Previous Boss: Zant, the insane king from the Twilight Realm
They needed to hurry. The flight to Mount Prism was fast and deadly; even more so when they saw the swathes of darkness encircling parts of the land. The once clear fields and forests of Ylisse were slowly being taken over by some dark force that seemed intent on total domination. So this is 'Twilight', Robin thought as they shot past the slowly expanding black-and-gold barriers. We really need Naga's help now.
"Uncle Robin?"
"What is it, Cynthia?"
"Can we win?"
"What do you mean; of course we can! We have to."
"But what if we don't?"
"Then we go down heroes." Robin smiled at his niece, and she smiled back.
"Oh! Yeah! We're almost there! The mountain's just up ahead!" He leaned to look around her, and caught a glimpse of the mountain before them. It appeared to be one of the few peaceful places left in Ylisse; until his view became obstructed by another pillar of Twilight that began to coat the land below.
"Speed up, Cynthia! There isn't much time left!"
"On it!" Her pegasus had a massive boost of speed, and the mountain grew much closer.
"Sorry we couldn't get higher up the mountain…"
"It's okay, Cynthia. I do understand that pegasi get tired; that's why I got more people to come."
"Do you think we'll run into monsters?"
"Based on the landscape?" Robin motioned to the slowly deforming view of Ylisse that could be seen from their vantage point high on the mountain. "Yes." The two moved to regroup with the other Shepherds, who had managed to land just before them. Against Robin's more sane advice, Chrom and Sumia immediately set off for the mountain temple, not wanting to waste any time. This, of course, led to the next hour or so.
As the remainder of the Shepherds were moving up the mountainside, they saw a frantic Sumia running back towards them.
"We need help!"
"What's wrong, Sumia?"
"It's not good, Robin. There are a bunch of Risen in our way, and they seem to be more aggressive."
"So you decided to leave your husband, Chrom, alone with them?"
"Yes…?"
"Chrom, the man who would fight a rabbit if it looked at him funny, is alone with a bunch of angry Risen?"
"What are you-" Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands. "Oh, no."
"Come on; let's hurry before he gets into too much trouble!" Sumia was the first to speed off, eager to correct her mistake. Before long, everyone else caught up with her only to see their Exalt surrounded by a hoarde of… Risen? Upon first glance, the things were very reminiscent of Risen, but they were altered. They were bigger, no longer needed weapons to fight, had skin as black as the night sky, and were covered in glowing red sigils very similar to the ones they saw on the shadow beasts. They had Chrom outnumbered almost fifty to one, and more were arriving from a portal in the sky. Without wasting a second, Robin got everyone into formation and charged. At the moment, their only goal was to rescue the hard-headed Exalt as he tiredly battled for what little life was left in him. Problem was, these Risen were infinitely more durable. Even Link's incredible sword, which normally had no trouble dealing with the decaying monsters, had to take several extra swipes at the deformed creatures. It also seemed that whatever had happened to them had made them more intelligent. They avoided more of the Shepherds' attacks, teamed up in a very similar style to Robin's own strategies, and surrounded people as often as they could. With monumental effort, gaining many a wound along the way, Robin, Lucina, Link and Frederick made it to Chrom.
"Thanks for showing up."
"Thank us when we get out of this."
"Fair enough. What's the plan, Robin?"
"Working on it."
"Sires, may I suggest a tactical retreat?"
"Sorry, Freddy, can't do that; we need to go up."
"That is what I was implying."
"What?"
"I am fairly certain that these decrepit beasts will not venture too close to Naga's shrine in fear of her wrath, so that would most likely be the safest place for us."
"Huh. Guess you're right, Frederick. Okay, then; everyone! We're heading up the mountain! Only kill those you have to!" A small cry came from each Shepherd to signal that they had heard. With that out of the way, the small group in the middle nodded to each other, then proceeded up the mountain. As the five of them desperately fought their way up to the unseen shrine, the small sense of hope they had been feeling was slowly draining away. If these mutated Risen had managed to get this far up the mountain, Naga's power over them must be very weak. How much power did she have left? Would the power of a god be enough to slay another? The last question had an unsettling answer.
