Issue 14: Oh Sacred Rivals
Carrion Isle
In need of many ships so they could invade Valm and stop Emperor Walhart from taking over Ylisse, the Ylissean Army traveled to Carrion Isle to gain the assistance from their former enemies, Plegia. Walking down a dark castle-like hallway, Sonic, Kaine, and Ilia join Chrom, Robin, and Frederick for their meeting with its new king. Partway through the hall they come across Aversa, the former subordinate to the former King Gangrel.
"Greetings, Prince Chrom. Plegia welcomes you." Aversa greeted the Ylisseans.
"Aversa!" Chrom recognized the dark woman.
"What can I say? It seems fate has designs for me yet." Aversa replied.
"You haven't done anything bad, have you?" Sonic smirked while asking.
"Nothing that concerns you." Aversa smirked back.
"You serve the new king, then? This…Validar?" Chrom asked the untrusting lady.
"I do." Aversa answered.
"They say he worships Grima…" Frederick said.
"Why yes, of course he is Grimleal. We are both believers. My liege often says it was his faith that got him through, after Gangrel's defeat. It was a difficult time... But he kept order where there might have been chaos. We had meant to arrange an official visit to Ylisstol, but- Ah, here is my lord now." Aversa turns her head, prompting everyone to look in her direction. Approaching out of the shadows, they are greeted by the mysterious King of Plegia, Validar.
"An honor to finally meet you, sire. I am Validar, king regnant of Plegia." He introduced himself.
"This guy's giving me the creeps." Ilia whispered to Kaine.
"I don't need a Spider-Sense to tell this guy's dangerous." The Spider-Clone whispered back.
"The honor is mine, good king," Chrom said, taking another look at the Plegian King for a particular reason, "Is it possible we've met before?"
"Yeah. You look sorta familiar." Sonic said, but he and the rest suddenly recognize this man, a villain they once stopped a while ago. "Wait! It can't be."
"Oh ho, I'm quite certain I would remember any encounter with Ylissean royalty." Validar said, hiding a sinister grin from them.
"Psst! Guys!" Chrom quietly whispered to his allies so Validar won't hear them.
"We know! He looks like the assassin that came after Emmeryn…" Robin whispered back.
"And you must be Sir Robin," said Validar.
"You know of me, sire?" Robin asked.
"The whole world knows of Ylisse's master tactician! And indeed, I see the sparkle of wisdom in your eyes," Validar said, turning his attention to Sonic and Kaine next. "The world also knows of you, Sir Sonic the Hedgehog of the D-Avengers, as well as the Legendary Hero-Spider of 616. Greetings, Spider-Man."
"I am NOT Spider-Man!" Kaine coldly replied, as he always hates people confusing him for Spider-Man.
That little comment got Validar a little intrigued, "Is that so? You certainly SOUND like the fabled Hero-Spider."
"I don't get it. Didn't you and Spidey beat this guy?" Sonic whispered to Robin.
"We did, but then he disappeared suddenly. We had no idea what happened to him back then. For all we know, he was dead." Robin quietly whispered.
"So, how is he-." Ilia spoke.
"My, the negotiations haven't even begun and already so much whispering..." Validar said, noticing everyone has been awfully quiet for the past few minutes.
"...My apologies, King Validar. We meant no disrespect." Chrom apologized.
"What should we do?" Scarlet whispered.
"Just keep your guard up, and be ready for anything." Sonic quietly advised.
"Then let us get to it." Validar said, allowing his trusty assistant, Aversa to propose their offers for their cause.
"Plegia can offer no soldiers, but will provide 800 warships and 200 transports. In addition, we would be pleased to fully fund the campaign against Valm." Aversa kindly offered to the heroes, which honestly surprised them.
"That is... surprisingly generous of you, milord. We could not ask for more, quite literally. You offer most all your assets..." Frederick said.
"I would give troops as well, but our army remains in shambles from the last war. I trust the gold and ships will suffice as a sign of our commitment to the cause?" Validar asked.
"Of course it will. Thank you, King Validar." Chrom acknowledged.
"The honor is ours, my prince. I look forward to building a strong bond between our two nations." Validar replied.
"As do I. Then, if there's nothing else? My men and I must hurry back to Port Ferox." Chrom said, as he and his friends are about to leave the complex, Aversa stops them before they could take a step.
