Chapter 22: Five Gemstones
It is all quiet in the Shepherd barracks. The tables lined with empty plates, discarded training weapons and historic tomes. The perfect place for some quiet brooding. At least for Chrom. Standing at a table, overlooking a map, he couldn't help but think about what the future held for them.
We need the last Gemstone to stand a chance against Grima. But will Plegia give it to us willingly? Validar is a Grimleal, so he must know what will happen. But it's not like we can go in and take it. I'd be no better than my father and Emm would never want that. He sighs as he looks over the map, unaware of the door behind him opening. If only there was another way to get the Gemstone…
"I know that face… 'Duelling with unpleasant thoughts,' are we?" Robin asks behind him. Chrom, startled, jumps on the spot before turning around. Next to Robin were Lucina, Tiki, Sora and Kairi.
"When did you—?"
"Just a few seconds ago. You were focused on the map that you didn't hear us enter." Sora informs, folding his arms. Chrom rubs the back of his head while giving of a weak chuckle.
"So it would seem." He forces a smile, to try and lighten the mood, but they were not buying it.
"Hey, do you remember when we first arrived here?" Kairi suddenly says, glancing around the room. "It certainly was chaotic at the time."
"That I do." Robin replies with a smile. "To be honest, it's a special moment for me. It's one of my first memories."
"It is a happy memory." Sora replies with a smile, before turning into a frown. "I just wish all of them were as happy as that one."
"Indeed. So much needless bloodshed." Chrom chimes in with a sad frown. "People lives ruined, families torn. I suppose the only small miracle is that our wars did not last as long as they did in Lucina's time."
"Even a small war is a tragedy." Tiki says suddenly. "I remember back in Marth's time, he always held a pained expression when a battle was won. Even though he never lost any of his closest allies in the first war, there was still countless deaths, both civilian and military. The larger the war, the greater the loss."
"All the more reason for us to stop wars from happening in the first place." Chrom responds, before growing pensive. "I've done some reading on what to do when I have all the Gemstones, the Awakening ritual. It seems that whoever attempts the rite must brave Naga's fire. If both body and spirit survive the agony, they are blessed with the dragon's power. Otherwise the candidate…dies."
"What!?" Lucina shouts, eyes wide. "No! That—" Before she could continue, Chrom places his hand on her head with a gentle smile.
"Don't worry Lucina. I will withstand Naga's fire. I'm sure of it."
"He's right Lucina. Chrom has a strong heart." Sora responds with his own carefree smile. "There's no doubt in our minds that he will pass with fly colours."
"Didn't you say the same thing before your Mark of Mastery Sora? If I recall, Riku passed and you failed." Kairi replies with a smirk. Sora shoots her a pout as he crosses his arms.
"Hey! If it wasn't for Xehanort, we both would have passed." He responds as everyone chuckles at him. Even Sora couldn't help but lose the pout in the atmosphere. Sure he was still bitter about that, but there was always next time. Just as the mood began to grow, the door to the barracks opens as Frederick steps through. His heavy armour clanking against the stone floor.
"Sorry to interrupt, Milord. But I have news from Plegia." The mood quickly cools as Frederick begins his report. "The current king, Validar, has asked that you pay him a visit in the capital, so that he may formally present it to you."
"Not to say the obvious, but this has trap written all over it." Kairi says, folding her arms.
"That it does. But we have no time to be certain. At best it is selfish political manoeuvring. At worst, our run in with those Risen back then was no accident. And even then, my sister never refused a diplomatic gesture." Chrom says with a resigned sigh. "That being said, I will not have us walk into this blindly. Frederick, bring out all the weapons we have in the Treasure Vault. I want us to be armed to the teeth when we go to meet him. I won't have him catching us off guard." Frederick's eyes widen at the command, before giving Chrom a steep bow before he leaves. "Robin, think you can come up with a plan."
"Leave it to me Chrom." Robin replies, his face hardening. "Tiki, think you can give me a few observation points?"
"Of course, Robin." Tiki replies with a gentle smile as the two walk over to a bookcase filled with maps.
"Do you think you should leave the Fire Emblem here Chrom? Walking into the heart of Plegia with both it and the four Gemstones we have…"
"It's safer with me Sora." Chrom says in response. "Validar probably expects us to leave the Emblem here so he can steal it while we are away. We have already found out that one of the skylights had been tampered with, which explains why Gradivus and Parthia were stolen in the first place."