"Everyone… here?" Robin panted, sweat and exhaustion blurring his vision.
"We're… all here." Chrom answered, equally spent.
"Well then… let's go and… meet a god."
"Can we… take five minutes first?"
"I… think we can… spare that." At the end of his sentence, Robin fell backwards onto the ground, arms outstretched. Many of the other Shepherds followed suit, glad for the chance to finally rest their aching muscles. So… that's what the Twilight does, huh? Turns monsters into abominations. This needs to stop. "Alright… we should go." Robin slowly got up from his place in the dirt, mirroring the efforts of the Shepherds.
"Right. The temple shouldn't be too far." Chrom motioned for the group to follow, and they continued the tedious climb up the mountain. Before too long, they reached their goal. "Huh."
"What is it?"
"Well, I didn't think it would look nearly identical to Plegia's temple. It's a little disconcerting." Robin took another look at the mountaintop building before them, and had to agree. With the small exceptions of mark replacements and colour, the stone structure was identical to that of Plegia's.
"It is, now that I look at it."
"Father, Uncle; I believe that we should talk about architecture later. There is a crisis on our hands."
"You're right, Lucina. Let's go." Chrom turned and walked into the temple, the rest of the Shepherds directly behind. Inside, they, unsurprisingly, found the altar to Naga exactly where the altar to Grima was in this holy place's counterpart. Chrom took a deep breath, then stepped forward. "Whatever happens, all of you stay back." He slowly made his way to the altar, proceeding to take the Emblem out and place it upon the shrine. As soon as it touched the shining marble, the gemstones began to give off a faint glow. "Divine Dragon! We call upon you in this land's time of need! Evil is upon us, and you are the last hope we have! Naga, we need your strength!" Blue flames erupted from the emblem, reaching up to the ceiling above the altar. Tendrils of flame spread out from the base of the fire, searching for whomever called upon it. When one reached Chrom, the rest moved in and surrounded him, obscuring the Exalt from sight behind a wall of fire.
"Father!"
"Daddy!" Lucina and Cynthia attempted to charge towards him, but were held back by Robin and Gerome.
"Don't worry girls; I'm fine. It doesn't hurt that much." Just as he finished his sentence, the flames around him rapidly expanded, engulfing the whole room in its pale blue light. It was astoundingly cool to the touch, despite the energized frenzy it had gotten itself into.
"Brave warriors…" A voice echoed around the chamber, prompting everyone to look in the direction of the altar. A woman cloaked in green mist began to appear amongst the flames, her features illuminated by the colour of the room. As her green hair floated as if in water, the thought ran through everyone's mind: they were now in the presence of a Goddess. "You have passed my trial of flame, and have proven yourselves of pure intent."
"Naga; we need your help. Grima has risen, and we need your strength to defeat the monster."
"I know of this plight, and wish to help."
"So… you'll help us put down Grima?"
"Alas, I cannot do this."
"But… you're the Divine Dragon! You're a god!"
"That is what your people have named me, yes. It is also true that Grima's power and mine are in direct contrast, but there is one problem. One cannot kill the other; we are locked in an eternal struggle of light and dark. My power is only enough to make him slumber for another thousand years."
"I will gladly accept any power you can offer, Divine Dragon. Though, I must ask, what would be able to stop Grima forever?"
"Only his own power would be able to stop him."
"So…" Robin, finally able to speak over the awe of this being, had an unpleasant idea forming in his head. "He can only be permanently stopped by himself?"