"Oh, so soon? But I have one more introduction to make." Aversa.
"And…who would that be?" Ilia asked.
"A hierophant, the highest of his order in Plegia." Validar said, prompting a hooded figure in Plegian robes walking towards the Ylisseans and the Avengers. The hierophant stays silent, but something about this man makes Kaine specifically a little angry, despite this being the first time they've met, Kaine's blood starts to boil in rage but is able to hide it.
"…So you lead the people in worship? We were just discussing religion earlier..." Robin starts a friendly conversation with the hooded hierophant, but he continues to remain silent. "…I'm sorry, have I said something to offend you?" Robin asked, wondering if the hooded man is okay.
Finally, he spoke, "...The heart still sleeps, but the blood flows through it. And the blood is strong..."
"…Huh? Beg pardon, were you talking to me?" Robin asked.
"…Man and Spider, the One and the Other, crossed together. Clone of the enemy that threatens the great beyond…" The hooded figure now starts speaking gibberish about Kaine.
"What the HELL are you talking about?! Who are you, and why is it that standing next to you makes me angry?!" Kaine asked, irritated by his words.
"Good hierophant, I would ask you to lower your cowl. In Ylisse, it is a courtesy expected of one in the presence of royalty." Frederick advised this mystery man.
"... ...You are a long way from Ylisse, sir. ...But very well..." As requested, the hierophant pulls back his cowl to reveal his true face, an exact duplicate of Robin's, shocking the entire team all at once. "Is that better?" He asked.
"What?!" Robin reacted in great surprise to his duplicate.
"R-Robin?!" Sonic questioned in shock to the duplicate of his friend.
"By the gods!" Chrom said.
"This bastard's a clone, just like me!" Kaine said.
"How?!" Ilia asked.
"What matter of sorcery-?" Frederick starts wondering how this Robin duplicate looks like Robin.
"He looks just like…me." Robin slowly said, staring into the eyes of his clone.
"My name is Robin. Oh, and that was YOUR name as well, wasn't it? What a strange coincidence…" This "Robin" person said.
"Why that IS rather curious, now that you mention it... What are the odds? In any case, I believe we are finished here. We will let you be on your w—." As Validar and his assistants are about to leave, Chrom stops them from moving another inch.
"Hold just one moment!" Chrom said, catching their attention.
"Milord?" Aversa questioned the prince.
"Who or WHAT the hell is this guy," asked Scarlet Spider, pointing his right stinger at the fake Robin, "You better answer now, faker, or else I'm gonna stick my stinger right up your-."
"I'm afraid we've no time for such trivial matters now, Spider. We have aid preparations to attend to, and you have a long, hard journey ahead. Oh, and do be careful on your way back to Port Ferox. This time of year the highroads of Plegia can be quite treacherous..." Aversa said before the three high-order Plegians leave the hallway for the perplexed heroes, as they are still highly confused what's going on.
That night at a secured forest in Carrion Isle
Everyone is enjoying a nice, peaceful sleep at camp, everyone but Robin anyway. He quietly wakes up from his sleep and walks away to a lone location to clear his head of recent events.
"... It's no use. I can't sleep. Who was that man? How could he bear my same face?" Robin asked himself. Suddenly, a mysterious voice enters his head.
'Robin…Heed me, Robin…'
Robin glances around to find the source of the voice, "Huh? Who's there?! T-There's no one. I'm alone…"
'Heed my call, Robin…'
BGM-Fire Emblem Awakening OST-"Something is very wrong"
Without warning, Robin staggers, clutching at his head in agony, blurring his vision. "Nngh…This voice is…in my head? Who are you?! What's happening?!" He asked in pain, but to his shock, he notices Validar appearing in a flash of light.
"Why do you close your heart to him, Robin?" Validar asked the tactician in agony.
"V-Validar?" Robin responded.
"Have you truly forgotten?" Validar strangely asked.
"You were... calling me... Augh! My head! Get out of my mind." Robin said, using all of his willpower to break free from his mind-control with little success.
"Heh heh. Such arrogance! You dare take such a tone... with your own father?!" Validar revealed a shocking truth.
"…My what?"
"You are of my flesh, but of sacred blood. You are to serve a glorious purpose! Search deep in your heart. You already know it is your destiny..." Validar explained.