"If you think that's best, we won't argue." Kairi replies. "We'll go and find the others and tell them to meet here. Should we in from Flavia as well? Having her along with us would be reassuring."
"I was planning to do that anyway." Chrom responds before turning back to the map. "We'll find out Validar's true motive soon enough…"
The oppressive heat of Plegia beats down on the Shepherds and Guardians, who march through the desert unphased by the heat. Before, when they first tread through these lands, they found the heat as formidable as a battle. But now it was only a minor annoyance. The sand bellow soon gave way to solid red rock as they approached the capital of Plegia. The city built under the bones of a large dragon while the castle stood atop the skull. The same place where Emmeryn was to be executed.
"Oceania? Are you alright?" Kairi asks, walking up to her future daughter. Oceania blinks in response before shaking her head free of cobwebs in her brain.
"I'm fine. Just a flashback is all. Or would it be a flashforward?" Her question earns a half chuckle out of Kairi, before turning back to look at the giant skull. "That, and I really hate looking at that skull."
"Why?" Sora asks as he, Chrom and Lucina join them. Oceania casts a glance at her father before looking back at the skull with a frown.
"You would hate it two, when it tried to kill you when it was alive. And looking just like him as well." Sora, Kairi and Chrom's eyes go wide at her remark. Before they could ask, Lucina answers for them.
"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." Lucina's eyes grow distant as she falls into her memories. A memory, that Oceania could recall as though it had happened yesterday.
Flashback (or Flashforward?)
Oceania grunts as she parries a Risen's axe to her side, slicing across the fallen warriors chest. She pauses before looking around her, Ylisean solders fighting back against the risen in the throne room. She could smell the smoke from the fires, both within the castle and outside in the city.
"Ocie!" Owain calls in alarm. She glances to him, only to find a Risen rushing up to her, slamming and pinning her to the wall behind. Gritting her teeth, she glares at the Risen, as it seems to smirk at her in glee, before the sound of steel cleaving through bone and flesh echoes from its stomach. Both it and her glance to its abdomen, seeing a gleaming sword emerging from its stomach.
"I believe the one you want…IS ME!" Lucina bellow as she rips Falchion through the Risen, sending it back to the shadows. "You alright?" She asks before turning back to the melee, Falchion in hand.
"I am, thanks." Oceania replies before standing up to her side. "There's no end to them. Sooner or later the castle will fall." Lucina grits her teeth as she parries another strike, leaving it open as Kitai rushes past with his lance, slicing its head off. Lucina was about to reply before the door leading into the throne was swung open, as Caelum, Inigo and Omoide rush into the room, tears streaming down Omoide's face.
"Omoide! What happened!? Where are Aunt Naminé and Uncle Roxas?" Lucina asks as she, Oceania, Kitai and Owain fight their way towards them. Omoide doesn't reply as she holds onto the burst sketchbook in her hands as Caelum pats his cousin on the back.
"I'm afraid, we lost them…" Inigo says, eyes downcast. Lucina's eyes widen as Inigo's words fall on her heart.
"What about Uncle Vaike and Aunt Miriel!? Surly they are still alive!" She asks, desperation in her voice. Inigo gives out a bitter sigh as he rips his sword out of a Risen. His response was all she could get as the gravity of their battle fell on her. Shaking her head, Lucina turns her attention to the fight before her, before a sudden impact rocked the entire castle. The walls around them shook, as the area near the throne was ripped away by a draconic claw, tearing half of the floor with it. Ylissean soldiers and Heartless-Risen were torn out through the hole, falling to their doom.
With a grunt, Lucina pulls herself back onto what remains of the floor, near the throne entrance as her friends rally around her. Smoke and debris could their vision as the lights were extinguished, while a haunting maniacal laughter echoed around them.
"So ends the human race. The future is built upon the past… But your kind shall never see it." Red lights piece through the smoke, before turning towards the group. "Your mothers and fathers… are dead, tiny ones. And this world, will be my bastion for spreading my will throughout the stars. The power of Kingdom Hearts, the knowledge it holds, will be mine." Grima pulls his head back, revealing the lights were in fact his eyes, as his head towers over them like a serpent, ready to strike. And behind him was Kingdom Hearts, the heart-shaped moon infused with darkness as meteors rain from its surface. "And now it is your turn…to DIE!" He lunges forward with his head as Lucina and the others rush back into the castle. Ylisse, had fallen to Grima.
Flashback ends.
"…Whether these are his true bones or just and effigy, I cannot say." Lucina speaks with a hidden anger. "But I know this: we cannot let that monster come back to life."
