"Highness, I know the perfect area where we can avoid detection up until all is ready." She replied.

"How the heck can you guys get away with warping with the whole Capital being hexed to counter this magic?" Laslow questioned.

"You fools ask too many questions, it's exhausting." Saizo hissed with clear irritation over these three. "You don't need to know anything except that we're your best chance at staying alive now that your King has signed your death warrants."

"Not giving us much of a choice on the matter, eh." Odin shrugged as they are face with very few options. "Still, why us though?"

---

"Windmire dead ahead!" A Pegasus Knight shouted to the main forces who will soon reach the Capital of Nohr, Corrin right at the front of the army, they're very close now and already they see the major swarm of soldiers and Grimm protecting Windmire from the threat they pose.

"I've never seen so many Grimm in one place before." Felicia almost gasped understandably intimidated by the massive number of monsters standing in their way, and the number of human soldiers is nothing to scoff at either.

"It's like looking at a swarm of bees but infinitely worse." Oboro said in awe at what they are expecting to blast their way through.

"The forces they sent to first invade Hoshido is nothing compared to this." Hinoka noted.

"Wow, got to give it to the Nohrians, they spare no expense when it comes to defending their home." Hinata praised.

"A natural response when your country is being invaded, even little animals would go to such lengths to guard their territory and now we're about to see how ferocious they really are." Rinkah declared, tightening her grip on her flaming club.

"Yeah but until Robin and Ryoma arrive we mustn't go forward, only defend ourselves if they strike first." Corrin decreed before turning to her sister. "Mother and Sakura are way in the back with the rest of the healers?"

"Just as planned and they're as secured as we can afford and no way in hell will they be hit with a surprise warp attack." She answered.

"Good, then we wait for the final signal."

---

"Sire! The Hoshidan Army have finally shown up, right in the northeast route." A Knight informed the King from a Seer. "They seem to have arrived unopposed."

"There's no way, with so many of our forces marching back here, even via warp they couldn't have arrived here unnoticed." Leo retorted in disbelief.

"Every important location, vital point and shortcut that leads here is under our constant watch, you said." Garon retorted to Xander with aggravation.

"This can't be…" Xander trailed off trying to make sense of this situation and to his shock, he realizes something startling. "Oh no…"

"More enemy forces have arrived from the west!" They are once again intruded by more warnings of danger.

---

"Wow, would you look at that." Scarlet whistled in amusement as the forces she was sent to lead, accompanied now by both Robin and Ryoma arrive near the Capital, and throughout the whole time they've fought in Nohrian territory, they've never seen so many Grimm in one place. "It's like watching cornered lions. I actually feel sorry for these schmucks."

"I wouldn't just yet, the real show is about to begin." Robin declared as he picks up a cube very similar to the one Takumi has with him and it glows in the same lime-green glow. "Showtime. And now of all times do I hope Selena doesn't hold it against me."

It happened in a flash but for the briefest moment, the entire Capital of Nohr and beyond was sealed in a green dome of some kind before vanishing entirely.

"That's it?" Ryoma asked the Tactician.

"That's it." Said Tactician replied casually just as he gathers wind magic in his left hand. "It's a good thing Selena decided to skip class when I planned on teaching her this, otherwise she would've been compelled to use it against us, as well as counter us. We're good to go."

"Good." Ryoma smirked as he raises his holy blade. "CHARGE!"

As he said so, Robin fires an Elwind up above, and just like how he did once before when Corrin witnessed his display of magic, the sky was split in two, revealing the true sky to all below them, just as the dawn begins to rise, to their shocks but more so the Nohrians.

---

"That's the signal! Everyone charge!" Corrin howled upon seeing the light of the sky as the signal Robin described to her previously, though not as loudly as Ryoma as both forces move in to attack the Nohrian Army.

---

"They're actually going to attack us like that?" Questioned a Paladin as they witness Corrin's forces marching.

"Asinine fools. Onward, men! Show these invaders the consequences of stepping foot on Nohrian soil!" Declared a General as they launch their own attack. The Final Battle between Nohr and Hoshido is here and the first to attempt the first blow are the Nohrians, with the Warlocks and Grimm releasing a barrage of long-ranged attacks at the invaders, they planned to hit them with everything they've got, whatever it takes to protect the Heart of their nation and put an end to this war that has already taken so much from friend and foe alike. Unfortunately, the first strike isn't as deadly as they intended it to be as the Dark Mages did not produced a single ounce of magic power from their fingertips and the attacks of the Grimm weren't as lethal as the beasts themselves intended it to be.

"What…" The General uttered at the complete inefficiency of his soldiers and this distraction would become his undoing as he gets shot right between his eyes by an arrow, ending his life as the Hoshidans deliver a true frontal assault that lays the men and women of Darkness to devastation by the onslaught of the Light.

---

"That dome-like spell Robin just casted works like a disease. It lashes itself into a host and once it spreads upon the command of the caster through special cubical devices unnaturally fast in a wave of twisted magic, lashing itself from one host to another. To those who lack any magical talent, it is completely harmless, whiles those who are magic-users are stripped of their powers. It's not exactly the same as Anti-Magic that nullifies anything magical upon contact as it instead shuts it all down indefinitely and the disease only affects those who were within the wide dome while those who were outside upon its activation will be left immune even after the selected area has already been contaminated." Azura explained how the powerful spell Robin created to Mikoto and Sakura works as she and the rest of the army watch from a safe distance Corrin lead the charge, already punching through the first line of defense and about to enter Windmire, Ryoma and Robin's side of the army not far behind now. "There are plenty of magical sealing spells that do this but usually escaping the area where the spell is casted is enough to restore sealed away magics, this one on the other hand requires the consent of the caster to be able to restore them."

"That's disturbingly fascinating, though it doesn't seem to do a complete job with the Grimm, though they are more beastly than just magical." Mikoto noted.

"Yes, Robin deduced that the best his Disease can do is dampen their powers, similar to your barrier, only to a slightly more favorable extent." Azura continued. "Right now, the only threat to our Diviners are their Anti-Magic Artillery but that may prove to no longer be a problem as well soon enough."

"So victory is already assured then?" Sakura wondered with hope.

"There can be no victory unless Garon is down for the count." Azura said with absolute determination. "We mustn't stray too far from the main force, with minimal risk of magical assault, it's safe to get closer."

"Very well. Take heart everyone, our final battle is here." Mikoto decreed.

---

Right below the Dark Capital, there lies a sort of underground city, filled with markets and the likes to make a decently good place to live in that was built long ago for the poorest of folks to reside in. Better then living in the streets like urchins, was the excuse the nobles gave when they built this place but for the most part, this town is well received and appreciated by the common folks who can't afford a place to live on the surface and now with the war reaching Windmire it's the perfect place to move the citizens for their own safety and if the reports are correct, there's seldom anyone in Hoshido that knows about this place so the odds of being attacked should be low and even if they do know, all the chaos above should hopefully keep them occupied.

Speaking of the surface, the tremors of the insane battlefield can be felt from down there, everyone instinctively, the Nohrian citizens and soldiers tasks with guarding them look above as they can even see the ceiling shake. Bits and pieces from above even show minor cracks that fall down, and this made plenty among them have a slight panic that it would all come crashing down on them. Among those who were sent here for their safety are Queen Arete and Princess Elise, both of which were forbidden by King Garon to partake in the final battle. Elise holds on to her mother tightly as the carnage above worries her the longer she is without the rest of her family. Now more than ever Arete will not let her out of her sight so that she can rush to do a fool's errand and fight in what could potentially be a losing battle for them. If necessary she will have to restrain her. The entire time, their Retainers, along with Silas are with them, ready to put their lives down the line for the Royals.

"Crap, this whole thing is horseshit!" Charlotte cursed, her grip on her axe tightening by the second from sheer frustration.

"There's little that we can do I'm afraid but hold the line here and hope that his Majesty will prevail." Benny said reluctant himself to allow things to turn out like this.

"Yes, it's all up to them now." Silas said while gripping his lance tightly by how tensed he feels from all the fighting while he remains underground, guarding the people. A sentiment that is shared among many of his comrades but alas, this is the best they can do now and hope that the fighting doesn't lead to the Hoshidans coming here.

"Mother…" Elise mumbled while always close her mother.

"Hush now, child, do not despair. We will see your father and siblings again. I know it." Arete assured her daughter while never letting her go, nor will she until this battle is over.

---

"Finally, this sad war will meet its end just as day break arrives no less." Hydra commented as he is bearing witness to glimpses of the final battle in Windmire, confident but still concern that not only will Corrin survive but be victorious in this life changing catastrophe.

"Yes, this was a very anticipated outcome, however, despite the anguish, despair, grief and heartache, this was a relatively short war, especially when you compare it with the magnitude and longevity of the previous Twilights." Quill said while lying on a wall, his book no longer with him at the moment and has both hands holding his cane.

"Still, I yet wonder if the states are as high as they should, after all, all the combatants remain pawns in a bigger game." Hydra said as his thoughts once again return to the evils residing below in the hidden kingdom.

