The final chapter! Thank you all for reading! I hope you had as much fun reading as I did writing!
It was time. Did he let Chrom take the final strike or did he?
Robin slid his gloves off. He looked to the left that bore his wedding ring and then to the right that was marred with the Grima mark. He was Chrom's husband, one of Lucina and Morgan's fathers, and the only one that could stop this. Forever.
But if he did this, then he might never see Chrom or his children again. No grandchildren. He'd never see a peaceful world. He'd never stand proudly beside Chrom as he was crowned exalt. Everything he'd yet to do would forever be undone. He'd never get to hold his baby girl again.
He knew what he had to do.
"He's yours, Chrom."
Falchion radiated a brilliant light in the Ylissian prince's hand. He charged forward.
Grima's eyes grew in disbelief. "Chrom, don't!" He held up both hands just as Falchion slashed across his chest. He staggered backwards holding his bloodless injury. "Why?" He fell to his knees as his body started to ripple away on the wind. Dragon Grima's death knell cry drowned out the rest of his human form's words.
Once Grima's body was completely gone, the dragon started to descend at an alarming speed.
"Naga!" Chrom called out grabbing hold of Robin.
"I'm here. I have you." Just like before, Naga summoned her power and teleported everyone back to the rest of the army.
As a whole, they watched Dragon Grima plunge to the earth, throwing up a thick cloud of debris. When it settled, they could see the skeleton of a massive dragon.
"He's, he's finished." Chrom couldn't believe his eyes. "We did it!" He whirled to face his husband. "Can you believe it, Robin?"
The tactician gave him a tight smile. "Grima has only returned to slumber. He'll rise to threaten the world again."
"He'll never destroy it. One such as I, or the first exalt before me. One will rise up to challenge him."
Robin didn't have the heart to remind his husband that THIS Grima had destroyed countless worlds before coming to this one. Chance was all that had saved them.
Chrom turned to his army with a big grin. "Shepherds! Friends! The war is over! The fell dragon's era of chaos has been averted! The Risen will trouble our world no more! You all know that I'm a simple man, never one for speeches or song, but you need to know this. All that is good and brave in me and what I have done is because of you! We have weathered a sea of horror, but we did it as one. And, finally, we have come to the inviting shores of a bright future. Together."
Robin was amazed how quickly a large celebration could be thrown together. All kinds of food, music, and dancing. People were drinking and laughing. It was hard to believe that not so long ago, the world stood on the brink of ruin. He should be happy, enjoying this moment like everyone else. Yet…
"Still feeling guilty, Robin?"
"Huh?" He twisted his torso around to find his husband holding out a mug to him. "Oh, hello, Chrom." He took the mug. "What is this?"
"I have no idea. Basilio thrust them at me and yelled 'drink'. Vaika was chugging it down and he seemed fine."
"Yes, because what Vaika does and doesn't do is a good frame of reference."
They stood silently for a moment watching the celebrating people.
"Don't bother trying to hide it." Chrom wrapped an arm around Robin's waist. "You're wondering if you should have sacrificed yourself."
"How can I not question it?" He gazed into the dark liquid in his cup. "I could have ensured my bloodline never threatens us again. But instead, I was selfish. Cowardly. I…"
"No." The Ylissen prince buried his face in Robin's shoulder. "I won't lie: your death might have spared the world future grief. Perhaps. But I know for certain it would have robbed the world of someone very special."
"I'm just one man, Chrom." His voice was so soft, it was almost covered up by the other noises.
"An amazing man and the good you bring to the world will more than make up for it. You made the right choice, Robin. The people need you. Our children need you. I need you."
Robin felt tears prick his eyes.
"I love you. I don't want to think of a life without you."
"I love you too, Chrom."
He kissed his husband's white hair. "Dance with me."
"Only if you let me lead." Robin laughed setting his untouched cup on the closest flat surface he could see. "The last time I let you, you kept stepping on my toes."
"We change every other song."
"Deal."
They weaved their way to the dance clearing where those already present stopped to cheer, not just for the rulers of Ylisse, but for their heroes.
"Don't you see?" Chrom whispered in his ear. "You belong with us. We want you here to share our present and help create our future."
Lucina sat with her brother on a discarded crate watching the people around them. Morgan was bouncing his heels gently against the crate's side.
"Father's really bad at dancing." He laughed as Chrom's foot landed on Robin's.
"Mother's not very good, either." Lucina gestured with her head. "Look at Uncle Frederick. No surprise he makes it seem easy while making it appear Aunt Lissa's a natural."
"Do I know how to dance?"
"Not like them, no. You have your own unique Morgan style. My skill is only passible." She'd spent her whole life preparing for her fight against Grima. Learning proper etiquette wasn't important. There wasn't time.
As if reading her thoughts, Morgan said. "We could learn all that stuff we missed now. We have all the time we could ever want."
Lucina smiled. "You're right. We're finally free."
Risen King walked through the rubble that once housed The Table. The Table itself was still there, it couldn't be destroyed. He could still see body parts of the Plegians that had come to fight. Weak and useless. Cannon fodder for the Ylisse and Regan Ferox army.
He climbed up to the alter and sat beside it resting his sword across his lap.
A thousand years was a long time to wait, but time was all the Risen King had.