"We will stop him, Lucina." Chrom replies, patting her on the head. "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." Lucina looks at him with a grateful smile, before it fades away to a sad frown.
"I want to believe that, Father. I want to believe that, more than anything…" Chrom sighs at his daughter's words before glancing back to the Shepherds. Just as he ordered, Frederick had brought the weapons from the treasury and handed them out to those amongst the Shepherds. Sumia had been given Wing Spear, Owain the Mystletainn (for which he was happy to be holding the real one and not a fake.) Lon'qu had been entrusted with the Wo Do as Vaike hefted Hauteclere onto his shoulder.
Ricken and Miriel were both going over the tomes Foreseti and Valflame as Naminé had Aura and Starlight next to her Holy tome. Kjelle continued to hold onto Gradivus as Noir had Parthia on her back. And Robin was busy looking over the tome Mjolnir. Then there were the weapons from Valm.
Frederick had been given the Royal sword as a replacement for his broken silver sword. It was a curious decision, considering that the golden sword could only be used by those of Royal Blood, but considering how long it had been since Alm used it the enchantment had long since faded away.
The same could be said of Beloved Sofia currently in Severa's hands. The pure silver blade with golden embroidery could be called the companion to the Royal Sword, the red gems engraved in the hilts of both swords glowing when near.
Meanwhile, Kitai was busy looking over the spear he had been given, Rhomphaia. Jet black with silver and golden embroidery, the spear head was connected by two axe shaped pauldron running down the length of the pole.
Finally, Virion was looking over the Blessed Bow. On first glance it looked similar to a silver bow, yet one could see light blue engraving on both it, the quiver and the arrows themselves. When Virion had picked it up, it gave off a soft soothing glow, as though it was working to dispel any darkness nearby.
Honestly, Chrom was hoping that they would not have to be used, but everything in his gut was telling him they were needed.
More so when venturing into a trap.
To say the atmosphere inside the castle was tense would be underselling it. Apart from the guards guiding them through the elaborately huge halls, they had not seen or heard a sound from any of the inhabitants. Not a single child's laughter or even the sound of work. That and seeing no guards other than their guides had put the Shepherds and Guardians all on edge.
"Chrom, in the shadows." Robin whispers as they are lead into a meeting hall. Chrom glances at the shadows, noticing a brief movement of, something, before vanishing.
"I see them. Ambush?"
"More than likely."
"Then we have our answer." Biting back a curse of disappointment, Chrom, Robin and Lucina wait for Validar to arrive. Sora, Kairi, Caelum and Oceania wait with them, eyes scanning the shadows. While not showing it, they could feel eyes watching their every movement. An almost sickeningly familiar feeling as a Heartless would give them.
"Prince Chrom! Welcome!" Validar calls with great courtesy as Aversa stands next to him. Chrom and those with him bow respectively back. "I trust the journey has not been to hard for you? The sands of Plegia are harsh this time of year."
"We have met with no difficulty, but thank you." Chrom replies.
"Indeed. I have heard great things of your battle with Valm. Truly impressive to defeat such a man as Walhart." Validar continues, motioning with a hand to a nearby door. Chrom could see the motion for what it was, but resisted to bite.
"That it was. But forgive me if I sound rude, but I was informed in your letter you had something you wished to give me? The letter made no reference o what it was, however." Chrom hopes the little lie he added would give Validar pause.
"Is that so? I was sure that I wrote that on the letter." Validar says, his face displaying a sense of puzzlement. "It was my intention to give you the Gemstone, Sable. But now I wonder if such a gift is wise. It is said that the Gemstones and the Fire Emblem can be…treacherous artifacts. A fact Plegia and the Grimleal sadly know all too well…"
"Is he talking about Grima?" Caelum whispers to Oceania and Lucina. The two give him a look at his question before responding.
"Yes I do, intruders!" Validar interjects with anger before they could respond. "You are not supposed to be here. In fact, I believe several of you are not suppose to be! You must be destroyed!"
"You wouldn't dare!" Chrom shouts back, standing protectively in front of Lucina. The rest of the Shepherds and Guardians did the same with their future children, eyes glaring at Validar.
"I would, unless you give me the Fire Emblem!" Validar shouts back, hand outstretched.
"Are you crazy? That's the same as a declaration of war!" Sora replies, hand hovering over his sword. Validar remains unmoved, as he continues to look at Chrom in the eyes. Chrom closes his eyes before taking a deep breath, before shooting a glare back at Validar.