"We both know that neither Corrin nor Robin will be content in this hollow victory until the Seven have been defeated." Quill said. "Sadly, there's no guarantee that those atrocities won't strike as soon as this battle is over, or rather if they aren't making their move already."

"They may not. It's taking me longer than I would've preferred but I've been able to pinpoint their current location and where they've been for the past weeks. And six of them have been in Valla this whole time, doing what, I can only speculate." Hydra explained.

"Only six of the Seven Deadly? Which one remains in Horus?" Quill asked.

"Lust." Hydra said sternly, making Quill narrow his eyes at the bad implications.

"How unfortunate, Pride, Wrath, Envy, Greed, Sloth and Gluttony are nightmarish on a planetary scale on their own but out of all of them, that one I have always found to be the most unforgiving of this evil family." Quill said disturbed.

"I know, and for some reason I can't seem to find that monster, it's hidden itself so well that I think not even its other siblings know where Lust is." Hydra said concern.

"That's an oddity if I'd ever heard one. Pride would never allow his siblings to wonder off without his supervision, at least not for too long. Did it went rogue again?" Quill wondered.

"Unknown, my only hope is that that beast isn't anywhere near my daughters." Hydra said now fearful, all the while Quill now has a quizzical look to him.

"About your daughter. The younger one. Her knowledge is indispensable, isn't it?" He whispered.

"What's that?" Hydra asked caught off but didn't really heard him.

"Nevermind." Quill shook his head as he does not want to have this discussion with him and instead chooses to take his leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To have a better look at the disaster that befell my home." Quill said as he raises his cane to point at his front and in doing so, a shadowy portal opens up, which will take him to Windmire.

"I thought you said you weren't going to interfere anymore?" Hydra questioned.

"I'm not going to help the Hoshidans, I'm going to buy us more time for the real battle. If things are going however Pride wants them to go, then his arrogant arse will allow us the opening we need to stall and prepare for the final battle." Quill explained.

"I see, so you mean to use the Blazing on the Throne of Shadows." Hydra concluded and Quill nods.

"The Throne of Light has been awakened after all these long years and together they will bring forth not the Twilight of the Gods, but of the Demons." He declared.

"I'll go with you then." Hydra offered.

"No, we've kept our distance from each other for so many years for a reason. Notre Sagesse is the only place in the world where it's safe for us to meet, anywhere else is too noticeable and it's imperative that you are not discovered." Quill declined.

"What are you getting at? The Seven already know I still live, I've saved Corrin and the Hoshidans from their vile grasps twice already." Hydra questioned.

"You're just gonna have to trust me on this, no matter what happens from here on out, don't leave this island." Quill insisted.

"I've always trusted you." Hydra sighed. but Quill did not let him finish as he enters his portal. "Though, that's never been exactly a good thing."

---

"For Satan's Sake, I can't remember a time when I've felt this bored." Envy protested as she and her five siblings gather under a ruined throne room, what they've been doing following Pride's orders that they withdraw from spreading more chaos and vice on Horus is unknown and perhaps it's better that way, given their insidious nature and disregard for human life. The Seventh Sin, Lust is still missing, not normally a big deal since the siblings are known to vanish for months at a time without warning but for the first time in probably ever in their long history, they have not been able to find them. They know Lust is still somewhere in Horus but the exact location is next to impossible to identify, meaning that they are constantly on the move, not unusual but never at this rapid pace, whatever Lust is planning may not bode well for any human but it could still be problematic for even them. Pride certainly isn't having any of it, as he lies sitting on a very impressive throne made entirely of electrum, the top adorned with seven large rubies shaped like demonic horns, muttering something that his siblings can't make out but they are certain that it goes somewhere along the lines of ''Lust, you inferno vermin of the lowest filth and disgrace… when I find you, may Satan finally be capable of showing mercy. '' probably not those words exactly but they're rather positive.

"What are we to do now? The war is almost over and the Hoshidans are definitely going to win." Gluttony asked.

"I don't know, why don't we ask our Almighty King of Kings and God of Gods over here." Greed hissed while glaring at Pride who remains unresponsive in his chair. "So much beautiful death and destruction happening up above while we're here sitting our asses and scratching our balls and vaginas when we should be out there bathing in the endless bloodbaths and enriching in all the valuables the greatest nations of this world has to offer. Am I the only one who doesn't see how fucked off this scenario is?"

"Evidently, yes because I for one have been enjoying the best sleep I've had in ages that I feel like staying awake for the rest of the day." Sloth mused with a happy go lucky smile for once after so long.

"That genuinely surprises me." Gluttony mused.

"Does that mean you will be acting like our Tactician again?" Envy asked.

"I'm going back to sleep now." Sloth's happy mood is completely destroyed now.

"We shouldn't had stayed here at the very least. We could've gone someplace else. Like Fódlan. You lots remember Fódlan, right? How we used to screw around with the humans there before Sothis came and kicked us out. Now that she's out of the picture ten times mor literal than the Precursors we could've gotten away with anything there, maybe mess around with the current Adrestian Emperor and get him to go to war with that suspiciously odd Church of Seiros and by extension drive Faerghus and Leicester into chaos." Greed continued to banter as she walks towards Pride, lowers her head to face his and even touches the throne. "What are we waiting for, man? Grow a pair for once and let's just do some-"

Greed is unable to finish her sentence as she instantaneously implodes, her flesh, bones, organs and water that acts as her blood splatters all over the place and even bits of her land on her siblings minus for Pride as he and his chair remain spotless as the pinnacle of perfection he seems to be.

"SON OF A BITCH! Some of her teeth landed on my eyes!" Envy cried in agony following to the floor with her eyes covered by her hand as she is now ''bleeding''.

"Neat, it's been a while since I'd tasted a demon's eye." Gluttony smiled as he picks up one of Greed's eyeballs that landed on his head and eats it, optic nerve included.

"22,475,989. That's how many times I've told you mongrels not to invade my personal space, you guys are lucky enough as is that I deem you all 22% decent enough to share the same room as me but only for thirty minutes per day, and it seems I have to tell you yet again for the 22,475,900th time. NEVER. INVADE! MY! PERSONAL… SPACE!" He snapped violently, releasing a shockwave that does the same amount of severe damage to his other siblings, minus for Wrath who is unharmed and is nonchalant about his siblings being left in such a gory mess.

Pride takes a deep breath while rubbing his face, trying to stay calm. "You've been awfully quiet, Wrath. I've never known you to show the smallest hint of patience ever." He questioned the brute of the family.

"How heartless of you to say that, Pride, even I acknowledge the importance of slowing down and thinking ahead in battle." Wrath feigned being hurt by his words before growing a smug. "After all, I practically invented the concept of fighting."

"That would explain why I always catch your scent, even when we're worlds apart." Greed whine as she finished regenerating from what parts of her remain, and soon enough, the other Sins also recover.

"I'm content enough with how things are, plus I know you will give the all clear to strike. It's just safer to wait when the war is over and they are all exhausted, right?" Wrath stated.

"Basically. I rather not make the same reckless choice we committed that led us to confront Ike. Despite the humans and the Dragon descendants never being capable of posing so much as a challenge to us, it be better to wait it out. After all, rid the world of every ugly, fang and clawed entities of the world and the only monsters and demons humans have left to fight is each other. It's why the Gods decided to stain their honor by creating abominations. Life where only goodness exists is boring so they cursed humanity with imperfection, misery, sin. All for their amusement. Or should I say, MY amusement." Pride gives a gentle smile filled with hidden malevolence. "And besides, I'm curious to see what our ''old friend'' has in stored to stall for time, if he is able to, and if that is the case, will it be enough to stop us now that Nohr and Hoshido are just as divided as they've always been since Qliphoth and Sephiroth can no longer keep them in harmony. Life without Gods has truly made Mortals so unreasonable I actually feel sorry for them. Or at least I did, once upon a time but that time is lost and yet she moves forward, forever traveling to reach the End of the World."

"Again with your weak attempts to be a poet." Envy scoffed. "At least try to be inspirational. That right there is just torturous and mildly noticeable."

"The day I choose to entertain you all is the day I confess to being imperfect, and we all know that's not possible. Right?" Pride questioned, again threatening to implode his siblings and this time, he'll go for all of them.

"Sure, sure, no one's saying you're ugly. Don't go losing your head, bro. Let's just continue to sit down and enjoy the show." Wrath smirked, looking forward to the end.

---

Among the entire heartland of Nohr, despite the dark clouds that are constant, there's always been a source of light somewhere to help the people find their way across, the most noticeable lights are those of the cities, even the poorest and almost run down of them are capable of shining in the darkness, all to help the people find their way home and not get lost in the constant dangers that lie everywhere. Even Hoshidans have to admit, that from a distance, the ''dark'' cities are quite beautiful and they don't mean to be deceitful in appearance, the settlements seldom hold any kind of empty promise for being there because all of Horus knows Nohr too well, or perhaps not well enough. Of course, the city that shines the brightest is ironically the Dark Capital. Corrin knew the Crown City was special above all others the moment she laid eyes on it the first time and even after spending so long in Suzanoh, the logically superior city, she still thinks highly of Windmire. No matter how far she was, she could still call this place beautiful but also fearsome and deadly and up close, it loses none of these traits, if anything, they intensify, there is a lot of pride here, one that cannot go ignored. Sure, there are the slums that have a lot of terrifying rumors and crazies but in spite of that, Corrin can still look at this place with so little contempt, which makes it all the more difficult when she delivers the same courtesy Nohr gave to Suzanoh, ordering for Windmire to burn.

