The group stared in 'aw' at the scenery around them. Lush green grass, a majestic waterfall, and a huge rainbow extending from it.
"It's beautiful!" Lissa spun in a small circle. "Frederick, do you see that rainbow!"
"Indeed, it's breath taking. No artist could ever hope to capture it."
"And check out those flowers!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the cluster. "They're so colorful!"
Chrom shook his head. "Lissa, don't."
Robin held up a hand to stop him. "They're fine." He gestured around them.
Sumia and Cynthia had found their own patch of flowers. Mother teaching daughter about petal fortunes. Cherche and Gerome by the stream watching their Minervas drink with the same 'isn't she adorable?' expression. Nowi was running around trying to get people to play with her while Nah was close behind trying to get her mother to act her age. Mirial and Laurent were examining the rainbow coming up with theories to why it was so big. Owain had joined his parents and was helping Lissa put flowers in poor Frederick's hair. Noire was being dragged around by her mother in search of 'special' spell ingredients. The taguels sunbathed in bunny form. Brady gifted his mother a bouquet of flowers only to sneeze, sending buds flying which caused Severa to laugh while Cordelia tried in vain to chide her daughter. Sully and Kjella did what they did best, spar. Olivia and Ingio gave each other dance tips where they thought no one could see them. Even Lucina and Morgan seemed at ease as they enjoyed the slight breeze.
"Everything's fine." The tactician smiled. "Something about this place is just…calming."
"Looking at this place, you could almost believe there wasn't a war going on." Chrom turned away. "Come on, I suppose we don't need them to speak to Naga. Let them have their peace."
The couple started up the temple stairs.
"Wait for us!" Morgan cried jogging over with Lucina. "I wana see the ritual."
"Morgan." Lucina scolded. "This isn't a game."
"I know, but I wana see! I wana see the 'whoosh' of fire." He raised his arms in the air. "And the 'ta-da' of Father coming out unscathed."
Lucina made a mental note to limit the amount of time he spent with Owain and Cynthia.
"Come on, Mother." Morgan started to push Robin forward.
"Actually." He dug in his heels. "I've been thinking. I don't think it's a good idea I go with."
Morgan peeked around and up at his mother. "Why not? We're supposed to go as one big family."
"I'm not a descendant of the first exalt. I have fell blood."
The siblings exchanged a look.
"So do we, Mother." Lucina reminded him.
"But you are also my children." Chrom nodded understanding. "You have the mark of the exalt on your bodies."
Morgan fidgeted. He had both marks.
Robin ruffled his hair. "You'll be fine. The exalt mark matters."
"Maybe, maybe I shouldn't go either."
"And miss the 'whoosh' of fire?" The tactician shook his head. "Nah ah. I need you to give me a blow by blow description of what happens. Lucina's will be boring to listen to and so stuffy." He gave his daughter a wink.
Lucina huffed in feigned annoyance. "Boring and stuffy, huh? We'll see about that. My story will be so exciting, it'll make yours sound like a history lecture."
"A challenge!" Morgan punched he air. "I accept.
Robin sighed plopping down on the grass. This whole mess was his fault. Well, technically Grima's fault, but they were both Robin.
He wondered, not for the first time, if staying with Chrom was a mistake.
"Wouldn't matter." A familiar voice from behind said. "Destiny never changes."
Robin glanced over his shoulder to see who it was before scrambling to his feet so they were face to face. "Risen King."
Standing an arm's reach away was that very man. Robin's mouth went dry. How had he approached him without him noticing?
"To arms!" Frederick's voice sliced through the air. "Risen are attacking!"
The sounds of battle faded behind the roaring of Robin's blood. Was he going to die here? Chrom had barley held his own against such a monster. What chance did he have?
Slowly, Risen King unsheathed his sword. "Fate never changes."
"It can." Robin took a step back finding his voice. "It already has."
"Only altered." He lunged forward, his sword slicing.
Robin leaped back, the shear force of the swing managed to cut his cheek. He grabbed the hilt of his own sword and yanked it free just in time to block another attack. A tingle rippled down his arms.
