Five Gemstones.
The war against Walhart was over, the tyrant had been slain along with his treacherous allies. But the danger wasn't over yet, Grima was still a potential danger, and with no words from Siegfried, some worried his fate had not been prevented yet. Cordelia was beyond worried and Severa dreaded what could've happened. But they would have to worry about him later, they still needed to get the final Gemstone from King Validar... and of course non of them expected he would just hand it over, so they needed to be ready for anything that might happen.
"There it sits..." Lucina said, looking at the large skull of a massive dragon.
"What's wrong, Lucina?" Lissa asked.
"That great skull. I saw it once before, when Emmeryn was sentenced to die. Even then it reminded me of...him..." Lucina said with clear hate in her voice.
"You mean..." Chrom trailed of.
Lucina nods "Yes. Grima, the fell dragon. A cataclysmic war ushered his return... It's said he fed on the souls of the fallen before turning upon the living...".
She remembered the day clearly... the day she lost what little she had left... All because of that monster.
Flash Back.
Lucina and the soldiers are fighting Risen before part of the castle is blown away as well as the soldiers and the Risens. Lucina was slowly recovering from the blast that likely would've killed her if not for her powerful bloodline... But as the dust was clearing, the massive shadowy form of the Fell Dragon Grima revealed himself, his size and power beyond anything mere mortals could ever hope to reach.
"So ends the human race. The future is built upon the past... But your kind shall never see it" Grima said as his glowing red looked down on Lucina "Your mother and father... ...are dead, tiny one".
Lucina fraught with worry, stands up and glares at Grima as his ominous voice laughs evilly.
"And now it is your turn... to DIE!" Lucina screams as Grima attacks her.
End of Flash Back.
"Whether these are his true bones or just an effigy, I cannot say. But I know this: we cannot let that monster come back to life" Lucina said.
"We'll stop him, Lucina. I promise. The future can be changed. You've proven it already. And with all of us together, we can turn the course of history" Chrom assured.
"I want to believe that, Father. I want to believe that, more than anything..." Lucina said.
Cassandra put a hand on her daughter's shoulder "It's ok Lucina, we will stop him, together".
Lucina gently placed her hand on her mother's, acknowledging her words and they moved on.
Once insdie, Robin had already noticed something was wrong
He whispered to Chrom "Psst! Chrom!".
Chrom whispers back "...Trouble?".
Robin nods "I saw armed soldiers hiding in the shadows as we were shown in..."
Chrom narrowed his eyes "Then it sounds like we have our answer already...".
Validar and Aversa walks in with the dark woman speaking "Well met, milord".
"Prince Chrom! Welcome" Validar greeted, though he wasn't even trying to hide his sarcasm.
Aversa looked at Cassandra with an unnerving smile "And Lady Cassandra, always a pleasure to see you. Your beauty really lights up these gloom halls".
Cassandra visibly grimaced at Aversa's words. For some reason she always felt like Aversa wanted to do something really unsavory to her... she would never want to be alone with this woman.
"...I was told you had something you wished to give me" Chrom said, not wanting to spend a second longer in this place than he needed to.
"My my! No time for courtesy, milord? Such impatience... Do you really want it that badly? This concerns me. The Gemstones and the Fire Emblem can be...treacherous artifacts. A fact Plegia and the Grimleal sadly know all too well..." Validar said
"Sadly? You speak ill of when the first exalt used them against the fell dragon?" Lucina asked.
"Yes I do, intruder!" Validar said
Lucina looked confused "...Intruder?".
"You are not supposed to be here. You must be destroyed!" Validar declared.
Chrom glares at Validar "You wouldn't dare!".
"You harm a single strand of hair on her head and I will make you suffer!" Cassandra warned, her hand already on her sword.
"Give me the Fire Emblem... Give it to me!" Validar demanded.
Lucina glares at him "You mad scoundrel! This is a declaration of war!".
"I will only ask one last time: give me the Emblem. Now!" Validar demanded once more.
"Never" Chrom said.
"Then this parley is over. Guards! Seize them!" Validar ordered.
"Just as we thought..." Chrom said.
