It was barely dawn when Aversa headed to the makeshift stables, and, by extension, her Pegasus. Her mount of choice was a magnificent beast, with wings black as the night sky, and a coat as dark as coal. He had served as Aversa's mount for the last two decades, and was as loyal as loyal got. He had been a gift from Validar on her twenty first birthday, and she adored him with all her heart. He had served her through Gangrel's war, Validar's madness, Grima's return and all of what followed.

There was no one Aversa wanted at her side more in her final battle, than her truest, most trusted companion.

She stroked his mane affectionately, and, mentally thanked the young guard that had prepared her dear Pegasus.

She allowed her mount a minute or two to trot around, before she led him to the cave mouth. Marc awaited her.

"There is little point in saying you don't need to do this, is there?" He asked.

"No point what so ever….how is your sister?"

"Morgan is…resting." Marc said carefully.

Aversa narrowed her eyes, and grinned. "And the babe? ...Your niece?"

"Little Ophelia is well…except for the fact that Owain doesn't know, and likely will never know."

Aversa responded with a bored shrug. "So? I don't know my real father, I turned out fi- well actually, I turned out a cold hearted, ruthless bitch. But let's not argue semantics. Ophelia will be fine. She's all but your heir, a princess of Plegia, and of Grima's blood. She will be fine."

Aversa pulled her nephew into a hug, and patted him on the head. "You'll be fine without me, Marc."

And Marc watched, as his aunt hauled herself into her saddle, and, with a short charge, took flight into the early morning sun. He'd never see her again.

The Third Royal Army of Ylisse was camped out in what was once called 'The Great Desert of Plegia'. Now however, it was simply known as 'The Plegian Desolation'. In all, close to three hundred soldiers were there, all eager to end the threat of the vile Plegian's once and for all. Exalt Aurelius' religious crusade against the Grimleal faith would finally be completed, by his granddaughter.

In her war tent, Lucina was slumped over her tactical map, her military advisors around her. She was barely holding herself together, utterly exhausted from planning for any and all possible plans or traps that the Plegian forces could spring.

Her adversary was possibly the most cunning tactician that still lived, and the son of perhaps the greatest tactician that ever lived, she could afford to take no chances.

What will Marc do? Keep running? Keep moving?

No. He'd do something completely unexpected.

Will I see you again, my love? Will you be leading your men into battle here?

"Your Radiance? What is our plan here?" Came the voice of one of her commanders, Michel, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I mean no disrespect when I say this, but before his vile betrayal, I understand you and the Plegian King were close. You know him best."

Lucina did her best to keep her voice steady and even toned. "…We cannot plan for everything. Marc is near impossible to predict. If I had to guess, however. He will wait until nightfall, then attack our supplies with his entire force."

One of the men in her tent let out a laugh. "Perfect, he'll be a lamb to slaughter. Easy meat."

The blue haired queen frowned. "Did you ever face Marc in battle, Commander Vailen? I assure you, he will not make it easy for us, regardless of what he does."

Vailen scowled. "He's a boy-"

"A boy who can raise our own dead against us! A boy blessed by Grima! Every fool mistake we make, every Ylissean soldier that dies is another for his armies!"

Vailen opened his mouth to argue more, but Michel silenced him with a glare. "Her Radiance is correct. I have faced King Marc before, and understand this Vailen, he has turned the tide of entire campaigns. The remnants of the Valmese Empire fell to him and his horde of the dead during the Grima Conflict. Do not assume he is some green boy playing at war. He is the enemy leader for a reason."

"Because his whore of a mother fucked the Fell Drag-"

"DO NOT INSULT LADY CORDELIA!" Lucina snapped, shouting now with all sense of decorum abandoned. "Unless you wish for your head to adorn a spike, hold your fucking tongue, Vailen."

The commander's eyes widened slightly, and his gaze fell to the ground. "I-I…yes…forgive me, your Radiance."

"Earn my forgiveness Commander. Lady Severa is one of our greatest soldiers. You insulted her with your remark." Lucina replied curtly. "Go and command. You can do that, I trust?"

"Yes, your Radiance!" Vailen snapped to attention, and stepped out of the tent.

The next thing Lucina knew, the man she dismissed mere moments before slammed through the roof of her tent, a gaping wound in his chest.

Aversa hadn't meant to kill the young man, she had thought it would be Lucina that would leave the tent. She dove down, pushing her Pegasus hard, and speared the figure like a fish. Mere moments later, realisation struck her, and she flicked the man off of the spear, and shot back up into the sky.

It took a full three minutes of circling the camp for the first retaliation to come. A trio of Pegasus Knights flying straight for her in formation. Aversa slid her lance into her back straps, and opened her tome.