"…Never."
"Then this parley is over." With a snap of his fingers guards rush out from the shadows to surround the group. Only for Aqua and Miriel to combine their water and fire spells to create a smoke screen. Like they did back when they rescued Emmeryn. By the time the smoke cleared, the Shepherds and Guardians were gone.
"Well… Robin had an escape route all planned out… How preciously clever of him. You should be proud." Aversa says as the guards chase after the fleeing entourage. Validar mearly huffs in response before folding his arms.
"If he had half the wits of his father, he would know they've already lost. And yet…" He narrows his eyes towards the door. "Those ears he had…It would seems he has been busy in other areas as well…"
"Keep pushing! We have to get out of here now!" Chrom yells as he slashes a Plegian soldier before him. All around, the Shepherds and Guardians were locked in a vicious battle with the troops stationed in the shadows around them. All the while, dark magic rained from the ceiling as Sorcerers stood atop the rafters above. With sporadic frequency Roxas, Virion, Donnel, Vaike, Gaius and Noir would return fire with their arrows, sniping one as they attempt to attack.
And yet there seemed to be no end to their attacks.
Berserkers and Tricksters seemed to pour out from holes in the walls as Assassins and Snipers emerge from hidden stairwells. It was fortunate that there was no calvary to oppose them as they fled, but the constant sneak attacks were draining their energy.
"We've got more coming from the right!" Aqua calls out as another group of Plegians appear from the shadows weapons in hand. All sporting a crazed look in their eyes.
"Milord! We can't hold out much longer!" Frederick calls out, slashing with his lance and axe in both hands. Chrom grunts in agreement as he kicks away another Berserker who was quickly taken out by Sumia.
"Split up! Divide them up and make your own way out!" Robin calls out, unleashing a blast of lightning with Mjolnir decimating the Plegians before him. With grunts of acknowledgement, the Shepherds and Guardians split into smaller groups, diving into passageways and halls while Sumia took the flyers through a hole in the ceiling.
As Chrom and Robin ran into one of the passageways, Lucina, Sora, Kairi, Tiki, Oceania, Caelum, and Ventus went with them. Dodging attacks from the Plegians standing on the higher floors. Eventually, they burst into another open hall leading towards the exit, only for another detachment of soldiers to charge from the side passages.
But just as the next wave of Plegians were about to strike, the Heartless appeared before them.
Without a second to think, the Heartless set themselves upon the Plegians, tearing their hearts out from their bodies as the Plegians jolted with shock. Without anyone noticing, the brawl had become a three-way engagement.
"Everyone! Now's our chance! Run to the exit!" Chrom calls out as the Plegian lines weaken. While the Guardians wanted to stay and fight the Heartless, they could see that they would be overrun if they stayed.
With heavy hearts, they turn and run with the others as the Plegian's and heartless fight each other.
But just as they approach the exit, Validar appears before them from a Corridor of Darkness, with an orb of Darkness in hand launching it towards Chrom. Given no time to reach, the orb slams into Chrom and sends him to the ground in pain.
"Now then, I will have the Fire Emblem now." Validar says, walking forward with an open hand. Aversa appears also through another Corridor of Darkness, with a smirk on her face.
"You want it? You'll have to go through us first!" Sora says as he, Kairi and Ventus stand in front of Chrom. Lucina checks on Chrom as he holds his side in pain. With a click of his tongue, Validar drops his hand.
"I had wanted this to be done peacefully, but it would seem I have no choice. Or rather… I won't have to do anything. Will I…Robin?" With a glint in his eyes, Robin falls to his knees in pain, hands clutching his head.
"Robin!" Tiki cries as she holds onto his shoulders while Robin continues to cry in pain. Everyone watches in worry as Validar's smirk turns into a frown.
What is this? He should be brining the Emblem to me now. I expected some resistance, but this? He wonders as he looks over Robin, before his eyes fall on his ears. Ah…I see now. Naga, you wretch! Do you think this will work!? As he begins to rant in his mind, a purple arrow shoots past his head before slamming into Robin's shoulder, sending him and Tiki to the floor.
"Well now, looks like it's time for me to step in."
While Validar smirks at the voice behind him, Sora's face became one filled with recognition and shock. A feeling only amplified when Xigbar appeared from a Corridor of Darkness.
"Xigbar!? How are you alive?! Riku and I beat you!" Sora yells, pointing Kingdom Key at his old foe. Xigbar chuckles at the accusation before jabbing a thumb at himself.