"No…Get…out…"
"Why do you resist us, Robin? Your rightful place is at my side. Not wasting your time with these doomed servants of Naga, and especially our eternal enemy, the Spider! Give yourself to Grima! Let me join your strength to the fell dragon!" Validar said, tempting his son to give up and join him.
"Maybe if you weren't giving him a headache, he might give you an answer!"
To his shock, Validar notices Spider-Man swinging from his web, shooting a barrage of web bullets that were easily deflected by the sorcerer's magic shield, but it wasn't enough to withstand Scarlet Spider's brutal assaults, breaking through his shield and kicking him away.
"I still demand an answer, punk." Scarlet said, revealing his two stingers while Chrom attends to Robin.
"Robin!" The prince said.
"Hiya, gramps. Ready for me to kick your magic butt again?" Spidey taunted the dark king.
"Pah! Not this one again…No matter. In time you will see the truth. And that is all it will be—a matter of time…" With those haunting words, Validar vanishes into thin air.
BGM End
"Robin! Are you all right? I heard shouting." Chrom asked his friend in concern.
Robin gasped in pain before finally calming himself down. "Nngh... Ahh... Ahh... I-I think so... Yes, Chrom, thank you. I'm... I'm fine." He thanked his saviors.
"I would be fine too if I was being mind-controlled." Scarlet joked.
"S-Spider-Man…Why are you here?" Robin asked.
"I heard what happened and got here as fast as I could," Spidey answered, "I sensed something, very strange, very…ancient, it even got Ero's attention. What was that "Validar" guy up to?" He asked.
"…King Validar, he... He spoke to me... in my mind. He said I was his... his son." Robin revealed, surprising the three of his friends that Robin could possibly be Validar's son.
"What?! …Is this true?" Chrom asked.
"I don't know... But I also don't know it's a lie. Loath as I am to say it, I felt a... a strange connection, between us." Robin said.
"That must have been how he was able to enter your mind so easily." Spidey said.
"Oh, gods... That hierophant doppelganger... Could he be the king's son, as well? Are you twins?" Chrom asked.
"Is it possible he's a clone?" Kaine asked.
"I... I'm sorry, guys. I can't remember... But if I'm being honest... it would explain much... I'm not even sure I want to know the truth of my past anymore." Robin sadly said.
"Don't let that punk get to you. You are your own man. Don't let the past define who you are." Kaine gave some sympathetic advice to Robin, cheering him up a bit.
"…Thank you, Kaine." He replied.
"Can you walk?" Chrom asked.
"Yes…yes, I think so." Robin replied, then he and the rest see Frederick running towards them with some dire news.
"Milord, we are under attack! Risen have encircled the camp!" Frederick informed them.
"But... we posted sentries! How did this happen?" Chrom asked.
"They made a stealthy approach, milord. I've never seen Risen behave like this. Either they are learning our ways, or someone is commanding them..." Frederick said.
"It could be Validar," Spidey believed, "Tell everyone who can fight to get ready so we can-." And without any sign or warning whatsoever, both Spider-Man and the Scarlet Spider are assaulted by the returning Morlun, who came out of nowhere and starts smashing the spiders' heads through the many trees this forest has, destroying the area in the process.
"It's Morlun! Not now! We have to help them! Let's regroup with the others!" Chrom said, running back to camp to assist his friends before they could assist the Parker Brothers.
BGM-Ultimate Spider-Man Game OST-Chasing Theme
The three Shepherds hurried back to camp to find the whole area covered with Risen. The Ylissean army work with each other to kill these zombies before they could kill them.
"Grr…kill…prince…kill…spider…Bwaarg!" A Risen Chief said, slashing away his axe on the heroic warriors.
"So these are the Risen?" Ilia asked while deflecting axe swings with her electric whip.
"Be careful! They're more coordinated this time!" Miriel advised while blasting a Risen crowd with her fire magic.
Sun stupidly tries to take on the chief head-on, taking a few heavy blows to the body. "AH! These zombies are strong!" He said, squeaking in fear when he sees the chief about to slice his head off, only for Sonic to kick his head off first.