Soaring through the city like beasts, the streets of Windmire are being ripped apart, just like how the Nohrians brought pain and destruction to Suzanoh with all enemies that get in their way towards Castle Krakenburg taken down or out. The only difference that the Princess is thankful for is that there doesn't seem to be a single citizen, bystander or peasant within sight. They managed to get everyone to evacuate and make this the perfect battleground without concern for holding back and using practically everything at their disposal to eliminate the opposition. While curious on where they might be, it is best to focus solely on the battle and proceed to head further into Krakenburg and finish this once and for all.

Of course, like Robin warned them many times, any strategy sounds good on paper and in execution, everything can go to Hell, more so figurately but hysterical men often compare war as if soldiers are walking towards the edge of literal Hell so it could go either way or both and as things work out, people can't help but think about how things could've gone worse and not how it all went pretty great. Majority of the time, Corrin could only brag on how everything always seems to go Robin's way when he makes their strategies in winning battle after battle, and even when things go bad, they are still able to pull off a victory for themselves and up until the Woods of Forlorn, it seemed like they were almost untouchable but then Garon went and hit Cor on her soft spot and everything began falling apart and right now they are experiencing something slightly similar as Nohr really hit back hard, creating so much more chaos than they could handle and much of the main forces ended up splitting up for the most part and trying their best to stay alive and so forth.

"Come on!" Scarlet shouted as she leads a whole squad of fliers towards Castle Krakenburg, heading down towards the crater where they meet heavy resistance with large javelins being fired at them, not that they would never anticipate such oppositions and were quick to take evasive maneuvers with impressive reflexes for Wyverns and if that isn't enough, they use magic to deflect them, afterwards they charge in and rain down blades on the shooters.

Now the fight takes place right at the Heart of Nohr with the very crater itself seething with carnage. For so long, this castle as stood the test of time as an absolute measure of strength, authority and power within the Dark Night Kingdom that all who gazed upon it, enemies and allies alike can agree that it is truly a sight to behold, admire and fear, and now it's being put to the test at both strength and endurance as the United Army finally breaches the last defense and make their way down into the castle.

"For the love of Archean! It's like we're waltzing right into the mouth of Hell." Scarlet hissed as she pulls her axe off a Sorcerer's shoulder. "All the more satisfying when we tear it all down."

---

Corrin makes her way inside Krakenburg, accompanying her at the moment are only her ninja, butler and maids at the moment to support her as they rush down one of the many stairs down to the main entrance of the castle, and just as they reach the bottom, Kaze stops the Princess from proceeding further as an arrow has been shot right at them that narrowly avoids her nose but unfortunately it instead hits a Wind Tribalist right in the head. Corrin is quick to retaliate by firing a shockwave from Ragnell that bisects the Nohrian Archer. They proceed on but because of all the commotion they realized too late that they have taken a wrong turn and instead made their way into a large platform that serves as a training field in Krakenburg, there a few like it and all of them have made Corrin very nervous with the height they were made in and this one has a mighty battle on it and another is forming up behind them so they can't turn back, especially since they stand a better chance getting back on track into the castle if they barge through this.

The five aren't given much chance to think it over as a Carnage, around the same size as the first one they encountered in Kyoto spots them and moves in to attack, urging them to take a right and try to avoid the beast of destruction and are fortunate enough to take cover on an unsuspecting Death Stalker as they rush on it's right just as the Carnage swings it's extending arm and it ends up hitting the fellow Grimm instead, knocking the scorpion right off the platform and falls deeper below the castle. The Six move forward and fight their way through the onslaught of Nohrians and Grimm while helping a few of their comrades, with just a single swing, Corrin one shots four Ursai, all the while Kaze and Jakob simultaneously eliminate a Knight that managed to snuck off behind her before he could get the drop on her and the Ice Twins push back anyone else that tries to go after them. With all the commotion they fail to notice a single Beowolf that while cautious, rushes and tackles Felicia to the ground.

"FELICIA!" Flora cried and out of desperation and anger, she charges forward moments before the Beowolf is able to take a bite out of her twin's face and she stabs the dark beast with a dagger made of ice in the face once and as she pushes it off Felicia, Flora gets on top of the wolf and stabs it three more times in the neck. Once the deed is done, Felicia is helped up her feet by Kaze, at the same time, the Carnage from before catches up to them and fires a beam at them with Flora as the first to react and pull the two out of the way, the Carnage's attack destroys a portion of the platform but not enough that the rest of it is in danger of falling apart, every section of Krakenburg was built to survive something like this and there is no longer enough doubt of that but then Corrin remembers that Robin and Garon are in this fight so perhaps the Castle will fall apart after all.

The Dragon Princess decides to finish off this Carnage if it'll persist in chasing them and aims for the eye but the monster catches her before she could even get close, leaving her wide open for another beam, luckily, Corrin has a very resourceful butler as Jakob throws several red daggers at the Carnage's arm holding her and these are special, being one of the new weapons Nohr made that they took for themselves that explode upon impact and do the job at destroying the arm and freeing the Princess. Corrin then continues her assault and delivers a mighty vertical swing that executes the Grimm.

"The path is clear, let's hurry!" Kaze advised as they continue their march but they don't get very far.

"It was." Felicia muttered as one man blocks their path and he makes a charge right at Kaze, forcing the Ninja to clash swords with him once again.

"Hans!" Kaze growled at the sight of the Barbarian again.

"Miss me, sneaky boy!" He sneered as he forces the Ninja to his knees, but he doesn't go much further than that as Felicia delivers a swift kick to his face, knocking him to the floor.

"If you still want to live to be a proper Knight of Nohr in the future you really shouldn't get in my way, Hans." Corrin suggested to her former subordinate.

"No can do, Princess. I was willing to take a thousand blades to the back for you and your dogs, but now it's my job to shove a thousand blades all over your bodies." Hans declared as he moves in to fight them, accompanied by Beringels.

"Do you have a thing for gorillas because this is the second time you bring them to help you?" Kaze asked.

"What, do you have something against them?" Hans questioned.

"I do now, because it's your face that comes to mind whenever I look at an ape." He uncharacteristically replied and in spite of everything, Corrin can't help but laugh at the joke. "I wasn't trying to be funny."

"Well it was most certainly funny." Corrin sneered as she quickly shifts into her Dragon Form and shoots a water breath that destroys the Beringels, though she purposely misses Hans. He's an enemy but he was previously under her service and he even briefly saved Felicia from falling into the Bottomless Canyon before the bridge they were under fell based on what she's heard so she can't help but feel obligated to show mercy, at least just this once and goes as far as to only swing her tail at him hard enough to knock him a few feet away from them, momentarily incapacitate him. "Let's go!" She commanded as they proceed further into the castle.

---

"I can't believe I couldn't even stay close to Cor." Robin bemused as he swings the Blazing Yato to fire waves of light at the incoming Grimm that dare to go near him and Mikoto who he's currently defending along with most of the healers. While his plan initially worked better than even he anticipated when barging into the city and laying waste to the Nohrian forces, things took a sudden turn for the worse when Garon made a move with his destructive Dragon Force that caused the main forces to split up with him and the rest of the family losing sight of Corrin who is the only one among the leaders of the United Army besides Scarlet who's made it to the Castle while the rest of them remain in Windmire but still close enough to make it if not for the seemingly endless swarm of Grimm that keeps blocking their path. Though it's all bad, Garon went missing after his eruption of power that makes Robin think that perhaps his theory proved true after all.

"You think Corrin made it into the castle before we did?" Orochi asked as she fires waves of thunder at Creeps nearing them.

"Most likely, she was with Scarlet when we ended up splitting and she was the one tasked with spearheading the first march into Krakenburg." Reina said as she delivers an abnormally strong slap at a Beowolf, forcing it to turn around, followed by her stabbing it from the back of its head.

"Then you mustn't waste any time. Go and aid her Robin." Mikoto pleaded to her perceived future son in law.

"Leaving you is not an option, especially when I am one of this army's Generals as well as the Chief Tactician, ma'am." Robin argued against, just as he stabs the holy blade into a Griffon that came crashing down on him but struck too late and the light from the blade disintegrates the dark beast but what's more interesting is that from the Grimm's body, visible particles of light are produced from the shadows that formed the monsters and once they are formed, Robin commands them to serve as his projectiles and sends them after more Grimm who implode upon contact with just one of them.

"If I came here just to be protected I would've stayed back home, far away from my children as they forced themselves into so much danger. The least I can do for them is buy them time by overseeing the demise of the Grimm on this side." Mikoto argued back, absolute determination in her voice to never again be separated from her family.

"You better do as the Queen commands, tough guy. It's not wise to make your new mother cry." Orochi joked at the emotional scene before them.