"Did you actually 'see' me vanish into thin air? As if I would die that easily." He replies with a smirk, summoning one of his Arrow Guns in his left hand. "And by the way, my name is not Xigbar. It's Darkness." He then summons No Name in his right hand, the Keyblade's form taking on that of a sword with and axe head attached to it near the top. "Now, how about you be some good kids and hand over the Fire Emblem?"
"Shut up!" Ventus bites back, glaring angrily at Xigbar. Xigbar looks at Ven before giving a low chuckle.
"Now that takes me back. You said the same thing back in the Keyblade Graveyard as well. Least you have Master material on you now." He grins darkly, glancing to the shadows on the floor. "But you should be paying more attention to your surroundings." Suddenly, a Neo-Shadow bursts from Chrom's shadow, snatching the Fire Emblem from his arm before jumping over to Validar. "Oops, too late."
"How did—?" Chrom asks in surprise before glaring at Validar who graciously takes the Fire Emblem. "I should have known you would stoop to this level, Validar!"
"Why, my dear Prince Chrom? Whatever do you mean?" Validar asks rhetorically before pulling a black jewel from his robes. It was the Gemstone, Sable. He slowly places it into the shield, grinning wildly as it and the other stones begin to glow.
"Ahhh… At last, the Fire Emblem is complete. You no longer have a use, Prince Chrom." With a snap of his fingers, more Neo-Shadows appear around him as a portal of Darkness forms behind him. "I doubt you will survive, but if you do, then come to the Dragon Table. It shall be a worthy spot for your death." And with that, he and Aversa vanish into the portal.
"D-Damn it!" Chrom grits out as Lucina pulls him to his feet. He casts a glance to Robin, knocked unconscious with a purple shard still lodged into his shoulder with blood seeping around it. Tiki holds him up, worry across her face. "We need to get out of here now." No one argues with him as they begging to move to the nearby exit with Sora, Kairi, Ventus, Oceania and Caelum slicing their way through the Neo-Shadows as they appear from the ground.
"Not so fast!" Xigbar shouts as he snaps his fingers, summoning a Demon Tower behind him. He points towards Chrom and Robin, commanding the tower to attack. It surges forward, swirling about like a snake before appearing to their side. It rears back, ready to strike as Chrom glares at it in anger, still clutching the wound on his side.
But just as Lucina and Tiki were about to act, the four of them were pushed forward out of the way just as the Demon Tower lurched forward.
In their place, Sora and Kairi were grabbed instead as it vanishes into a pool of Darkness.
"MOM! DAD!" Oceania and Caelum cry out in shock as the Demon Tower vanishes, only for Xigbar to laugh in amusement.
"Oh, now, isn't this good! A two for one, AND we get the last Princess as well!"
"You were the one capturing the other Princesses?!" Ventus shouts, to which Xigbar nods back with a grin.
"That's right kid. Their still alive, but not for long. You want them and the couple back? Then head to the Dragon Table. Unless, you're scared of destiny, that is." And with that, he vanishes into a Corridor of Darkness with the Neo-Shadows following suit. Leaving Chrom and the others alone in an empty hall.
"Where are they? They should be here by now." Roxas asks as he paces around in the sand. Naminé, Frederick, Sumia, Omoide, Riku, Cynthia, Kitai and Morgan stand near him, concerned at Chrom and the others late return. Motioning her Pegasus into the air, Sumia once again took flight to look for them.
Before she could even fly high, she spotted them leaving the palace. Her joy instantly turns to fear as she sees Chrom limping and Robin being carried along with no sign of Sora or Kairi.
"Lady Sumia? Is something wrong?" Frederick asks from below. She looks down, noticing everyone looking at her with intrigue.
"No, nothing wrong." She replies with a shake of her head. "Chrom and the others are here, but—" She winces as she looks back at them as they approach. "Something wrong." The relief that they felt instantly evaporated at Sumia's worried tone. Without speaking, they leave their cover to join Chrom, their worries spiking at seeing the state Chrom's group is in.
"Chrom! What happened? Where are Sora and Kairi?" Riku asks as they link up, Sumia and Naminé moving to heal the wounds Chrom and Robin had took. Chrom remains silent as he looks at the ground in anger, clenching his hand. Riku looks on with worry, before noticing something else was missing. "Where's the Fire Emblem?"
