Robin's sword flashed in the sun, blindingly bright. Raven did not hesitate to leap out of the way, casting a thunder spell at him. The magic hit true, and Raven felt a twinge of regret. Only her sense of duty kept her from shying away.
Robin is my enemy now, she reminded herself, dodging her brother's fierce swipe at her head. I can't let him join Validar-join the Fell Dragon! I have to knock some sense back into him. And-gods forbid-I might even have to put him down.
Very good, the dark voice whispered in her ear. Teach him that no birthright can give him the right to decide the world's fate. Join your strength to mine, and we shall master him, teach him that he is wrong.
Distracted for a moment, Raven failed to dodge the next attack her twin set after her. She gasped as the metal bit her skin, jumping out of the way of a second strike. The blood was warm and sticky, reminding her that Robin was truly not himself; he'd never hurt her.
I'd sooner die than give myself over to you, she thought back at the voice. Her next spell bounced off her twin's rapid defenses, and she dodged another hit, much more clumsily this time. Pivoting on her toe, Raven prepared her next counterattack.
"Time to tip the scales!" she yelled, the ball of lighting leaving her fingers. The magic struck Robin in the chest, making contact all across his face and neck. He crumpled to the ground, loosing a howl of agony, his sword flying from his grip. Raven gasped, dropped her tome, and ran to his side, falling to her knees.
It didn't look good: a streak of his white hair blacked from the spell's energy, his breathing shallow and rapid, eyes rolling back in his head, and a large burn reaching from his temple to his collarbone, Robin looked worse than she had ever seen him. Raven's understanding of medicine was superficial, but even to her novice eye it was apparent that the wound would scar for life.
If he survived.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm so sorry brother. I didn't mean it;I was trying to get Grima out of you...gods, please forgive me."
If her twin heard her apologies, he didn't show it. Still staring at something she couldn't see, his lips formed soundless words, his eyes filling with tears. A single crystal droplet escaped as his eyes closed and his shuttering breath halted.
Raven's own vision became blurred as she felt the life leave his still body, leaving her behind. The salt water spilled over and her breath hitched in her throat. She cradled Robin's lifeless body, sobbing helplessly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered over and over, like a lullaby or blessing. Or a lament. Raven's volume dropped with each repetition, her tears slowed and the anguish she felt lessened.
Robin might be gone, but he was with their mother now, and deep in her heart, she knew her brother was at peace. And-from a strategic standpoint-Raven now had less of a burden to carry herself. True, it would hurt for a long time to know that she had lost everyone close to her, but she would manage. Inhaling deeply, her logic and emotions running in the same direction, she realized that she felt much better. All that she needed now was to bury him, then she could start moving on again, as she always did.
"No need."
The young tactician whirled at the sound of her own voice and saw a living reflection standing before her. The only difference laid in the harsh lines on the mimic's face.
"You have well," the fake Raven whispered. "No blood but that of your brother shed. No one need suffer through the chaos he'd have brought. Now he can sustain us even more."
Now Raven was confused.
"Sustain us?" she dared ask. "I never agreed to join you."
"You will; it's a mathmatical certainty. And in the meantime, brother dear will sustain me."
Raven gasped in abject horror as Robin's body melted into dark smoke in her arms, the deep purple wisps swirling around her mimic, taken into her body. Her own face smirked at her, cold and mocking.
"Now you don't have to waste time with a burial."
Raven was in shock. He'd been there, then he hadn't. The only sign that her twin had ever lived was gone; she had felt his body fade into nothing, driving her loss home. Gone.
Fresh tears joined the one's still lingering on her cheeks.
"Oh come now," the fake Raven sneered. "You're crying? Get over yourself. Robin was done for anyway; what you did was an act of mercy."
"He's still my brother," Raven whispered. "I suppose you would never understand. You're not like me at all."
Her mimic answered sharply, but the young tactician wasn't listening. There was a strange smoldering emotion rising up inside her, directed at the one who had truly caused all this. Anger, Raven realized. But anger could hardly justify the flaming hatred that coursed through her body, rushing along with her pulse. Raven's eyes fell upon the bronze sword that still rested in the grass, and in a moment she knew what she had to do.
"You think we're the same," she murmured. "But we're not. I would never, ever give into a horror like you!"
Raven dove for the blade, snatching it up halfway through her roll. Once on her feet, she lunged forward, the sharp tip nearing it's target. Her mimic didn't even flinch; calmly, the fake Raven caught the razor edge between her fingers, seeming unperturbed by the imminent danger. Before Raven had time to react, a smile crossed her mimic's face and dark purple energy shot down the blade. Upon touching the magic, Raven's sight flickered with images, memories that did not belong to her.
"You will join me," her mimic said smugly, because you already have.
Raven saw herself sobbing helplessly over her mother's body again, wandering through Ylisse, honoring Ashira's last request to stay away from Plegia, joining Chrom and the Ylissean League, watching Chrom with increasing respect and adoration, her heart breaking when he married another woman, her bitterness driving her away from the man she had once loved, a lightning bolt created with her own magic stabbed through the princes body, the flash of energy and raw power as her body changed, changed to become the Fell Dragon...
"No," Raven said firmly, despite the weakness of her voice. "No, I'll never give myself to you. N-never."
The spell's pressure increased, causing Raven's head to ache fiercely. The images of a burning world were disrupted by flashes of black spots, soon blocking across all she saw. Raven fought back against the pressure, struggling with every last bit of strength she had. Waves of blankness rippled over her mind, making her own thoughts flicker, replaced by the Fell Dragon's desires and power...
"NEVER!" Raven screamed, wrenching herself free of her captor's grip. Once free, she lunged again, this time the blade entering her fake's shoulder. The cry that followed sent roosting birds spiraling into the sky for sheer terror. Raven could barely stand, but managed to straighten, and speak with a shaking voice.
"I...I will never submit. I'll die...die first."
Her mimic snarled, clutching the wound. Then she straightened, cocking her head as if she'd heard a sound. A foul oath slipped from between her teeth and Raven could have sworn she heard the word "Naga," among the curses. Abruptly, her mimic vanished in the lightning fast glare of a teleport spell. This last surprise was too much for the poor girl, who promptly collapsed.
Oh gods, she thought. Her whole body ached with the effort of her struggle, the whiteness still at the edge of her thoughts. The exhaustion was deep-set, in body, mind, and soul alike. Spent, Raven closed her eyes and breathed deeply, relaxing slowly.
"Oh Robin," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Before she blacked out, she had only one thought left in her mind, one memory that she could call her own.
Robin.
A/N:Did anyone get déjà vu reading the first part?
So this is the point where everything gets really confusing. The game can only let you pick to be a girl or a boy, so they technically can't both exist. This was what I meant back in chapter 1 by "stuff" happening. I just broke the world! (kinda...)
Until next time, R&R y'all!