"And besides, don't forget that we're her Majesty's Retainers, so we're the ones who get to bring her back home alive." Reina smirked as her thrill for battle has reached its peak.

"I hate arguing with royalty." Robin whispered to himself in annoyance and gives up on this, but not before he releases one final wave to dispose of many more Grimm.

"Hey, don't go stealing my prays." Reina warned.

"But milady, I have to perform my familial duty and defend my ''future'' mother in law." Robin said sarcastically as he slams the blade on the ground that creates multiple pillars of light that burst from the ground that briefly surrounds the Hoshidans before they move forward and vaporize more Grimm, as well as create more Light Particles that begin hunting for other monsters that dare come close. Robin quickly regrets doing that attack as he falls to his knees and starts to breathe heavily from exhaustion. He is able to use Yato's new form masterfully due to his past experience using weaker Light Swords that fortunately work similarly but as expected, the stronger the weapon the more strenuous it is to use the more powerful techniques, even still, Robin will never let this get to him.

"Aww, you do love my daughter." Mikoto cheered with delight at his response but Robin ignores her and proceeds to fly away. "I get to name my first grandchild." Again, Robin ignores her and flies away. "Okay, fine, the first one is yours but the second one will definitely be given a name of my choosing."

"This is all well and good, your Grace but your skills with a bow are more appreciated than your maternal love." Orochi chuckled as plenty of Grimm managed to avoid Robin's Light Magic.

"Good point. Lock and load, ladies." Mikoto declared.

---

Robin flies all the way to Krakenburg at top speed, reluctantly ignoring all the other battles happening elsewhere, convinced that Garon may have retreated back to the castle and with Corrin heading there, he can't let her march alone, and it's a good thing he is so fast because he didn't even need to notice the large axe being thrown at him and not one meant to be thrown because of its size by none other than an aggravated Camilla.

"You just don't learn, do you." Hinoka sneered as she comes charging at Camilla, pinning her rival to the floor on the rooftop they're both in, quickly placing her naginata between her neck to suffocate her. "You'd think you realized by now that you shouldn't be picking fights with those who are unreachable when compared to your puny ass."

"Took the words right out of my mouth!" Camilla snapped as she tosses the redhead to her right, releasing herself from the grip and then proceeds to run away and reach another axe nearby and is narrowly hit in the back by Hinoka but she only manages to cut off a bit of her hair. Camilla reaches for her new weapon and clashes with Hinoka, the impact makes Hinoka fall back and nearly trip, perhaps cutting off her admittedly gorgeous hair wasn't the best idea, not that the High Princess will ever regret doing so.

"It's over, Camilla. Your forces have been deprived of their full strength and whatever hex abilities you have left to use will still be useless." Hinoka boasted, and as she said this, an Apathy climbs up to the roof they are in right behind Hinoka and jumps in to aid it's Dark Princess, all the while emitting a scream to make Hinoka all the more vulnerable, however, Hinoka not only sees this attack coming before the scream but the sinister powers proves ineffective as she effortlessly turns around to bisect the abomination, followed by sending a vertical slash back at Camilla, who the latter is able to parry.

"Your arrogance is as exhausting and your grin is a shiny as the sunrise we are bearing witness to." Camilla shrugged while referring to the sun shining bright on her left.

"Was that supposed to be a comp-"

"Because it hurts my eyes when I look at you." Camilla finished what she actually meant to say.

"Of course that's what you meant." Hinoka hissed at the predictability. "Whatever, let this be our final battle, Camilla."

"Yes, your feeble life is at its end." Camilla declared.

---

A group of Hoshidans and Ice Tribalists surround the Crown Prince while he is fighting his way back into the Castle, instead he is forced to face those who stand in his way, which isn't too much of a problem for a warrior as great as Xander. The future King of Nohr strikes down the first man who approached him with a clean cut from his head with Siegfried, he then parries a club swung down at him from his back with flying colors, counterattacking by slitting the assailant's throat. He next stops a sword aimed at his face by catching his next opponent by his wrist, at the same time, he has a lance aimed for his chest, yet despite his incredible defense, Xander let's his warrior instincts dictate how he should fight and blocks the lance with his supreme sword, next he pulls the man who he's still holding on to with all his might to slam at the one with the lance, knocking them both to the ground and by the position they are both in, with one on top of the other, it is the perfect opportunity to kill both men at once, stabbing them in the chest at once. At the same time that this was done, the other warriors move in to strike at Xander, however, the Crown Prince is never one to leave himself wide open unless he has the means to counter, as from Siegfried that is also impaled on the floor, the dark blade releases a shockwave that spreads to the rest of the street they're in, hitting the legs of his other assailant and slashing them, causing them to scream in pain as they fall to the floor, their feet no longer useable to move about, some even lost a foot or both.

"What a mess." He cursed as he continues on his way home on foot since he sadly got separated from his trusty steed, just like with his father and siblings and he is honestly just as worried for Laufey as he is for Camilla and Leo. Such a good horse, well trained and mature, even in her younger years.

He would be met with more opposition but his own soldiers and Grimm who support him here and there give him openings to proceed but so few could actually accompany him in his endeavor since there's so little space currently in Windmire where a fight isn't going on, it's a nightmare and it's as real unlike anything Xander has ever witnessed, though perhaps what he's really feeling is the sting of watching your home be invaded and be ravaged by invaders. The irony is not lost on him but that doesn't mean he has to stand for it when he can still do something about it, and he's almost there too. It won't be long now, soon he will reach the great gates that will lead him down the crater and into the Castle.

Unfortunately, there is where the most opposition he has to deal with is found, one of them being none other than High Prince Ryoma, who turns to face his archrival once again after cutting down a Teryx.

"Xander." Ryoma spoke as the two step forward to fight once again. "How does it feel, Crown Prince? To bear witness as the most important piece of land in your entire life that is your true home fall to ruins before you, to be unable to fulfil your duty as it's protector, instead being reduced to one of many victims of the invaders. The feeling of wishing for the sweet relief of death coming to mind because you're not sure you can bear to live through the aftermath of such destruction that seethes through not only the land but your very pride and soul?" He questioned with satisfying animosity, the memory of him returning to Suzanoh after such a horrendous battle only to see it lay in ruins still fresh in his mind as if it was only yesterday.

"The irony is not lost on me and I consent to your smug satisfaction at your final display of defiance against my Kingdom. However, that means nothing when the weight of my people hangs in the balance and ultimate outcome of this fight, so I hope that Robin's last ditch effort was euphoric because it will prove pointless in the end." Xander boasted.

"Even if we were to somehow lose this day, it matters not, the fact that we've tasted victory to this extent and reduced Nohr's military might to such feeble conditions is a glory my family and I will proudly carry with us into the Eternal Flame of Iblis." Ryoma replied.

"That is a wonderful attitude to have at a time like this, it will make my victory all the more satisfying when I defeat you." Xander praised.

"Then the time for chat is finally over, and so is practice." Ryoma said as he gets into Hoshido's Samurai signature fighting stance. "No more games, to the death!"

"Yes, Ryoma. You shall be the first of Sephiroth's kin to die at my hands." Xander added pointing Siegfried at him. "I swear it, on my honor as a Paladin of Nohr."

---

"Naga, this even feels like when we invaded Walhart's Castle." Laslow muttered as he and his friends watch the final battle unfold before them from the tallest tower in Nohr, momentarily safe from all the chaos below. After their role in Robin's plan was done, Takumi let them go to do as they wish, not like anything they do will change the outcome of what has already started and they certainly feel like nothing can be done to stop this in Nohr's favor.

"Yep, nothing to be done for Nohr except save as many as we can and hope there are way more people to help rebuilt what was lost and destroyed." Selena said as she gets up from the ledge she was sitting on. "I say we go underground and make triple sure that the fights don't reach there."

"Yes, we owe it to our beloved comrades, even if they can no longer bring themselves to trust us again." Odin complied as even now he can't let go of his enthusiasm.

"It's settle then." Laslow nodded on their next course of action, though before they proceed any further, Laslow notices a particular fight going on in the street below them in the front, even though they are pretty high up, Laslow can see the glint of a familiar silver sword. "Ah, guys, I think I see Alondite."

"Huh." Odin uttered with intrigued and he summons a binocular as he can still use his magic, to have a better view and he does indeed spot Alondite, still in possession of her latest rival from the East, Hana as she is fighting alongside her partner Subaki in the defense of the young Princess Sakura who too was separated from the rest of her family. "Curses, of all the times for the chance to finally settle the score with my new rival and I have to pass it up. Maybe during peace times she'll agree to a friendly spar now that she knows about me and Robin."

"Only if your luck with women has improved, my friend." Laslow joked. Just then, they hear a series of explosion triggered by dark magic on their right that demolishes buildings and leaves darkly sinister trees in its wake. "That's not good. Someone else can still use magic and is aiming for Sakura."

"Not our problem, let's go." Selena dismissed.

"But that wave of darkness is Lord Leo's, he'll kill Princess Sakura for sure." Odin argued.