"Yes, though I doubt he is willing to forfeit his own life for the sake of others. Still, I shall spare all my power to help both you and those in need. But first…" Her gaze shifted to Link, who seemed remarkably unfazed by the appearance of a Goddess. "Young warrior." His solemn expression moved up to face the ethereal presence. "You were sent here by the three Goddesses in order to stop a threat to both your world and ours. You have made many ties to the people of this land, but your heart is still troubled. They sensed this, and have sent a messenger that may be familiar to you." She motioned down to a spot beside the altar, where a yellow glow was appearing. In a sudden, brilliant flash of the golden light, it took on the shape of a one-eyed golden wolf, which remained sitting next to the marble structure. Surprisingly, a small gasp came from Link. The Divine Dragon doesn't phase him, but a glowing wolf does? Seriously? The wolf reared up and howled, creating another blinding glow. When vision returned to everyone there, they all gasped. In front of them was an armoured skeleton, covered in moss and missing the same eye the wolf was. In his left hand he carried an enormous sword, while in his right he held a golden shield the same colour as his armour.
"Chosen hero…" A ghostly voice echoed from the skeletal warrior. "You are not the same as when we last met. You have become stronger… but you also bear a heavy burden. Regret fills your mind, and sorrow clouds your judgement. It should not be this way. I am certain that others have told you that your actions were not out of malice, but out of concern, and they are right. You only ended that man's life to protect so many more, and that is what counts. Do not look back on that action with shame, but with the pride that you were able to overcome yourself to save others. Of all the regrets I may have, and all the ones I could have had, this would never have been one. This may not convince you that your actions were right, but you can be assured that they were both understandable and justified. I have done all I can, and you must do the same. Remember my words, young hero, and never stray from your path. You are still a good person." With that, he began to vanish, giving what Robin had to assume was a skeletal smile. When he was gone, attention returned to the Divine Dragon.
"I shall attempt to keep the darkness at bay, and I will clear a path for you and your comrades. Now…" She pointed a hand towards Chrom's Falchion, which levitated itself out of its sheath and moved towards Naga's hand. "Use my power well." When the sword touched her hand, an explosion of light and energy erupted from the hole in the sword's hilt. The Shepherds had to struggle in order to maintain their footing as energy poured from Naga into the blade. The light intensified as the sword became visibly altered, signifying that her power had combined with that of the blade. The blue flames that had engulfed the room began to retreat back to the Emblem, and Falchion slowly floated back to the ground. Once the room had returned to its natural colour, Chrom moved forward and grabbed the now glowing blade that was resting on the Fire Emblem. He turned, blade held high, and faced the Shepherds.
"We will win! We have the power of a God behind us! Grima will not take this world!" A cheer erupted from all those assembled, regaining the hope they had lost on the way up the mountain. "Okay, time to go! I'm certain that Naga can't keep this darkness at bay for long, so we need to be fast. Everyone outside!" They all rushed back out to the darker open air, looking desperately for a clear path.
"There!" Cherche pointed at a steady, winding path through the borders of the Twilight, slightly illuminated by a blue glow from the clouds above. "Naga is pointing the way!"
"I suggest we get the rest of the Shepherds, then follow this path all the way to Grima. We need as much strength as we can muster."
"Just what I was thinking. Mount up; we're going to go regroup and head through the path. It's time to end this fight!" Chrom's words were greeted with the clinking of armour and the beat of wings as his orders were followed. They raced out across the now mostly devastated landscape as fast as they could, ready to face whatever lay ahead. Just before they departed, however, Robin managed to catch a glimpse of Link's face. He still wore the same solemn expression, but his eyes had softened. It worked. I'm not sure how, but it worked. That skeletal warrior got through to him. Good. We'll need everyone at their best; it's all or nothing now. The fate of the world is in our hands… and the future might be in mine.
A/N: Hey guys! Sorry about the longer wait, but I wasn't too happy with the dialogue in this chapter, so it took a bit longer to figure out. I'm still not entirely happy with it, but it'll do. Oh, and hey, thanks to WolfShadow96 and you guys for supporting him because I almost forgot about the Hero's Shade. It might not be in the chapter you wanted him to, but I felt that it made more sense for him to be here. Be sure to review or PM with any questions, concerns or comments. Tell me what you thought!