"Yeah, but they aren't fast!" Sonic quipped, homing attacking a few more Risen in rapid succession. During the massive fight, he spots Chrom and the others fighting through the waves of undead soldiers. "Chrom!"
"Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider are in trouble! Morlun's got them!" Chrom shouted.
"Again?! That Inheritor doesn't know when to give up!" Panne responded.
"We have to save them!" Blake said.
"Then we have no time to waste! Let's go!" Shadow ordered, with him, Panne, Blake, and Yang running through the forest to rescue the spider-twins while everyone else deals with the Risen.
Far from the main showdown at another part of the forest, Spidey and Scarlet are giving it their all against the unstoppable Morlun, but as painfully expected, none of their heavy attacks so much as slow him down or even make him flinch. "Give 'im everything you got, Scarlet!" Spidey said, releasing a powerful kick to his neck, only for it to have no effect and get tossed around like a ragdoll.
"I am nobody's lunch!" Scarlet covers his fists in flames, activating his "Flames of Kaine" and repeatedly punches Morlun in the face, but to his utter shock, he doesn't even leave a burn mark on his face before he gets slapped to a nearby tree.
"Two spiders. Share the same, but different scent. Just makes me even more eager to feast on you both." Morlun said.
"Have a plan?" Kaine asked his brother.
"Stay alive." Peter replied.
"Good plan." Kaine said, webbing up giant boulders he could throw at Morlun. "How about you use that Spider-Armor of yours?" He asked, protruding multiple spikes across his body to battle Morlun.
"Why, and waste energy," responded Peter, pulling down multiple trees right on top of Morlun, "This guy's immortal, remember?!" He continued as he immediately spots the Inheritor breaking out and smacking the spiders with the large trees.
"Now to feast." Morlun calmly walks towards the weakened spiders to feed on their life essence, but for whatever reason the three of them couldn't figure out, a flock of crows circle the area, distracting the Totem Hunter. "What the…Crows?!" He said, trying to shoo them away.
"CAW! CAW! Are you folks lost? Or perhaps a lost CAWs? Heh ha!" A mystery, constantly smiling person in Plegian clothing reveals himself after dispersing the crows.
"Uh…Who are you?" Spidey asked the weirdo.
"I'm Henry. Nice to meet you. Hope I didn't CAW-ught you at a bad time. Nya ha ha! Oh, I slay me!" Henry wiped a fake tear from his eye.
"And I already don't like you." Scarlet said, before they are forced to dodge a furious attack from Morlun.
"Can I join your CAWs. I mean, I can help you! I know magic! What do you say…Birds of feather and all that?" Henry asked to join their group.
"But you're wearing Plegian clothing! Why would you-?" Peter asked before getting slammed to the ground.
"Who cares?! Kid, welcome to the club! Now kill this bastard!" Kaine ordered while avoiding an Inheritor swing.
"Yay! I've got a knack for killing. Most funny people do, you know. The two things must be linked somehow. Ever talk to a jester when he's off duty? Those guys are some sick-."
"DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOU?! FIGHT, YOU MORON!" Kaine shouted while clashing with Morlun.
"You seem stress. Is it because of this guy? Do you want me to get rid of him?" Henry nonchalantly asked while Kaine's being choked to death.
"YES!"
"Okay." Henry blast Morlun away with his dark magic, freeing Kaine from his grasp. "See. Was that CAW-tastic?" He punned.
"I'm gonna kill you." Kaine bluntly replied to the unfunny dark mage.
Unfortunately, it would seem nothing they mustered could defeat Morlun. He casually wipes off the dust from his coat, then proceeds to easily uppercut Henry 60-feet to the sky. Still weakened, both spiders couldn't do much when Morlun grabbed them by the throat and starts absorbing their life force, killing them.
"Well…it's been nice knowing you, Kaine…" Spidey weakly joked.
"Oh shut up…" Kaine replied in annoyance.
Before the spider-duo met their end, a combined attack from behind staggered Morlun, long enough to release his grasp on them. Yang and Blake quickly tend to their spider-friends while Shadow and the transformed Panne try their mettle against Morlun.
"Pete, you okay?" Yang sincerely asked her boyfriend.
"…Hey there, little doll…Where's my snack?" Spidey said, completely delirious after almost dying again.
"Awww. You're so cute when you're delirious." Yang said.
