SPOILERS TO STUFF THAT HAPPENS WITH EMMERYN AND HER ROLE IN THE GAME.

SPOILERS TO MARTH'S IDENTITY AND HIS/HER RELATIONSHIP TO CHROM. READ NO FURTHER IF YOU HAVE YET TO CLEAR CARRION ISLE (Chapter 14?)

SPOILERS AS TO ROBINS PURPOSE IN RELATION TO VALIDAR/GRIMA.

DON'T BITCH IF YOU IGNORE THE WARNING. IT'S FAIRLY OBVIOUS.

Yay, we got to go home drunk last chapter! Isn't that what everybody does in their spare time? Okay, I'm changing things up a bit in this chapter. Some sixth sense makes Sane get out of bed and walk around the castle a bit. Well, turns out for some strange reason everybody else had the exact same idea. So they're just kinda chillin' in the hall/foyer area where the battle takes place, and Chrom, Lissa, Frederick and of course, yours truly are outside talking about something or another... And suddenly Marth. This chapter will start immediately after the cinematic preceding Chapter Six of the game. Also, I realize that maps always have a unit cap on them, but for story sake I'm basically saying 'Screw the rules, I have a fanfiction account!' Also, knowing the cardinal points on a compass (North, South, East, West) will help you understand the directions in this chapter.

'How could I forget about this? Haah! I have to protect Emmeryn and I'm slightly inebriated... This is going to end well.'

"Sully, Sthal I need the two of you to watch the Eastern Stairs. Kellam, go with Sully and Stahl. Frederick and Vaike, I need you to watch the center staircase with Marth. Virion, I'll need you to come with Chrom and I and guard the Western hall. Lissa, you Miriel, and Sumia will stay here with Emmeryn."

"Hey, why do I have to stay here?"

"Lissa, you Miriel, and Sumia are going to be the final defense. If any of the three points fall..."

She nodded in understanding.

"Here, take this."

I handed her my Thunder tome.

"Sane..? What are you going to use?"

I showed her Mycah's Pyre.

"New toy. Picked it up from a Merchant along with some other goodies."

Chrom raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? From Bev?"

I looked up at the ceiling.

'*Crap* really?'

"Dah... Bu... Ffff... Bwe... We can talk about this later should it so tickle your fancy..."

"And I want to talk about how Frederick managed to give birth to a seventeen year old child."

'What the hell? Did those blokes tell him everything?'

We split into our groups and took up defensive positions. I briefly flipped through my new tome. The words were just as chaotic as the Thunder tome, but I wasn't getting the familiar buzzing feel from holding it. Instead I felt a perfect warmth spreading through my body. I could tell using this tome wouldn't be much different from my Thunder tome and wondered if there would be any change at all. It's supposed to be more powerful, but my Thunder tome always seemed way too powerful to begin with. What if this tome isn't different?

'Oh well, it's not like I paid for it... Yet.'

The strategy for this situation is to hold the perimeter and let the enemy come to us. As long as we stayed at the doors, Emmeryn would be fine.

'If I learned one thing from Natalie, it's how to protect a unit for a set number of turns.'

I could hear the approaching footsteps, and a chill set over me. I felt my head begin to throb and my vision blurred.

"You have a unique opportunity here Sane, you can end this silly little game now and fulfill our destiny."

The voice was louder than I've ever heard it before, and I swear I felt a hand gripping me. Because there really was one. Chroms' hand.

"Sane, what's wrong? Lissa, get over here."

I was shaking, or maybe convulsing was a more accurate word. I could taste blood in my mouth and my head felt like it had been split in half. Far in the distance I heard the sound of rumbling feet and conversation, but I had no idea who they belonged to or where they were. I saw a pair of feet rushing over to me at a strange angle.

'Since when people run on the ceiling..?'

It turns out, what I thought was the ceiling was really the floor and I was on the ground. Lissa crouched beside me and put her hand on my head.

"Chrom, she's bleeding. We need to move her."

I was lifted from my prone position on the ground and carried into the chamber with Emmeryn.