"Fuck her! We may owe Robin everything but that does not extend to Hoshido, or Corrin, especially after how they used us." Selena shrugged coldly. "And besides, if they trusted her to be a part of this war for this long and she's basically on her own without the protection of her elders means that they trust her enough to take care of herself."

"True but this doesn't feel the same as when my mother was left to fend for herself for once and she was lucky to have been under the protection of Robin's enchantments all along. To her chagrin when she found out." Odin muttered.

"Don't care, let's go! End of discussion." Selena demanded.

---

"Brace yourselves!" Subaki shouted as they see the destructive wave of dark energies generated by Leo as he approaches and fires at them with Sakura's Diviners stepping in to block the darkness heading for them but the Dark Prince is naturally the more powerful spellcaster as the shields will break any second, thankfully Hana can handle this as she charges forward and with the power of Alondite, she sends a mighty slash that while it does destroy the shield defending them, it did its part to hold back Leo long enough to give her an advantage as the young Samurai destroys the darkness manifested by Brynhildr, and even knocks some of the Dark Prince's soldiers to the ground, except for said Prince who merely looks away from the blast briefly as he and his mighty steed remain.

"Wow, that was a nice shot for them." Zero smirked, getting himself back up.

"I disagree." Leo huffed unimpressed by the resistance of his current enemies before him. "This game of yours has gone on long enough, little princess."

"Do your worse, Prince Leo, I won't back down regardless. I will see this through to the end." Sakura said determinedly and pointing her bow at him, her retainers and subordinates ready to put their lives on the line for their young but brave Princess.

"Wow, even I cannot fathom what I am seeing. The fire in your eyes is radiant even from far away." Leo admits to being surprised by Sakura's determination. For only a fraction of a second, he thought he was looking at Elise when she gets serious. "Perhaps this may prove to be a decent fight after all. For however long you can last."

"We'll see but…" Sakura hesitated to continue but not because of her well known shyness but rather because she's not sure how to put into words what she wants to say.

"What is it? If you have something to say you might as well make your peace before one of us ends up dead." Leo insisted.

"I just wish I had a chance to talk to you under better circumstances and like Corrin, actually reach an understanding without throwing away any more lives, because I know Nohrians aren't truly so wicked and foul." Sakura admitted.

"Are you referring to the whim I offered you in the Opera House?" Leo quickly caught on to what she is referring to. "It was a spur of the moment whiles I was saving my sister at my own expense. Even geniuses like myself make mistakes from time to time." He dismissed coldly.

"Even still, I am grateful. And I am sorry for what we've done and what we must do." Sakura said, not bothered at all by his dismissal.

"We're all going to feel more sorry before this day ends, Princess of Dawn." Leo retorted as he readies his magic to kill his opponent.

---

Up above in one of the taller buildings nearest to them, both Hayato and Mozu dispose of the last of the Ravagers harassing them and their troops.

"Hayato look, Lady Sakura is in danger." Mozu warned as she notices Sakura from their distance.

"Crud. I guess it was a good call not to follow my father into the Castle after all. Follow me, men!" Hayato ordered as they move in towards their next fight.

---

Breathing heavily for a while, Garon returned to his Throne of Shadows, resting after his latest stun. However, the throne itself is slightly different from its usual glory as it is constantly emanating darkness from it, not so much that it could consume the entire Throne Room as it's more like black smoke or vapor coming out of it that fades just as it comes out but it never ends, as if there is something within trying to get out, something enormous. Additionally, more and more Grimm seem to be manifesting in the Throne Room as if something, likely the darkness of the Throne is making them.

"Your Majesty? Are you alright?" A loyal member of the Royal Guard as the latest additions to replace the ones that were previously lost stand before their King with concern for his wellbeing, not really paying any mind to the unknown that he is sitting on due to how accustom Nohrians are naturally of darkness.

"Never mind me, boy. Go! And do your duty to defend the Heart of our proud nation and buy me more time. I'll take what I can get to rest and restore my power. Whatever the Hoshidans have done to us, only I and my sons are still able to use our magical powers among our human forces but that is to be expected of those who wield a Sacred Treasure but I lack such virtues and now I must depend on the Pool of Qliphoth more than it is allowed." Garon explained the situation. "When the time comes, I will be ready to deliver the final blow, it all depends on how you do your part."

"Yes, sire!" The Royal Guard all bow in response and obediently leave the Throne to fight on behalf of their King, the doors to the chamber being closed by two Beringels as only the Grimm are left inside.

Once his human subordinates are gone, Garon began to grown in pain, coughing violently for a bit before it finally ceased and when he looked at his armored hand that was previously covering his mouth, there's now blood in it, and this made him frown but not because of the implications that he is not well.

'So this is my limit.' Garon bemused. 'When Arete told me that Elise performed Dragon Force to face Corrin and was able to match her Dragon Form for a time, I was not surprised at all, in fact I had anticipated that she could harness the true power of our royal blood. What really irks me is the fact that she was the only one in her generation worthy of Qliphoth's power. Why? What is it that my other children lack that they can't transform as well. Xander is a more worthy king than I. Leo a superior mage than I. The reason I am able to use it is because as the current King, the Grimm are obligated to make me stronger, not because I am worthy, simply having the blood of the Dusk Dragon is not enough to truly inherit his Divinity and at my age, using that form puts too much strain on my body. The next time I transform will mark the end of my life.' He concluded as he can feel his body begin to fall apart.

'If Xander could undergo Grimmafication it wouldn't bother me this much, at least then I'd know that they would keep on fighting but should I fall as things stand now, that boy will undoubtedly order all troops to stand down and surrender to avoid any more loss of life, and there's no way Elise would be entrusted to make one last stand.' He hissed at his misfortune. 'In that case it all falls to me. I will deliver one final blow, as soon as they enter the Throne Room, and they will come through those doors, it will decide Nohr's final fate.'

"Come then, daughter. Let's settle this." Garon declared both ready to end this battle and also resigned to his fate, content with his life choices and confident that those left behind will be able to pick up the pieces should the worse does come and they all fail. The Grimm themselves are more ready to stand for their King and defend him whatever the cost.

---

"Not much farther now. The Throne Room is just up ahead!" Jakob said as he has been leading the way to where they all presume Garon might've retreated to.

"Why would he retreat there, that's like the one place we would think to look for him?" Felicia asked.

"The most obvious, yes. But also the most dangerous location for us to confront him on. Rumor has it that the Throne of Shadows is what housed the power to summon the Grimm when they first showed up, in fact, they say that it was Prince Xander who unleashed it's dormant power using an odd medallion not seen in centuries that the Bishop of the Dusk Faithful claimed to have originally belonged to the Dusk Dragon himself." Flora explained.

"The Heart of Nightfall's Dream?" Corrin gasped as she's heard many legends concerning a rare medallion the Founder Deity of Nohr was always seen carrying around his neck as a necklace while he assumed his human form. Some claim that it is a divine relic of ultimate power forged by the Dark Lord to amplify his already enormous power but the most popular legend is that it is actually the very first manmade gift given as an offering to the Dragon God and the one who forged it was a young boy whose bloodline Qliphoth would choose to be his human successor to sit the Throne as Nohr's Royal Family.

"The very same one but no one is forthcoming on how he got it in the first place." Flora said.

"Finding that medallion was a lifelong goal for me and Xander had it the whole time." Corrin bemused. "Never thought it was possible but now I actually don't feel sorry about hurting him physically back in Niflheim."

"That's unbecoming, Milady." Kaze dropped a sweat of oddity amidst all the other sweats of stress from the final battle and is quite off guard by his Princess's cold words.

"You don't tarnish another girl's dream, Kaze. Even when you didn't mean to." Corrin countered.

"I think it's still attached to the Throne Room." Flora said.

'Considering all the blood on my hands, I'm going to be seen as heartless one way or another by the Nohrians, so I'm taking that medallion as compensation for all the crap I've been through.' Corrin thought darkly before she realized the implication of her words and the previous ones.

"Wow, that came out of nowhere." She muttered. "I think I'm going nuts."

"You sure you're not just worried for Lilith. You've been on edge ever since we lost sight of her." Felicia wondered.

"Why aren't any of you freaking out as well?! We're in the middle of a freaking warzone!" Corrin suddenly snapped out loud. She's become overly attached and worried about her fellow dragon for so long now that not knowing where she is, especially now is driving her crazy.

"That certainly makes your cold words a little more understandable." Jakob mused.

"She almost reminds me of Saizo and how he would say things he doesn't mean when he's at risk of failing his task." Kaze claimed.

"RUDE!" Corrin yelled at him, unable to believe her ninja would make such a comparison.

They are forced to cease their march when they notice the body of a very bulky Oni Savage be tossed away from their right in the next large corridor they are about to go in.

"Crap, more fierce Grimm standing in our way." Corrin cursed.