"Here goes something…" She muttered to herself, raising an open palm, and aiming it at the oncoming Knights. "THORON!"

Lightning burst from her fingertips, and snaked through the air, and stuck one of the Knights square in the chest, causing her to tumble, still spasming, from her saddle and downward.

Her sister Knights would not long out last her.

"Mages!" Lucina yelled as she strode into the centre of the camp. "Shoot them down! Scouts! Get me enemy numbers dammit!"

"Only one." Came a voice above her.

Lucina's gaze turned skyward, narrowing her eyes as they fell upon Validar's adoptive daughter.

"Ah, the ever radiant Exalt Lucina, how wonderful to meet you again." Aversa offered a mockingly polite bow from her saddle. "Marc has missed you."

"If he hadn't chosen so poorly in the past, he'd still have a place at my side." Lucina shot back, though her words pained her.

"Hardly an easy choice, his beloved father or his beloved….lover." Aversa sneered. "You should have seen him, Girl. He agonised over this choice. In fact, I believe it was only after Owain abandoned Morgan that he chose Robin over you."

Don't rise to it. Lucina thought. She's trying to bait you.

"Aww…did I strike a nerve? What a sha—aaaaargh!" Aversa screamed as one of the Ylissean Mages blasted her Pegasus from the sky.

The first thing she registered when she was lying on the ground was her loyal mount screaming. And all Aversa could feel was pure, unadulterated fury.

She stood up, taking hold of her tome, and turned her gaze to the mage responsible.

"THORON!"

The mage threw his arms up in a bid to defend himself, but the Thoron powered onward, striking him to the ground.

Aversa sent three more Thoron blasts. The mage was dead after the second, and a pile of smoking ash by the last. She then tugged her lance from its straps, and after calming her Pegasus, reluctantly drove her lance through its heart.

Lucina drew Falchion from her sheath, and pointed it at Aversa. "Lady Aversa, for your crimes against Ylisse I-"

"Am I yours to sentence, Girl?" The Plegian beauty spat. "Do not presume I will go quietly to my death. I came here to die, true. But I'll be damned if I allow some Ylissean Brat execute me for her own justice."

Aversa sneered. "So Exalt. Will you fight me yourself, or have one of your tinmen do it for you?"

To her credit, Lucina only faltered for a moment. "…All of you, stand back. I will deal with this."

"Y-Your Radiance, you aren't serious are you?" Michel stammered.

"I am."

Aversa nodded in vaguely genuine admiration, and span her lance in a wide arc. "You do your father justice, Exalt."

"I'd say the same. But it would not be true." Lucina replied, taking up her combat stance. "Validar was a monster."

Aversa smiled, bowed formally, and took up a battle stance of her own. "…At least he admitted it, Aurelius the Second."

Lucina snapped, and let out a snarl, as she darted toward Aversa, Falchion held out in front of her. "How dare you compare me to him!"

She had expected Aversa to dodge.

She had expected Aversa to try to strike.

What she didn't expect, was for Aversa's lance to slip from its owners grip, and Falchion cut through the Plegian Sorceress like a hot knife through butter.

Realisation dawned on her when Aversa collapsed against her. Her opponents' eyes were wide, and full of understanding.

"W-Why wouldn't you…"

The understanding in Aversa's eyes faded, giving way for a crueller look. "Because Girl..." She rasped, glee wrapping itself into her voice. "I get to take away the one thing you want more than anything right now…my nephews' location."

She tried to let out a laugh, but all that came out was blood.

Her voice was small now, barely audible. "I'm…so very tired.."

And Aversa, who had fought for monsters all her life, died with a thankful smile on her face, finally able to rest.

Lucina pulled Falchion free, letting Aversa's body down slowly, before turning to Michel.

"Have the dead prepared for transport home….and bury Aversa. Something simple. No dishonour."

"…..As you decree, your radiance."

Marc slumped against the cave wall when the news came.

His Aunt was dead, and he had squandered an opportunity to move his people.

He needed a miracle.

Happily for him, one was about to appear.

Suddenly, the cave was filled with a bright, white light, as a pillar of energy appeared in its centre.

An outrealm gate? Here?! Thoughts ran through Marc's mind at breakneck speed, trying to think of how it was possible. Only one viable answer came to him.

It has to be. It can only be…

The pillar faded away, revealing a woman dressed in leather armour and a red half cape.

…An Anna.

The Anna smiled cheerfully. "I finally get to say it. I've waited for ages to say this..."

She dashed toward the cave mouth, cleared her throat, and threw both of her arms out wide, a beaming grin on her face.

"COME WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!"