"Emm, you can help her right? We have to get back to the fight, Lissa looks like you're getting moved with me."

They started to leave the chamber.

"Wait!" I called.

Chrom came back and knelt beside me.

"Sane, believe me when I say I know a thing or two about battles. We'll be fine without you this one time."

I shook my head weakly.

"There's a thief... Named Gaius... He's an ally, just talk to him... Orange hair..."

Emmeryn pulled out a staff and began to murmur words of healing over me.

"Okay Sane, you just rest up. Emm, don't let her out of your sight. She's stubborn, she'll try to sneak away as soon as she can."

'Damn right I will.'

He left, leaving me alone with Emmeryn.

"What happened out there?" She asked.

Her voice was quiet and smooth. It was beautiful and relaxing, and my headache seemed to vanish on the spot.

"I dunno." I mumbled weakly.

"You have a nasty cut on your head. Did you fall?"

"I think... I saw Lissas' feet."

"Were they on the ceiling?"

I chuckled weakly.

"Yaah."

The sound of fighting was making me nervous. I knew the others obviously had experience, but the way I saw it they were fighting on auto-battle.

'And those idiots couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag on auto battle.'

"Why did you fall? Did something happen?"

"I just... got this headache is all..."

Emmeryn frowned at me, as if she knew I wasn't telling her something.

'Lucina knew right off the bat I wasn't supposed to be here, maybe it's possible Emmeryn does too?'

"Sometimes, I feel like I'm not supposed to be here. Like I belong somewhere else and someone should take my place. I think that's why I collapsed."

Emmeryn took a bracelet from her wrist and handed it to me.

"When I first became the Exalt in my father's stead, I felt hopeless and scared. I took comfort wherever I could find it and to this day have no idea if I deserve to be the Exalt. But whether I was meant to be or not, it is a role I have been given, and it is a role I will fulfill to my dying breath."

She smiled.

"Take this, and return to the battle. I see great strength in you, and that strength means nothing if you cannot use it to protect those around you. I shall be fine, today is not the day I'm destined to die."

I felt my blood run cold at that statement.

"Do you think you're destined to die?"

She looked away sadly.

"There are some things in this world, no matter how hard you try, are going to happen. I can feel that someday soon, my life shall once again be in danger and no force from this world can stop it. But until then, I shall remain steadfast and not waver."

I thought about Emmeryn's words as I quickly made my way back onto the battlefield.

'No force from this world huh? Well, lucky you I'm not from this world.'

I ran to the stairs that were being guarded by Frederick, Vaike and 'Marth'. Frederick and Vaike were still there, but 'Marth' seemed to have vanished.

"You guys, where's Marth?"

Frederick shook his head.

"She ran off milady, something about interfering?"

'Damn it all!'

"Thank you sir Frederick."

I turned to leave but stopped.

"Sir Frederick? That hole in the castle wall, where is it?"

He looked at me questioningly then pointed to the far west wall.

"There, but Marth couldn't possibly know about it. Chrom and I are the only ones who do."

I ran off to the wall where Frederick pointed. I'd only have few precious moments to catch 'Marth' before she left the castle grounds. If she left the castle grounds before I got to her, the plan that was rapidly forming in my head would be dashed to pieces before I had the chance to put it into motion. I was at the side of the wall where Frederick said the hole was and scanned it. There was a line of shrubbery along the wall. I saw a brief flash of movement from one of the shrubs and rushed over to it.

'Damn, I can't miss her!'

I got to the shrub and saw an opening behind it. I quickly climbed through the hole, thankfully I was small so this was easy, and stepped onto the ground outside the castle. I saw 'Marth' walking swiftly away, head tucked down and cape swirling behind her.

"Hey, stop!" I yelled, and ran after her.

She didn't stop. Or slow down for that matter. She sped up and was going to quickly lose me. So I had to do something to get her attention.

"LUCINA! I know who you are!"

She stopped and looked at me, her expression filled with a terrifying rage. She crossed the distance between us faster than I would've thought and pressed her sword against my neck hard enough to draw blood but not decapitate me.