"Validar took it." Chrom grits out before sighing in bliss as Sumia's staff mended his injury. "He ambushed us just as we were about to escape. Got me with a sneak attack. He then tried to force Robin to take the Emblem from me."
"Wait, Robin?" Kitai asks before glancing at Robin with narrow eyes. Robin was still unconscious as he lay on the ground, the purple shard being slowly removed as Naminé worked to heal the injury.
"Easy, Kitai. I said he 'tried' too." Chrom says, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. "It seems that the gift Naga bestowed on Robin fights back at whatever Validar does to force Robin to do his bidding. Robin would never do anything like that of his own free will." Kitai looked like he wanted to argue but remained silent. A certain look he sent Lucina didn't go unnoticed by Chrom.
"But how did Father get that wound? I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before. Then again, my memories are fuzzy right now. And if Dad didn't take the Emblem, who did?" Morgan says, sitting next to Tiki. Riku takes a glance at the shard before his eyes widen in shock.
"No…It can't be."
"It is Riku. It's Xigbar." Ventus confirms, much to Riku's anger.
"Him!? But how?" Roxas shouts. "I was there when Sora and Riku beat him!"
"Clearly not." Riku snarls as he crosses his arms. "But I recognise that shard anywhere. So would you and Naminé, Roxas." Roxas gives an annoyed groan as Riku looks to Oceania and Caelum, who were looking off at a tower in the far distance. "Are you two okay?" He asks softly. The two remain silent as Riku walks up to them, placing a hand on both of their shoulders. "Hey, I'm not going to let that happen. Yes, I failed in your timeline, but I'm not failing now. They are not going to die." His words seemed to have an effect, as the two nod at him, before a slight groan from Robin drew their attention to him.
"What…happened?" Robin asks as he swims back to awareness.
"You're awake, thank the gods." Chrom says as he kneels next to him. Robin looks at him before noticing the Fire Emblem missing from his arm. His eyes widen in fear and shock as Chrom touches his arm. "It was not you who took it. It was a Neo-Shadow. You were fighting back against Validar's control."
"Still…it would not have BEEN stolen if I wasn't there in the first place…." Robin says, his face full of guilt. He looks to the ground below, unwilling to look anyone in the eye. Seeing the fall his friend was going through, Chrom puts both hands on his shoulders.
"Robin, you are stronger than what you think. Validar clearly expected you to fall under his command, but you resisted! You are not so weak as to become a mindless pawn."
"Robin." Tiki says, holding him. "No matter what happens, you are still you. Validar can never hope to destroy that part of you. I know that whatever comes, you will be able to break through. We are with you, now and forever." Robin continues to look at the ground before sighing heavily.
"Alright. I'll… I'll try."
With a tiered groan, Sora opens his eyes to find himself in the hall of a vast temple. He looks around, noting himself in some form of pod with glass in front of him, while chains holding him in place. To his left, he could see Kairi in a similar pod glancing around.
"Well, now, it would seem our guests have awoken." The two look forward as Validar, Aversa and 'Luxu' step forward. "It would have been easier if you were to sleep, but that seems unlikely."
"Where are we?" Sora asks with a frown.
"You are in the Dragon Table." Aversa reveals. "It is here that our lord, Grima, will be revived and take to the skies once more. All the worlds will hear his cry as a new era begins!"
"Is that why you tried to use a Demon Tower on Chrom and Robin? To bring them here?" Kairi asks, showing no fear.
"I don't see why we should tell you." 'Luxu' says, rubbing the back of his head. "Just sit and wait for the others for the reason. It's all you can do right now. Unless you want to sleep like the others next to you?"
The couple looks at him, confused, before they attempt to look at their sides. Despite the chains and the wall behind them, they could see, to their shock, the other Princesses of Light in similar pods behind them, along with…
"Emmeryn!?" Sora says in surprise, seeing the supposedly dead exalt behind him. Kairi looks at him in shock as 'Luxu' chuckles at them.
"Yep. She's been here the entire time. That Mustafa guy did manage to save her, but she never got the chance to say anything. Suppose we should thank him, though. Much easier to keep her hear like this than as a floating Heart."
"That is enough, Luxu." Validar says before pulling the Fire Emblem from his back. "No need to tell them everything now. Did you not say to wait for my son and the others.?" 'Luxu' shrugs at him as Validar walks past the couple's pods and places the Fire Emblem on the altar. "Our time is at hand." The Darkness around them seemed to grow even thicker as Sora and Kairi stood in their pods.
Unable to do anything but wait and pray for their friends to win.