"Kaine? Kaine! Are you alright?" Blake asked in concern.
"…I'm fine…Get out of here…" Kaine weakly told her.
"Don't be stupid. I'm not leaving you." Blake replied.
"Stubborn cat…" Kaine cough.
Back with Morlun, he easily overpowers Shadow and Panne. Henry eventually returned to the surface to aid them but they were still outclassed, knocked to the spot where Spidey and Yang were on, leaving Morlun enough time to strangle Blake for her energy.
"It's the faunus again. I was looking for an exquisite appetizer." Morlun smiled as he starts to feed on Blake's life force first, causing her to scream in pain.
"NO," shouted Kaine as he could do nothing but watch her slowly die by Morlun's hand. As he continues watching, he slowly gets angrier and angrier. His body mass starts to morph to that beast he once was when he previously worked with the Jackal, transforming into giant Man-Spider monster because of his Semblance. "GET! AWAY! FROM HER!" The transformed Kaine starts brutalizing Morlun with a monstrous assault, saving Blake in the process. He keeps pounding and pounding the Inheritor deep to the ground, actually causing some actual damage to this invincible monster.
"Impossible! I wasn't expecting this!" With just one punch, Morlun punches Kaine through the trees, knocking him back to his human form. "Had no idea the Other could spread his power to two totems. You are truly worthy of this glorious hunt." Before Morlun could kill Kaine, Shadow teleports right behind the Inheritor, touching his shoulder so he could use Chaos Control to transport themselves halfway across the world, above an active volcano. The hedgehog quickly kicks Morlun deep into the lava, teleporting back to the others just as the volcano erupts with Morlun in it.
BGM End
"Shadow…Where did you send him?" Spidey asked after he returned.
"To a volcano." Shadow replied, acting like it was no big deal.
"That's not going to stop him." Spidey said.
"But it will slow him down. I suggest we head back." Shadow replied.
"Right." Spidey nodded.
Slowly, as his regenerative costume fixes itself, Kaine picks up the weakened faunus with both arms. "Belladonna. Are you okay?" He sincerely asked.
Blake coughed and slowly opens her eyes to Kaine's, "…Oh yeah, I'm okay…Just brushed off death for a second there…"
"Stop acting funny. You're better at nagging than telling jokes." Kaine said.
That little comment definitely ticked off Blake, as evident with her annoyed cat ears. "Nagging?! Oh, and WHO'S fault is that?!" She started arguing, standing on her two feet again with her full strength astonishingly returned.
"Not mine!"
"Of course it's you! You're impossible to work with!"
"I never asked for your mentorship!"
"Stop lying! You practically BEGGED me to help you that one day!"
"No, that was Aracely!"
"Who told me you needed my help!"
"Do you have proof?!"
"I've saved the recording!"
"That is not fair!"
The two obvious lovebirds continue bickering for the next five minutes, leaving the others to sweatdrop a bit at their arguing. "Yup. They are truly meant for each other." Yang said.
"Yeah, as each other's killers." Spidey quipped. "You two argue like a married couple!" He said.
"SHUT UP!" They responded simultaneously.
At the Shepherd's campsite, the heroes have successfully quelled the Risen onslaught, preventing any more casualties. On a bridge, Chrom and Robin finished off the last of the undead soldiers. "That's the last of them. Gods, I thought it might nev-." Chrom said before someone interrupts him.
"Chrom, look out!" Robin shouted when he spots a Risen Assassin appear in front of the prince.
"Huh?! Ah!" Chrom said, with no time to dodge or block the zombie's attack.
Then, out of the blue, Marth shows up. "Father, no!" She quickly blocked the Risen's strike, saving Chrom in the process. Having failed his mission, the Risen grunts before teleporting away. Marth turns back to Chrom with a smile. "Thank the gods you're safe!" She said.
"…You called me "Father." Chrom said, a bit stunned when he heard that word from Marth's mouth.
"Did I? I… …Perhaps we might speak privately?" Marth requested, having no choice since she spoiled her cover.
"Perhaps we should, yes." Chrom nodded.
Arriving at another part of the morning forest that holds a flowing river, Chrom and Marth are standing together a ways apart from the rest of the group. "I don't even know where to begin." Marth began.