"You know nothing about me. You are a mistake not supposed to be here. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't drop you where you stand."

REMEMBER THOSE SPOILERS I WARNED YOU ABOUT? THEY ARE ABOUT TO SMACK YOU IN THE FACE!

"Because your father wouldn't appreciate it if you killed his star Tactician now would he?"

Her rage vanished, replaced by something akin to fear. The sword was removed from my neck and she stared at me, her mouth moving slightly but unable to form words.

"I know you have questions Lucina, because I have questions too. I think it would benefit us both if we talked."

She nodded stiffly.

"I'll let you ask the questions first. Not that you'd answer mine until you were satisfied anyway."

It seemed like ages before Lucina spoke, and when she did her voice was meek.

"How did you know Chrom was my father?"

'Oh, sure you pick the complicated one first.'

"Lucina, I come from a place you might know as the Outrealms. I'm an observer, I observe things. Many times over I have seen the struggles of this world, so I know more about it than you or anyone else living here will know."

"But what happened to Robin? He was supposed to be my fathers' Tactician, not you."

"I don't know what happened to Robin. All I know is that I fell asleep in my world one day and woke up in a field not far from Southtown."

"That's where..."

"Robin was supposed to be. Yes."

She nervously chewed her lip.

"But... I know Robin! I've met him before! Why is he gone?"

"I have a theory about that. You came from the future. A future, linked to the choices that were made centered around Robin. However, in this past, I have taken Robin's place and therefore this past centers around my choices. I don't know how you got here, but somehow you ended up in the wrong past."

"You speak like you know Robin yourself."

"Like I said, I observe. I have seen all possible routes of this world, and now I must live one out."

"And what are the routes of this world?"

"Salvation. Or destruction. That depends on what you're going to do."

She seemed shocked.

"Me? I thought Robin... You were in charge?"

"Ah, but Robin had help. The future daughter of the Exalt of Ylisse..."

"..."

"Lucina, there are some things that cannot be changed. Do you know this?"

She nodded.

"Do you accept this?"

She shook her head.

"Good, because I need your help, and you must give it to me or I fear Ylisse and the whole world will fall to ruin."

She gazed at me, as if trying to peer into my soul.

"I've done what I've come here to do, Emmeryn's death has been avoided."

"Her assassination, yes. Her death is yet to come."

"And how is she to die?" Lucina snarled.

She grabbed my robes and yanked me off the ground. I was terrified being in such a prone position, but there was nothing I could do but take it. I took a deep breath and looked Lucina in the eyes.

"By her own hand in front of the Plegia castle."

For a moment, I thought she didn't hear me. But then she started to shake her head.

"No... No... My aunt was a great woman, she would never take her own life."

"I've seen it happen countless times Lucina."

'Because two is such a huge number yeah?'

"She sacrifices herself so that all of Plegia and Ylisse can see the beauty of peace and life."

Lucina shakily set me down.

"Is there nothing that can be done to prevent this?"

'Alright, lets see if this will work.'

"You're not supposed to be here, just like I'm not. Nobody would expect you to interfere. I need you to learn to ride a Pegasus, I'll help you get one even. Wait as close to Plegia as you can. I don't know when all this will happen, but it will soon I can tell you that. Emmeryn will be captured on her way to a secondary palace by Plegian spies. Then brought before the Mad King Gangrel and forced to stand upon... A high... Thing..."

My inability to speak elegantly registered with Lucina and she fixed me with a hard stare.

"Look, she's gonna jump off something really freaking tall and I'm gonna need you to swoop in on a Pegasus and rescue her, yeah?"

Lucina nodded.

"If it shall save Emmeryns' life, then I shall do it."

She turned her back on me and walked towards the forest.

"Hey!" I called after her.

She turned to look at me, a sour look on her face.

"You never even asked my name."

She scoffed.

"I've no intention of being around you long enough to bother learning it."

She made it another three steps away before I spoke again.

"Well, it's not Sane."

She paused.