Such strength. There was no way Robin could beat him in a straight forward fight.
'They must be here to stop Chrom.' His grip tightened on his blade. 'I can't allow that. I have to buy him time.'
The Levin Sword flew from Robin's hand in a way that would be comical if the situation wasn't so dire. He cradled his injured arm dropping to a knee. This didn't make any sense. The temple entrance was right there. Why wasn't Risen King going for it?
'Unless he's not here for Chrom, but me!' Robin's brain finally pieced together. 'He's here to kill me!'
The Risen King was in no hurry to finish him. It was like he knew he'd already won.
Well, if Robin was going to die here, he was taking Risen King with him. He waited for his opponent to raise his sword and bring it down as hard as he could. Robin rolled out of the way seconds before the blade connected.
The Thoron tome crackled to life and he launched the deadly lightning. Risen King simply side stepped, but the blast did connect with his right arm shattering that bit of armor.
And Robin saw it.
There on his bicep was a mark Robin was all too familiar with. The same mark he traced on his husband's flesh with his fingertips.
The mark of the exalt.
"Chrom?" He couldn't believe it, but there it was, plain as day.
Risen King cocked his head almost like he was confused.
Robin slowly pushed himself to his feet never breaking eye contact. He cautiously extended a hand. "Chrom."
To his surprise, Risen King reached out to take his hand. "Robin?"
The tactician nodded. "Yes, Chrom. I'm right here."
Their hands were almost touching.
"Robin?!" Chrom yelled racing from the temple.
In an instant, Risen King swung his sword just missing Robin's arm.
Chrom lashed out with Falchion. Risen King spun around and easily blocked it. Lucina rushed from the side, but stopped dead, her jaw falling open. She saw it too.
Risen King shoved the prince back with a beastly roar before twisting away so Morgan's Bolagnone tome missed.
Lucina shook her head raising her sword. She could not faultier again.
The enemy eyed each Ylissen royal carefully, his gaze stopping on Robin. He resheathed his sword. "Fate never changes." In a swirl of sparkling magic, he vanished.
"Robin!" Chrom wasted no time rushing to his husband's side. "How badly are you hurt?" He could see blood already starting to crust over.
"Nothing serious."
Cordelia's pegasus landed gracefully close by. "Commander, the Risen army has been dealt with. Our side only sustained minor injuries, thankfully."
"What happened?"
"The Risen appeared out of nowhere. Luckily the alarm was raised before it was too late."
Lucina shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. This place is sacred. How could Risen have infiltrated?"
"Their power must be linked to Grima's." Morgan supplied. "That's the only explanation."
Chrom frowned. "It doesn't matter as long as all were destroyed. Cordelia, tell everyone to pack up. We're headed to Origin Peak."
"Understood." Instead of flying off, Cordelia and pegasus galloped away.
Alone, Chrom turned to his daughter. "What happened, Lucina?"
"I'm sorry, Father, it's just." She bite her bottom lip.
"The Risen King." Robin answered. "Has the mark of the exalt."
Chrom turned to him. "What?"
"On his right bicep."
Sub-consciously, the prince touched his. "But that's…it must be a mistake. Faking the mark on an arm is different then trying to." He trailed off when Robin started to shake his head.
"He responded to your name."
The four stood silently.
"That, that doesn't mean anything." Morgan spoke quickly, his words slightly mashing together. "That other Robin brought him with through the time jump and if he's a Risen, that means he had to die first and Laurent theorized they don't have free will so it's not like whoever that Chrom was had a choice. He's a victim."
Robin hung his head. "It also means he was killed by a Robin."
"No, no, no, no, no." He waved his arms franticly. "Someone else killed him and Robin missed him so much he brought him back the only way he could and, and he had to be Grima to make a Risen and, and, and turning into Grima made him cra…oh." Morgan faltered. "Sorry, Mother."
Lucina cleared her throat. "The what and the how don't matter. We need to end this. We need to go to Origin Peak."