"I already know you're not "Marth," though I've nothing better to call you... But I'll ask nothing of you that you don't wish to reveal. Whoever you are, Ylisse owes you a debt beyond repaying." Chrom said.
"Thank you, but... I think I would prefer you know the truth." Marth said.
"As you wish." Chrom responded.
BGM-Fire Emblem Awakening OST-"You deserved better from me than one sword"
"Here. Look closely, and all will be made clear." Marth said. The young 18-year-old woman takes a quick breath, steadying herself for what she's about to reveal. She steps forward to look Chrom directly in the eye. At first, Chrom is confused, but when he sees her left eye bears the Mark of Naga, he's startled, quickly realizing who this woman really is as he remembers his baby daughter shares the same sacred eye.
"That's the Brand of the Exalt…Lucina…" He finally figured out her true identity. He gazes to the Falchion she's holding at her side. "You deserved better from me than one sword and a world of troubles. I'm sorry."
Lucina's eyes well up with tears, which spill down her face. Chrom reaches up and wipes them away, which was enough to break her down crying and hugging her father tightly. "Oh, father!" She bawled, as she cries into his shoulder. "Father…"
BGM End
BGM-Fire Emblem Awakening OST-"Ha ha! Yes, it will take some getting used to!"
After that emotional scene, father and grown-up, teenage daughter stand apart once more, now fueled with total silence for a bit until one of them started speaking. "Better, Lucina?" Chrom asked his daughter.
"Yes. Father…I'm sorry. It just all rushed back at once." Lucina said.
"Father…" Chrom repeated.
"Should I call you something else?" Lucina asked.
"No, it's just strange to my ear. …I like it." Chrom smiled.
"...Father! Heh heh..." Lucina chuckled.
"Hah! Yes, it will take some getting used to!" Chrom said.
"You have NO idea," said Spider-Man, getting the swordsmen's attention when they see him and the rest of the D-Avengers behind him, "I remember when I met my daughter from an alternate universe, and let's just say you handled the reveal better than me."
"You fainted!" Sonic and the others laughed at his expense, remembering Peter's glorious reaction when he met Mayday Parker from a different universe.
"SHUT UP! How would you feel if you met YOUR alternate dimension daughter who was the exact same age as you?!" Spidey retorted, hearing Chrom and Lucina laugh behind him.
"It's nice to see you're okay, Spider-Man. Where's Morlun?" Chrom asked.
"Swimming inside a volcano." Peter casually replied.
"O-kay…" Lucina carefully said, having no way to properly respond to that.
"So you're the Lucina from the future, huh? Hope you've gotten over your fear of spiders." Peter said, already knowing the truth about Lucina.
"From the future?" Ruby asked.
Lucina smiled, "I suspected you figured out my true identity already."
"You're not the first time-traveler I met, sister." Spidey said. As they talked, they notice Sumia pulling flower pedals off a flower.
"He loves me…He loves me not…" Sumia said, pulling out another pedal.
"What is she doing?" Kaine asked.
"Er, Sumia? Why in the gods' names are you shredding those poor flowers?" Chrom asked his wife.
"I'm not spying on you! You can't prove that I am!" Sumia retorted.
"But we clearly see you!" Sun said.
"No, you can't!" Sumia quickly responded.
"Can we tell her, Lucina?" Chrom asked his daughter.
"You better before she divorces you and wipe Lucina out of existence." Spidey joked.
"Lucina? But wait, that's…" Sumia starts wondering why the young woman in front of her is called "Lucina," the same name as her baby daughter.
"Sumia, this is going to be something of a shock, but... I'll just say it: This is our daughter, Lucina." Chrom revealed bluntly.
"…What?" Sumia is stunned.
"It's true, Sumia. I'm your daughter. Look closely and see for yourself." Lucina walks towards her mother to show her Branded left eye.
"Y-Your eye! It has the Brand!" Sumia noticed.
"The same Brand carried by all House Ylisse's bloodline." Chrom said.
"This…This is…"
"Do you see now?" Chrom asked.
"No, Chrom, I do NOT see! This doesn't make any sense! ...Wait. Is my Lucina all right? What did you do to her?!" Sumia loudly asked.
Thinking quickly, Sonic blocks the border between Sumia and Lucina to calm down the former. "Whoa! Whoa! Easy, Sumia! Lucina's alright, and…Lucina. We're dealing with time travel. It's confusing, I know. The point is, THIS Lucina is from the future." He said, pointing to future Lucina.