"No, milady. I'm afraid our latest obstacle is far more nefarious than a mere demon." Jakob mumbled with a heavy breath as he witnesses the beast before them who may prove to be their greatest challenge yet as they bear witness to the blue haired savage of Nohr's army manhandle the Hoshidans closest to the Throne Room, and it is truly a terrifying sight to behold as she goes with reckless abandon, lunging her spear through another Hoshidan warrior, crashing into another of her foes and even impales another man, pinning both her targets to a wall as blood comes off their mouths. She looked like she was ready to do more to them but was forced to turn to a Samurai attacking her, and not only evades his katana but grabs him by the face with the aim to toss him to the floor but that's not all she did as she even shoved two of her fingers through his eyes with enough force to implode them, causing immense pain to the man who screams in agony. She tosses him to the ground and next proceeds to stump her boot on his head over and over again until the skull cracks and blood is splattered all over the floor.

The other soldiers who were going to attack her halt fearfully upon seeing the woman's violent ferocity, failing to notice the incoming Grimm coming in, leaving them defenseless to stop them. The violent woman moves in to attack, picking up a club and starts bashing more skulls open. When one of them tried to fight back and manages to hit the club off her hand, she immediately follows with a sucker punch to knock him to the ground. She picks up the helmet of a fallen knight and uses it to smash her next foe as she is helpless to save herself being clump to death.

"What the hell is Peri doing here when her master is outside." Jakob uttered in fear of the Crown Prince of Nohr's psychotic retainer, as it is rare to see her take to any fight without Xander to supervise her violent impulses. Guess Garon's stunt affected his own allies as well.

"Ah crap… I do not have the patience nor the stomach for this maniac." Corrin mumbled as Peri finally takes notice of them and her glare somehow intensifies to be far more monstrous.

"You!" She hissed like an animal at the sight of the treacherous princess and goes in for the kill, with her and her retainers ready to strike her down with one blow to save themselves the time and not have to deal with this lunatic. However, the fight is interrupted as a wall of fire is formed between them, keeping the combatants from each other and simultaneously they turn to the direction where the firewall came from and see that the one who built it was Rinkah, beside her is Azura who have also gotten separated.

"Sorry to interrupt but I call dibs on all of Nohr's craziest, most destructive knights." Rinkah said, interested in fighting Xander's left-hand woman.

"We'll hold off these enemy forces, you reach Garon." Azura insisted to Corrin to go on ahead.

"Alright, come back alive, you two." Corrin nodded as the five continue forward, all the while Peri tries to move around the firewall to reach Corrin but ends up clashing with Rinkah, just like the Fire Princess wanted.

---

Ryoma and Xander's final battle seems to be going in the former's favor as his next hit was strong enough to force Siegfried off the Dark Prince's sword hand, and even make him fall to his knees in exhaustion.

"It's over!" Ryoma declared as he moves to deliver the finishing blow that will either kill or incapacitate his rival.

'Not quite!' Xander thought and Ryoma realized this himself as a Fafnir crashes down on the street, causing the ground to shake hard enough to force the High Prince to halt his attack and collapse to the floor as well. He then forces himself to get up and leap out of the way as the Fafnir proceeds to finish him. Ryoma is forced to jump through a window and into a building for cover, of course he has to now find a way out since the Grimm Wyvern will soon demolish it, moving as fast as he can to the back of the building where there is an exit and rams himself into the door at the same time that the Fafnir rams its way through the building and with the lower part completely demolished, the rest of it collapses, but this particular Fafnir is sturdier than the ones Ryoma has faced before as a whole building falling on top of it doesn't deter it at all and just proceeds to attack its again.

"Lousy excuse of a Dragon!" Ryoma growled in discuss as he turns himself into a lightning bolt with Raijinto and with all his might, he charges into the Fafnir's head and the incredible force causes it to implode, killing the beast.

"To think there was ever a time where I considered these titans a challenge." Ryoma smirked proudly of himself as he now considers the bigger Grimm no longer a real threat to himself. He's finally mastered the full powers of his Sacred Treasure. His arrogance costs him as he is blasted by a dark attack from Siegfried, knocking him to a wall as Xander gets back in the fight.

"I won't be such an easy claim." The Crown Prince boasted.

"We'll see." Ryoma retorted, still keeping his smirk as their fight resumes. Or rather not as several small magic circles with the glyph of the Grimm manifest around Ryoma and out from them, come out several hands made of shadow that wrap around the Prince and force him to his knees. "What is this?!" He shouted angrily. He tries to use Raijinto to electrocute these arms to release himself but to his horror, the holy lightning does nothing to them, and they are even rendering him unable to turn into lightning again.

"What?" Xander uttered equally confused by this phenomenon. Those are definitely Grimm-like arms, resembling those of Geists but he's never seen anything like this.

"More tricks, Prince Xander!" Ryoma hissed.

"I can assure you that I have no hand in this. No pun intended. And even now I wouldn't resort to dirty tactics when fighting one on one." Xander replied.

"How noble." Quill said who appears right behind Xander, and the sound of his voice made the Crown Prince frees from absolute shock, and the look on his face made even Ryoma feel worried, as even he can't imagine his rival feeling fear, though a more careful look will tell him that it's not fear Xander has right now but some kind of reverence. "I curse my stars in bitter grief and woe, That made my love so high and me so low." He mused with another poem.

"Y-You…" Xander uttered, unable to finish the words he truly means to say.

"Hello again, little prince." Quill greeted Xander but not with formality one should give a Prince, given his playful approach. What else further surprises Ryoma is that Xander drops Siegfried as he turns to face Quill and bows before him.

"Milord! You've come back in our time of greatest need." Xander shouted with a mix of emotions he is unable to express, though the tone of his voice suggest that it is largely increasing enthusiasm, likely euphoria.

"I am not someone who should have the heads of others lowered before me, child. Not for a very, very long time." Quill said dismissively to Xander's respect. "I don't have a lot of time to explain the situation but I have something I must do and I require your assistance. Don't worry about the battle for now."

"Yes, sire, anything." Xander complied way too quickly. "But what might that be, exactly?"

"I'll explain on the way." Quill said as a shadowy portal is created below their feet and it sucks them both in, along with Siegfried. Once they are gone, the Shadow Hands holding Ryoma also vanish.

"This just became the weirdest day." Ryoma muttered so confuse that he swears he hallucinated the whole thing.

"Ryoma!" He is snapped back to reality when he hears his younger brother call out to him with his retainers running to him.

"Are you alright, Milord?" Saizo asked with haste and concern.

"Yes, I just… witnessed the weirdest thing." Ryoma sighed, getting back on his feet while rubbing his forehead as he is a little tired.

"Glad to see you're doing well for yourself as usual." Takumi smiled.

"Same to you all. And the others? Mother?" Ryoma asked.

"We were all separated but I'm confident that they don't need us to watch out for them when the odds are still at our favor." Takumi said confidently. "As it stands, Garon and Leo are the only ones who can still use real magic, but we anticipated this, as well as Selena and Odin but those two and Laslow won't be a thorn at our sides anymore."

"Good, then let us get on with the battle and end this." The High Prince declared.

"RIGHT!" His to Retainers shouted in unison.

---

Corrin howls, thrusting her sword through the bulky armor of a Knight, the kind you usually find among generals but it proves futile all the same, and out of a desire not to waste anymore time, she transforms her face to fire a water breath on incoming Nohrians and blows them all away, even leaving a huge wall in its wake.

"The Throne Room is just up ahead." Corrin sighed, gazing upon the massive doors where the King of Nohr should be, while guarded by more of the Royal Guard.

"This is it, your Grace." Kaze said.

"Yeah. Kind of a pain that my siblings and mom aren't here to support me but I'm sure you lots will do nicely. After all, you can't go wrong with three healers and a ninja. And it helps that two of the healers are ice mages." Corrin smiled.

"Naturally, you're Highness, we haven't let you down yet." Jakob smirked as the retainers and master ready to fight the Royal Guard, but both sides halt when a strong tremor shakes the castle. Garon's ''last'' line of defense simultaneously turn to their right and gasps upon being hit by a blast of light that seemingly vaporizes them all and in their place is none other than Robin who made it in the nick of time.

"Of course… backup never hurt anyone." Jakob muttered with begrudging respect.

"Wow…" Flora whispered, still not used to seeing such display of power from the White Mage.

"ARGH! OH MY GODS! I was terrified for a moment there." Corrin groaned with relief because she was not at all confident about facing her foster dad with just four of her retainers. "After all what better way to deal with a true monster then to-"

"Bring in our own monster." Jakob finished for her with a humorous smug, although that's not really what Corrin was going to say.

"Sure, whatever you say Jakob." Corrin mused patting him on his shoulder, deciding not to correct him.

"We got trouble!" Felicia said as she spots more soldiers heading their way, though not enough to swarm them, well, in the sense that Robin doesn't really need to lift a finger but there is a noticeable challenge as Hans is back, clearly not accepting Corrin's previous mercy, and the sight of him makes Kaze sigh.

"Milady, now that my partner has arrived, I trust that you'll be able to hold on without me for at least a while." The Ninja said out of the blue. "I fear I must beg forgiveness as I can no longer ignore my selfish needs." He now feels that the Gods are giving him a sign that the time has come to avenge his father's death, a pity that Saizo isn't here yet but this also serves to make sure Corrin isn't hindered any longer by such trash.