"I tell everyone my name's Sane, but it's not really. I'm a nobody where I'm from you see, and I have a nobody name. I can tell you my real name if you want."

Lucina didn't answer me and continued her walk to the trees. She disappeared into the gloom of the forest, leaving me alone outside the castle walls.

'I can tell she didn't inherit her attitude from Chrom.'

I looked back to the castle.

'Chrom... Trying to fight his way out of a paper bag... Oh crap, I need to get back to them!'

I ran back to the hole in the castle wall and slipped through. I ran around to the garden area outside the foyer. It was empty, no Validir in sight, but the sounds of fighting resonated further ahead. As I drew closer to the fighting, my headache from earlier returned in full force and I fell to my knees.

"Don't fight this Sane... Submit to our destiny. You needn't worry... Those pitiful fools were soon be eliminated."

'Validar is nothing... They'll crush him!'

"True, Validar possesses barely half our power, but even half of a Gods power shall ruin mere man..."

I clutched my head and tried to massage away the pain. I felt like my head was about to split open. Tears welled in my eyes and I was in so much pain I couldn't even pain swear.

"My my... Look what we have here? Looks like we have an extra piece in this battle..."

A sinister voice from above me forced me to remove my head from my hands and look up. Looming above me was Validar, a sinister grin on his face.

"I must say, I wasn't expecting you... Even after all I had been told... I didn't believe I would meet you, Sane."

He knelt down to me and tightly gripped my jaw. He forced me to look him in the eyes and leaned into my personal space.

'Why do the bad guys always have to get within make-out distance with the damsel in distress?'

"I was told I wouldn't be getting my Vessel for lord Grima... But seeing you here after seeing you before... Rather, Livvy as I believe you're calling her? Livvy has been most helpful."

He pulled me to my feet, not letting go of my jaw.

"I know your weaknesses, 'Sane'. I know how to get you to follow my every command."

'I need my rape whistle!'

I tried to get away from Validar, but his grip was practically unbreakable. Suddenly, an axe passed by his head and he was shocked enough I was able to swipe at his face. My nails dug into the skin of his face and he howled in agony.

"Bitch!"

I was hit with a bolt of dark magic and sent sailing through the air. The attack left me drained and laying on the ground prone. Vaike snarled and advanced on Validar.

'Oh Gods... Tell me he's not going to try and fight Validar by himself? A Fighter would stand no chance against a Sorcerer.'

"If you think I'm going to let you hurt one of my friends, you have another thing coming!"

Validar laughed.

"You think you have a chance against me? Fool, I'll show you to your grave!"

I tried to pull myself to my feet. My body was heavy and week, and it felt like it was taking forever for it to obey the commands my brain was sending. I needed my tome, I needed to protect Vaike. No doubt he had gotten some injuries during the battle, and one good hit from Validar would be the end of him.

'I need to protect Vaike... I can't let him down...'

I saw Validar pull out his tome.

I Pulled out mine.

"NO!" I shouted.

BY THE WAY, MORE SPOILERS INCOMING!

I tried to channel my magic and hit Validar, but nothing was happening. I could feel the warmth spreading through me, but no matter how hard I tried to force out the magic it wouldn't. Validar flung his dark magic at Vaike and hit him square in the chest. Vaike crumpled to the ground, but he was still breathing and struggling back to his feet quicker than I thought he would've.

"You need to be quiet girl!" Validar snarled at me.

I managed to stagger towards him with my new Levin Sword.

'If he thinks I'm the Vessel for Grima, then I'm sure it's safe to assume he's not going to kill me.'

Validar hit me with another powerful bolt of magic and I fell to the ground once again. There was no pain when I hit, no sound, nothing. I was powerless to move. My vision was going dark quickly and a heavy coldness settled over me. Before my vision went completely dark, I saw Validar draw his arm back and prepare to launch another bolt of magic.

"You'll learn soon enough to accept your role Sane... When they've all left you, and you're as alone as you were back home... You'll be all too willing to join with me... And you can revel in the power you've always wanted... We simply need to remove a few distractions..."