"The…future?" Sumia carefully responded.
"Yes, more than 10 years hence." Lucina said.
"And given my experience with time travelers, I'm assuming your future is in grave danger, hence why you came back here, to prevent it." Spidey said with a serious tone.
"You have no idea." Lucina sadly replied.
"Alright. Lay it on us. What happened in the future?" Spidey asked, wanting to know the full story of the dark future Lucina's from.
BGM End
Flashback…10 years in the future
In this dark and grim reality, humanity faces the brink of destruction. Statues of Naga are shown aflame. People running for their lives as the entire city of Ylisse burns to a crisp. Inside the palace, the remaining soldiers are in desperate battle against the Risen, and losing badly. A Risen knocks a male soldier to the ground, bashing him with its axe once, making the man cry out in pain, before striking him again to finish him off. A second Risen pins a female soldier to a wall, acting like an inspector as she whimpers in terror. Before it could do anything else, the Risen goes still, noticing the Falchion shoved through its back.
"I believe the woman you want... is ME!" Lucina tears her sword out of the Risen, killing it in one blow, then straightens herself. "We can't let these things win," She said as she turns back to the woman. "Now grab a sword…and FIGHT!" She said, slashing her sword through the air to know she means business.
Back in the Present
BGM-Fire Emblem Awakening OST-"You may call me Marth"
"But why? What happens in the future?!" Robin asked Lucina after she explained a bit of what happened.
"The fell dragon, Grima, is resurrected. His roar is a death knell for man, a scream that silences all hope... Death everywhere..." Lucina said, looking to the ground as she could still hear the screams of agony of her fallen comrades in the future.
"WHAT?!" A sudden Ero materializes in spirit form after he heard his mortal enemy has returned in the future.
"You mean Chrom and the others are dead in the future?" Ruby asked.
"…Yes." Lucina sadly replied.
Everyone is shocked to hear the entirety of the Shepherds have been killed in the future, and have no properly way to respond after such a bombshell. "…I…I don't know what to say." Robin said.
"Grr. Impossible. Grima shouldn't be awaken for another two millennia." Ero clenched his head, shaking it.
"What are you talking about?" Spidey asked his other.
"During our last encounter, I combined my power with Naga's to help the first exalt seal Grima away for a total of 3,000 years, making this a vicious cycle of battle. And while I don't mind kicking his butt again, I wasn't expecting him to be released so soon. Something powerful that could affect the universe must have weakened his slumber, awakening him sooner than expected." Ero explained.
"Is it possible when the multiverse was restored twice before, it weakened his seal?" Shadow asked.
"That sounds about right. Mortals should really stop messing with forces they cannot hope to understand." Ero answered.
"Reality was destroyed twice before?" Lucina asked, having no clue about the death and rebirth of the multiverse involving Eggman and Goblin.
"Yeah, it was. One of it was sorta my fault. Sorry." Sonic sheepishly chuckled.
"So how did you travel back in time, Lucina?" Blake asked the future princess.
"Don't you remember. She fell right out of the sky! I've never seen anything like it…" Lissa said.
"Naga, the divine dragon, feared mankind would face Grima again. In preparation for that day, she devised a ritual. It allows one to return to the past and alter events already written." Lucina explained.
"Unless, we're dealing with multiverse theory, where attempting to change the past creates an alternate timeline that doesn't affect your future, meaning everything you do here is moot…" Spidey explained, which makes Lucina really nervous that altering the past might not fix the future.
To shut him up, Weiss painfully stomps on his right foot, causing Spidey screamingly jump up and down on one foot for being an idiot. "Can you stop going full nerd for one lousy second, you inconsiderate bug!" She angrily berated him.
"I-I-I'm sure we'll figure something out!" Spidey nervously chuckled, causing his Other to groan of his stupidity.
"…In addition to me, Lady Naga also transported you and your friends here, Spider-Man," Lucina continued, "As the Legendary Hero-Spider of 616, and the host of the Other that previously beaten Grima twice, your skills are absolute in preventing Armageddon. It is your destiny."
"Explain to the foolish spider why he's involved in a world-ending prophecy from another world during summer vacation?" Spidey asked, getting tired of how he's involved in the center of world-ending threats lately.