"Chrom, this way! Quickly!" Robin said as he and the others runs away.
"Robin had an escape route all planned out... How preciously clever of him/her. You should be proud" Aversa said.
Validar only smirked "Hmph. If he had half the wits of his father, he would know they've already lost".
"Perhaps. But I do hope Cassandra can be captured alive. I have my own plans for her" Aversa said as she licked her lips in hunger.
"We have to get out of here now! Cut down anyone who gets in the way!" Chrom orders.
The enemy commander smirked "Heh heh. Signal the men in hiding, and give these Ylissean scum no quarter!".
The battle was hard and bloody. But the Ylissean forces managed to cut their way through the enemy ranks, even killing the mad commander. However their escape would be far from easy, as their enemy was far more cunning than any of them could've predicted.
"Almost there! The exit is just— Wait. Do you feel..." Chrom said before Validar warps in and hits him with magic.
"Run all you like—you can't escape fate. Don't you know that?" Validar asked.
"Chrom!" Cassandra shouts.
"Father!" Lucina said.
"The Fire Emblem. Give it freely, or it will be taken" Validar warned.
Chrom glares at him "Just try it!".
Validar smirked "Heh heh... I won't need to do anything... Robin!".
Robin staggers, clutching at his head in agony "Nngh! Ahh...".
Chrom looked at him "Robin?".
"Hey, what's wrong?" Cassandra asked in worry
"Seize the Emblem and bring it to me" Validar ordered.
"Nngh, no, I... Aarrrgh!" Robin struggles as he walks to Chrom,
"Robin... What are you...doing?!" Chrom asked.
Robin steals the Fire Emblem from Chrom under Validar's influence, and the final gemstone, Sable, is inserted into it.
"Well done, my child. At last, the Fire Emblem belongs to me. And with my Gemstone, it is complete! Now, to set the Table and perform the rite..." Validar said before he warps out.
"D-damn you, Validar! Nngh..." Chrom said as he struggled to move.
"Ah! Nngh...ahh... What have I...done?!" Robin asked in horror.
"Robin! We must go!" Chrom said.
"Chrom, I'm sorry! I don't...know what came over me... I'm so sorry!" Robin said, utterly horrified by what he had just done.
"Robin, there will be time for apologies later. We need to leave before more shows up" Cassandra said
"She's right. Right now we need to focus on getting out of here!" Chrom said
"Understood" Robin said and they hurried to escape.
After their narrow escape, Chrom, Cassandra Robin and Lucina gathered to discuss what just happened. Robin was looking at the ground in shame. He thought he had planned for anything Validar might've tried to pull, but he never could've predicted that the mad man would just take over his mind and use him as a puppet to steal the Fire Emblem.
"What I did... It's...it's unforgivable" Robin said.
"Enough of that, Robin. Save your energy for helping us track him down" Chrom said.
Robin shakes his head "No, I... You must leave me behind. He could use me again... I can't be trusted! This cursed blood in me must somehow give...my father...dominion over me...".
"But he never had full control... You can fight it, Robin. And if he expects you to blindly obey, that might be the surprise we need" Chrom said.
"Chrom, you...you put too much faith in me" Robin said.
"Get back on that horse, Robin. You can't give up now!" Frederick said, almost surprising the others as they had almost expected Frederick of all people to loose his trust in Robin after what just happened.
Robin however didn't trust himself at all "But you're not listening! I told you, I'm not—".
"The deed is done. But you can still try to undo the damage. It's not too late!" Chrom said.
"He's right Robin. We trust you, and we know you can beat Validar's mind game. He only wins if you give up, so stand tall and defy him" Cassandra said.
Robin was silent for a moment before nodding "All right. I'll...I'll try".
However... Lucina had remained silent this whole time... She wasn't as convinced as her parents.
A while later, Robin was standing in a open field as the sun was setting. He was deep in thought, after what happened, he wasn't sure if he could trust himself anymore. But bot Chrom and Cassandra refused to abandon him, so he needs to do something to make sure their trust him wasn't for nothing.
"Beg pardon, Robin. Might I have a word?" Lucina asked as she walked up to him.
"Lucina. What is it?" Robin asked.