"Do what you gotta do then. Just come back alive." Was all Corrin could say to him as her Ninja goes to hold their lesser foes back. She next turns to her other three companions "Make sure he doesn't get himself killed." She requested to them. Corrin did not bothered to see if they even attempted to protest with that order but the three do comply and assist Kaze while she goes to meet Robin.

"Still nervous?" He asked her. Honestly, he asked her this several times and even though he is sure that she is ready for this he can't help but ask her as many times to reassure himself, something she noticed early on and as such is not mad about it.

"Not anymore." She confessed now that she has him at her side once again. "Whatever happens, win or lose, I'm glad you chose to stay with me all the way."

"Don't mention it. After all, as hard as I try, war is a part of me, the more I think about it. It's awful, this side of me, how I'm the best when it comes to all this chaos, the least I can do is make way for future generations and hope that they don't follow in my footsteps." Robin said with sorrow. "And as I paid the way for Chrom's future, I now do the same for you."

"You'll be there to watch the first who will come after us live better lives, Robin. In fact, you're gonna help me protect them." Corrin smiled at him and she offers him her hand, of which he kindly accepts. Though under the moment, he fails to realize her true intent as Corrin forces him closer to her face, and rather it was intentional or on impulse, the two embrace in a passionate kiss.

To those who are able to watch, if they can right now, this kiss only lasted for maybe five seconds but to them, it felt like a lifetime.

"After all, I'm not going to raise our daughter all on my own. You said it yourself, Morgan's crazy." She joked.

"Yeah, I already have a head start on how crazy." Robin rolled his eyes playfully.

"Okay… good…" Corrin sighed heavily as she returns her attention to the great doors. "Let's get it over with and properly introduce you to my dad."

"Really?" Robin deadpanned.

"Well, that's basically what we're doing." Corrin muttered. "How else am I supposed to see it, this whole thing is nothing but history's shittiest family feud to me."

"Fine." Robin sighed. "Provided the first he does is not hit us with a desperate final magic blast or a swarm of Grimm, or both at the same time, I'll try to look professional to your old man."

"Thank you."

"You're already wearing my mother's ring so I kind of have to."

"Exactly!" Corrin cheered.

---

Unbeknownst to the two Whiteheads who this entire war depends on to end it, they are being watched by the last person they would expect to be sneaking around, granted she has done so before but this time it makes no sense, as Lilith has all but vanished when the final battle began and hasn't been seen until, and as it turns out all she's done is sit in the sidelines.

"So, this is the Endgame. How boring." Lilith huffed with disappointment. "Oh well, it's been a fun ride at least but now it's time to end this. And I'll be with you all the way, big sister." As she said so, her eyes turn as red as Corrin's.

---

Also arriving at the same time are Quill and Xander as they watch Corrin and Robin about to meet Garon.

"They've made it this far. Father's in danger." Xander said with desperation to rush in and protect his father, but Quill stops him, raising his cane to keep him from going forward.

"Saving your father is but a consolation prize, my child. Our only concern is your Throne." Quill said sternly to him. "Garon is dying because his body is incapable of harnessing the Dragon Force but he can be saved, you need only trust me."

"Very well, protecting our people comes first." The Crown Prince said with new resolve.

"Good, then let us be off. On to Daybreak." Quill mused.

---

"I can feel his lifeforce fading from here. Garon is not long for this world." Sloth said as the still the family of evil remain deep below the world, sharing a meal together, waiting for the humans to finish each other off.

"That'll be a damn shame. The old man really is a lot of fun." Wrath smirked.

"Yes, and for a mortal so flawed in every sense of the word, even I must admit. His philosophy was truly beautiful. I might've enjoyed seeing the Empire he wished to create, who knows, maybe it might've been worth conquering and taking it as my own for a few decades before I set out to find another." Pride said while holding a glass of wine and takes a sip. "Oh my, this isn't my usual wine. You gave me the wrong one, Sloth." He said turning to his brother who served him a bottle earlier, telekinetically anyway.

"You drank your usual whole so I grabbed the ones from Almyra we keep in Gluttony's room." He explained.

"Be thankful I'm sharing. You only get one each in a millennia." Said Sinner replied as he eats a decent amount of healthy human food.

"This is actually impressive. I didn't know a kingdom ruled by evil savages had a taste for the finer things in life." Pride said surprised.

"How is that surprising. If anyone knows better about a good wine besides demons are barbarians, in fact, it's almost always the more heartless of humans who discover or invent wine and distribute it to an entire world and watch with delight as it spreads its own branch of sin." Greed explained. "I can count to you how many lives were ruined because a pathetic man or woman chose to drink their problems away equal to the number of people I kill myself in a year."

"I rather not discuss mathematics after finding the perfect occasion to dine." Pride shrugged. "Still, the more you know."

"Speaking of knowing, no one here still knows where they who shall not be named is yet?" Envy brought up.

"BAH!" Wrath scoffed as he throws his plate right behind him and threw a window. "That freak made of real horseshit has still not been found yet? Now I'm losing my patience with this nonsense."

"The fact that you haven't already is what should be making us go crazy. You ain't really you anymore and even big brother is acting strange." Gluttony protested.

"SHUT UP!" Pride yelled but this time there was no extreme violence. "If anyone should be losing their marvels and be off his ruckus is me who's been unable to find him. But of course they're eluding me, I had to go and train them to be the perfect spy, and now I've gone overboard and he's using my own brilliance against me, I should additionally be the Sin of Wrath as well with how many headaches I've been getting."

"As flattered as that sounds, I rather you not steal my life." Wrath sneered.

"You know what, it's all good, why? Because it's enough for Lust to be afraid of me." Pride shrugged now smugly.

"Lust? Afraid? Nah, the two could never stand the other's embrace, even when it benefitted them." Sloth declined.

"Believe what you will but I will give that shapeshifting transgender freak something to fear when I find them and remind them that pleasure should never come before duty to me." Pride cursed with malevolent intention towards his own kin.

"Do whatever you like with them but just don't take your time with-" Sloth is caught off when a powerful tremor hits the castle, surprising even them.

"The fuck was that? Did Anankos break out of his cage?" Envy asked in a panic.

"Bullshit, I spent my best sealing spells on that undead loser, he couldn't had gotten out." Greed argued.

"That's because it wasn't him." Pride said, realizing what's going on and so does Wrath as they exchange knowing looks.

"Oh… yeah." Wrath smirked with gruesome pleasure and delight. The Six Sins, even Sloth are forced off from their tables and go to investigate the commotion and become more curious when they feel another violent tremor and this excites Wrath even more. "I'm going in first!"

"Wait, we mustn't rush in if it's someone capable." Sloth, being ironically the only true voice of reason and logic in the family warns but of course the blockhead among them ignores the warning and moves fast right where an explosion occurs that destroys a wall, easily deducing that the intruders are over there and goes in despite the smoke blocking his view and this cost him as the embodiment of rage is next assaulted by an adversary who sucker punches him, slamming him hard on the ground.

"YOU!" Greed gasped in both shock and outraged at the sight of the invader that is Empress Morgan.

"Hello, boys and girls. It's been a while." The Empress smirked as she presents herself before Six of the Deadly Sins.

"What a pleasant surprise." Pride smirked with condescension but no hostility.

"Aww, I appreciate the look. I knew seeing me again would make your day." Morgan said smugly as she mocks the demons and just for kicks and giggles, stumps her feet down on Wrath that remains on the floor.

"Indeed, I was worried I would waste such a good day deciding on what to have for dessert, it's been on my head all week because of the occasion of this night, and hello and behold, I can finally feast on your delectable ego." Pride said now amused, stepping a bit forward. "Though I must congratulate you. I confess, I did not expect to see you again."

"Again?" Envy repeated confused by her brother's words and even exchanges confused looks with her other siblings, as far as they know, Gluttony is the only one who's faced Morgan but not really all of her in the Valley of Ashoka.

"Oh, so you do remember me? I was under the impression that all of our memories of that battle were fried from our brains." Morgan said curious as the ground around her erupts with giant blades made of molten rocks rise up to skewer her like a geyser, fortunately it was easy for Morgan to evade the attack and Pride turns his head around as he can now feel her standing right behind her, back to back.

"It's rude to interrupt grownups when they're talking, Wrath." Morgan mused, whiles staring at the face of the flaming demon who chased after her as soon as she escaped his blades.

"Talk is for wimps, everyone here is more than capable of butchering human armies on their own, so why not put those skills to the test against me." Wrath dared with anticipation.

"Wrath, your foul breath is ruining the brilliance of my wings, back off." Pride warned now annoyed.

"Would you rather this child of Fallen Gods be closer while she fully intends to do worse." Wrath questioned as Morgan is inches away from touching one of the feathers of his right wing with her fingers tingling with electricity. This triggered Pride to react as a large saw of light is created that comes down with the intent to disembowel Morgan while missing Wrath by an inch but she once again evades attack and is now standing on top of the table they were all eating on.

"Well, I suppose even the likes of you can make a very valid point once and a while." Pride smirked, reluctantly agreeing with Wrath's logic.