"That's what Naga told me." Lucina answered.
"And I probably said a few things last time I was here." Ero shamelessly added, remembering he told the first exalt that he was in search of a Spider-Totem that might be the key in stopping Grima for good.
"I told you don't get me involved in your rivalries!" Spidey exclaimed.
"It is also because Grima found a terrifying new power. A mysterious white gemstone that once he masters it, he will truly be unstoppable. Strong enough to cover all our worlds in total darkness." Lucina said.
"White gemstone? What is she talking about?" Sun asked.
"Most likely an Exo Stone." Amy answered.
"So if we want to stop Grima, we have to prevent him from resurrecting?" Ruby asked to make sure they know what they're doing.
"Correct. Please, help save my future." Lucina nodded.
"Heh. No problem. We saved the future multiple times. We're used to stuff like this. This should be fun." Sonic grinned, assuring Lucina that everything will be alright, making her really happy.
'How the hell did I get dragged into this?' Kaine thought, not liking getting involved in another world-ending crisis.
"Because we asked you." Aracely answered after reading his thoughts.
"Stop reading my mind!" Kaine retorted.
"How come Naga didn't explain this to me FIRST before she called us?" Ero asked the future princess.
"I…think she said something about "wanting to mess with you."" Lucina said, not exactly remembering her exact words but they are close enough.
"Hmph. I'm going to kill her." Ero proclaimed.
Sumia, still not completely sure if Lucina standing before her is really her daughter, walks forward. "…. Are you really my daughter?" She asked.
"I swear on my life." Lucina said.
"You grow up... Er, grew up to be so strong... So beautiful..." Sumia smiled.
"Thank you…Sumia." Lucina kindly replied.
"You don't want to call me Mother?" Sumia asked.
"I…thought you might mind." Lucina said, sounding worried.
"Of course not! I love you more than anything in the world." Sumia replied.
Lucina sniffed, blessed to have a mother that cares for her, no matter the timeline. "Oh, Mother…" Daughter and Mother embrace each other with a hug, making everyone happy.
"I am so very proud of you…" Sumia said.
"I've missed you more than you'll ever know…" Lucina said.
"Ughhh, can we move on and get this over with already?" Kaine asked, impatiently, ruining the mood.
"Yeah. We don't have much time now, do we?" Spidey joked, making everyone groan at his terrible pun, but not Lucina, who somehow found that oddly funny and laughed.
"That was actually quite funny." Lucina chuckled.
"IT WAS?!" Everyone asked in shocked.
"You all…didn't find that funny?" Lucina asked, confused.
"NO!" They replied.
"Huh? Usually I'm the one who don't always understand jokes." Lucina said.
"Oh, good god," Kaine face-palmed, "If you think THIS guy is the pinnacle of comedy," Scarlet pointed to Spider-Man while talking, "Then your future MUST be hell."
Spidey slides right beside Lucina. "Hehe! Don't mind them. They never took classes in the art of comedy. Want me teach you a few jokes? Want me to teach you how to become an awesome, spectacular hero?" Spidey offered to the time-traveler.
"Uh, sure…Am I going to regret this?" Lucina asked.
"Not at all! Welcome, new sidekick! I've always wanted one!" Spidey said with joy.
"Father, I'm scared." Lucina said.
"Scarier than Grima?" Chrom asked.
"Possibly." Lucina replied.
"HEY!" Spidey responded, causing everyone to laugh at him again.
BGM End
BGM-Rockman. EXE Beast OST-Next Episode Preview
Sonic: I'm Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog. We got our ships, now it's time to head out. We can see Doc Ock and his ships straight ahead. It looks like their packing heavy firepower. Bring it on, then! You can't stop us!
Next time on D-Avengers: The Fell Awakening:
Octopus on the Blue
Sonic: Still really wish we built a hovercraft. I don't like water, remember?
KFX Here: I want to apologize for a mistake I made involving Ilia last chapter. I had no idea she was a lesbian character, so I went back and edited the last chapter about her having a crush on Kaine out. Please forgive me. I didn't do the proper research. They're just good friends from now on, with Ilia teasing Kaine's and Blake's relationship here and there, which tends to get on their nerves. Again, forgive me.