"It's about my father. I have memories of him, you know. From when I was little. Before he...died" Lucina said.
"I see..." Robin said as he listened to what Lucina had to say.
"He was courageous, and kind, and everyone spoke fondly of him. People say he was brave right up until the very end and mother said he was the best man she had ever met. I always yearned to know him better. And now that I do... I can see that the world will be robbed of a very great man. ...I won't allow that to happen" Lucina said.
Robin nods "I understand. You love him. ...We all do".
"Robin, I... Please, forgive me..." Lucina said as she points Falchion at Robin.
"Lucina?!" Robin asked in shock.
"Stay where you are, Robin! I have no choice. I must kill you" Lucina declared.
"What?! What madness is this?!" Robin demanded.
"In my future, you... You are my father's murderer" Lucina said.
"No! That's insane! Why would I kill Chrom?" Robin asked.
"I was not certain myself, until now... I knew he had been killed by his closest friend. Having witnessed your bond with him, I doubted it could be so... But today's events make it clear. You are at Validar's mercy. I suspect it's he who forces you to take my father's life, and very soon..." Lucina explained.
"Lucina, wait" Robin said.
"If my father is right, then we can change our fates. If this dark future is to be averted, sacrifices must be made. I am sorry, Robin! I know this is murder, I... I know that..." Lucina said while her hand was shaking.
Robin tried to calm her down "Lucina, you don't have to—".
"Don't make it harder! Don't resist, and your death will be swift and painless. If you hold any love for Chrom, then let this be done..." Lucina said.
Robin was silent before he noticed someone "That... isn't my choice to make".
Lucina was confused until she looked and saw... "Mother?".
Cassandra was standing near them, her face harboring mixed emotions "Lucina... what in Naga's name are you doing?".
Seeing the clear anger in her mother's eyes, Lucina grew more nervous "Mother, I can explain-".
"This is how you plan to prevent the dark future? You think you can keep me and Chrom alive by killing our closest friend?" Cassandra asked.
"You don't understand! This needs to be done, or else father will-" Lucina began but Cassandra wasn't having any of it.
"Enough! Lower your blade, Lucina! NOW!" Cassandra demanded sharply.
"A-all right" Lucina lowers Falchion, this wasn't the first time she's seen her mother angry... but this was the first time her mother's anger was directed at her.
"Lucina, after everything you've revealed to us, how could you possibly believe this would be the best solution? I thought your goal was to stop this dark future from happening. How can we do that if we start killing each other?" Cassandra asked, and when Lucina failed to provide an answer, she continued "Lucina, if we start killing each other, we'll only be doing Grima's work for him. I trust Robin, and Chrom trusts him".
"This is not about trust! He'll be the death of father!" Lucina nearly shouted in frustration.
"If you really believe that, Lucina, then you're underestimating our bonds just as much as Validar is. A future built on betrayal and the murder of our friends... That is not the future I fight for" Cassandra said.
"That is easier to say when you haven't seen it yourself..." Lucina said.
"Lucina, you should know by now that the future is not set in stone. You've already changed the future, the only reason I'm even here right now is because you saved me from having my arm shattered by that monster. Thanks to you I can now fight at Chrom's side, and with you here we can prevent his death from ever happening. But killing our friends isn't the right way" Cassandra said.
Lucina looked down "I... I'm sorry...".
Cassandra walked up to Lucina and gave her a warm hug "I'm sorry too, Lucina... I left you alone... you had to grow up without me and Chrom, because of the mistakes we made. I promise you, I will never leave you alone again... We, will never leave you alone again... I promise".
Lucina began to cry as she hugged her mother back, she needed this... After so many dark years without the warm comfort of her parents, Lucina really needed this. Robin watched the mother and daughter moment... wondering if he himself would ever experience something like this. So far his family had proven to be horrible people he wanted nothing to do with... But maybe... he could start his own family.
Chrom had been watching from nearby, he would've stepped in himself, but trusted that Cassandra could handle this with her direct yet warm methods. He smiled in pride, he always knew Cassandra was the best woman he's ever met. And this only proves something he's always known: Together, they can't fail.
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