"Get the fuck off my food!" Gluttony demanded as Morgan is standing right next to his plate that still has food, because that's actually his seventieth plate. Noticing the food, Morgan decides to offend the Sinner by pushing the plate with her foot, making it fall to the floor, horrifying the Demon. "YOU BITCH!" He roared as he assumes his secondary snake-like form and rush towards her. As Morgan prepared to counter, Envy warps behind her with her swords in hand, swinging them faster than the young Empress could avoid them, thus she is forced to block them with a sword she creates composed entirely of purple magical energy, however, this works well for her regardless as she grabs Envy by her neck and tosses her to Gluttony to have him bite off his sister instead, the only thing momentarily left of the female sinner is her left hand as the rest of her is munched on.

"What the hell, Gluttony!" Greed scolded as she moves in next, stopping Morgan from shooting a fireball at Envy's remaining arm by grabbing it away from the fire and throws it away from Morgan's reach. "Figured out that we can regenerate and pull ourselves out of Limbo much faster while in Valla, have ya?"

"This entire dimension is composed entirely of Mana, a perfect nesting ground for demons to strengthen themselves and keep yourselves truly immortal, but that only works so long as you have a bit of your tissue or bones for your souls to lash on to mortal life." Morgan surmised. "A pity it can't accelerate the amount of time you can leave Limbo."

"Why don't you dispense with the childishness and tell us the game, Morgan." Pride insisted at the same time that Wrath leaps above her and with a mighty roar, worthy of the dragons, he holds his hands together to slam them down on Morgan, unleashing a fiery explosion so powerful that it destroys a massive portion of the castle with them in it, however Morgan survives the blast and is now on top of the surviving tower that endured it all, though she's now covered in smoke from the fire but no real injuries were inflicted. "Did you come here to finally stop us from rewriting fate?" Pride continued with his question, now flying behind her.

"Would that be so wrong?" Morgan replied as she turns to him and fires a massive Valflame spell, creating a massive stream of divine flames that could've destroyed the castle in it's entirety and spreads until it reaches the smallest floating island closest to them and burns it until only ashes remain. Unfortunately, this had no effect on the angelic demon who didn't even flinch, still in the same post he was initially.

"Inferior lifeforms may dare to think me hypocritical but that's pretty daring of you to deny me this divine right, considering what you've done. Abandoning the battle we started six years ago just so you could reap off your father's greatest glory, bring Valm's extinction and replace it with your own empire." Pride mocked.

"You're right, you are quite the hypocrite for saying so. Besides, I wouldn't have been in this wonderful position if it wasn't for you." Morgan reminded as she attacks him again, however, without even lifting a finger, Pride releases a shockwave of similar force to the one he used on Wrath in the Castle of Nestra, blowing her away skyward until she crashes into another island seven times bigger than the one she destroyed.

"Then you should be singing my praises for the gift I bestowed upon you and reward me by staying out of my way." Pride sneered and a multitude of weapons of all shapes and size made of tangible light gather around the Angel of Evil and charge forward, moving like a swarm on the island Morgan is in.

"Crap!" Morgan cried, flying out of the way in time to escape the onslaught as the swarm of light weapons demolishes the island to it's very foundation. Morgan reaches another island, only to look up to see more weapons of light that rain down on her, destroying that island as well but still Morgan gets away.

"I can do this all day, my dear. The fortune that my very flesh I spreads across the cosmos is leading you to islands that I have long since deemed an eyesore that need to be removed but I haven't found the right occasion to remove them. The death of one who was once a worthy adversary is doing nicely for me." Pride chuckled at Morgan's misfortune.

'Laugh it off while you still can.' Morgan scoffed as she flies at blinding speed right above him, thrusting her magic blade at him, unfortunately, Pride came prepared as an invisible barrier was ready to block all damage.

"Come now, my dear, surely your throne has not dulled your common sense." Pride smirked sadistically. This alarms Morgan to fly away before he could do anything now back in the ruinous castle.

"I'm a warrior at my very core so such simplistic defenses are beneath me." Morgan mocked him back.

"Are you taunting me now? Oh, please, such pitiful tactics are no different than the buzzing of a fly. A waste of time, and I have not the patience to allow my image to be tarnished." Pride shrugged.

"And I don't like letting a joy kill like you have all the fun." Wrath sneered as he and the other Sins, Envy included surround her.

"The only killjoy is you five." Pride sighed as he flies down beside them. "Honestly, you're starting to concern me Sloth, and I don't take kindly to this sensation."

"You're the one who's a cause for concern Pride. When were you going to tell us about our loss of memory? I knew there was something not right about the time of our reawakening, these past thirteen years don't add up with what we initially gathered about Horus." Sloth protested angrily.

"I deem you all unfit to disclose our situation, and that's what I did." Pride shrugged.

"You son of a bitch. Whoring important memories to yourself." Greed cursed.

"As usual, you guys are the pinnacle of sibling love." Morgan joked at their expense.

"Laugh it off while you still can, Morgan, it will be the last humor you will ever feel." Envy declared.

"You think so? I find that unlikely." She smirked still believing that she has a chance.

"You deluded fuck. You come into our place, alone. Threaten six of us! And think you're just gonna walk out of here like you own this world when this is set and done." Gluttony sneered.

"It does sound funny hearing you say it but in my defense, this isn't your place either, nor was it ever meant to be." Morgan reminded them.

"Spare us, this beautiful world is wasted on Anankos, and even more so wasted on your pathetic mother." Pride boasted. "Though it has lost it's luster over the rough few years I'll have it perfected in due time. A pity that you won't get to see it reach its true potential in this new timeline."

"Big dreams, Pride but you and your siblings have made one fatal mistake." Morgan retorted as she focuses her gaze up. "I'm not alone."

"Someone else is coming." Gluttony said as he too looks up to see a large individual flying down towards them.

"Oh please." Pride huffed, not amazed. The figure turns out to be a dragon identical to Corrin's dragon form who roars fiercely, releasing a water breath so powerful that everything around them, as well as the rest of the castle becomes flooded and breaks apart, though they all managed to escape.

Once the water settles, the combatants return to the wet ground with Morgan now standing beside the dragon.

"This day just keeps getting better and better." Wrath laughed with joy.

"Who the fuck is this asshole?" Envy hissed.

"Of course, the other one. How dull." Pride sighed, not impress by his presence as the dragon assumes a human form, revealing to be Kana.

"Does Corrin have a twin?" Sloth asked confused.

"No but what she and Robin have is a very disappointing son." Pride said dismissively.

"Always a pleasure Pride." Kana rolled his eyes, not offended by the insult.

"Took you long enough." Morgan lectured.

"I told you not to rush ahead like a psycho." Kana protested.

"That you would turn to this pathetic mongrel for help proves what I feared to be true, Morgan. You have grown weaker. How unfortunate, but beneficial all the same." Pride said no in the least bit threatened by her new aid.

"Yeah, keep talking clever, it will make what comes next all the more enjoyable." Morgan smirked, while exchanging looks with her brother who shows off his own Yato, that definitely surprises the Sins but not as much as what happens next, as the Ultimate Sacred Treasure assumes it's true form. The blade now has a fiery design for the tip while the sides of the blade have rotating razor edges, similar to a chainsaw and the aura of the blade has become multi-colored red and yellow. The crossguard also widens from its original shape.

"What. THE…" Greed began.

"… FUCK!" Envy finished, the twins equally horrified.

"Should've seen this coming." Sloth muttered.

"Well, well. I guess this will turn out to be a truly amazing day after all." Pride, who was initially taken aback by the Yato's transformation is quick to calm down and smirk at the opposition. "Though if you really wanted to defeat us, you should've brought along Ike's Swords or at least Reficul."

"It'll do nicely either way." Wrath laughed, very pleased to by how the states have risen against them.

"Time to finish what we started Deadly Sins. We won't let you destroy our future, let alone harm our family any further." Kana declared.

'We will also take this chance to save him as well.' Kana thought as the two also have another objective.

"You heard him. Our folks up above were never your real foes anyway. But us!" Morgan declared.

"Have at you then. Wretches!" Pride complied.

Another tremor occurs but the eight of them do not pay it any mind, focus solely on their battle, and while that is happening, right below the castle, another entity that lives in this world and has been imprisoned by the Seven Deadly Sins, growls with both fury and anguish. The same dragon that Robin had a vision about is that imprisoned entity, wrapped in chains made of dark magic that make it difficult to move but still he persists, guided by unimaginable hatred, the great dragon hungers to be set free.

"You… the child of the future, my ki…" He breathed but collapses to the ground from exhaustion. It becomes harder and harder to sit up straight and becoming more preferable to stay down. "Morgan… and… another one? Yes, I know you both… you've come for me… HURRY! FREE ME!" He roared with desperation.

---

Well, that's it then. I apologized for the cliffhangers but that's as far as I can go with Birthright. Fitting, isn't it? As I've said already, it's been fun everyone. Thank you for staying with me this long. I certainly hope I can continue making more stories, being a part of something like this is honestly the most enjoyment I've had when it comes to the internet. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and let's all pray and stand together that the events of 2020 can be put behind us and 2021 will be a new dawn for all. Good luck out there.