The air burned, feeling as though it scorched Robin's throat as he drew in ragged gasps. Even fighting in the deserts of Plegia was better than this; the bubbling magma that cut through the surface of the Demon's Ingle made fighting there more of a challenge than anything he or the others had ever faced.
"You doing okay, Robin?" A Valmese soldier collapsed under the biting edge of Vaike's axe, the burly Shepherd covering the tactician as he prepared a lightning bolt to pierce another oncoming foe.
"I'll be fine." He assured his friend, another page of his tome crumbling to dust and releasing another bolt. "We just need to defeat Yen'fay. Once he goes down, the enemy's morale will break and we can pick off those who don't flee the field."
Vaike blinked momentarily before cutting down a charging soldier. "Alright, you and Miriel keep on being the brains of this outfit. Let the Vaike handle the heavy lifting!" As if to emphasize his words, his free hand caught the lance of yet another approaching Valmese and hurled the surprised man into the volcano's flames.
The axeman's enthusiasm brought a grin to Robin's face. "Alright, Teach. Let's push forward!" Preceded by Vaike's bellowing battle cry, the two pushed into the now-wavering Valmese lines.
"We have another injured one!" Gregor shouted as he burst into the medical tent, Virion slumped over his shoulder and bearing several burns himself. "Get staff ready now!"
As the healers rushed over to carry Virion to a cot, Cordelia watched the whole process from where she laid herself. It was frustrating, lying there unable to help when her comrades, her friends, were suffering. But she knew that running back and forth across the medical tent would mean nothing good for Severa.
"Never be minding! Do not worry about Gregor!" The mercenary brushed off the healers' insistence that he allow his own wounds to be treated. "Gregor not old man who cannot fight!"
"Gregor, how is the battle going?" Cordelia asked as he passed by her. "Is everyone safe? Are Robin and Say'ri…?"
A reassuring smile crossed the man's face as he replied, "Battle is going well, everyone fight like angry bears! Gregor needs to get out and fight more so young people do not steal Gregor's glory!" He guffawed and departed the tent, leaving the pegasus knight relieved that her loved ones were safe.
Robin and Vaike had been separated when the latter had gone to aid Miriel, but now the tactician found himself back-to-back with Say'ri. His tome had been expended and he now gripped his sword, fending off the enemy that surrounded the duo. "These men are tougher than the rest of their army." He coughed as a plume of ash blew past his face in the wind. "They must be Yen'fay's personal guard."
"Aye, which means he cannot be far." Robin's unpolished bladework was counterbalanced by the elegance and poise with which Say'ri cut down the Imperial army. "When we find him, pray allow me to engage my brother. As his sister, it falls on me to cleanse Yen'fay's dishonor."
Robin fenced briefly with a Valmese warrior before kicking him in the knee and running him through as he stumbled. "Don't put yourself at unnecessary risk, Say'ri. We fight as one." The swordswoman nodded in response, but he had a sinking feeling that his words hadn't gotten through.
The unpleasant thought was jolted from his mind as Lucina, Chrom and Frederick emerged from the chaos of battle to stand beside them. "Robin, Say'ri, I'm glad you're both safe." The ruler of Ylisse sighed with relief. "The enemy's reserves are entering the battle, according to Cherche and Sumia. We'll be dealing with Yen'fay soon."
"Yes, we need to get in formation and prepare for – Say'ri, what are you doing?!" Robin's planning was interrupted by the Chon'sin princess rushing from his side, and the cause of her sudden reaction was evident. Yen'fay had stepped forward.
Robin's attempt to catch up with their ally was stymied when Lucina and Chrom held him back. "What are you doing?! Say'ri is going to die if we don't help her!"
"Listen to them." Lucina replied, her blue eyes fixed on the siblings who now engaged one another.
"Brother, I won't ask you why… We are well beyond that point now." Say'ri's voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but her eyes were clear and focused as she faced down Yen'fay. "I will speak it plain: I cannot forgive you, and neither can I let you live."
Yen'fay's voice was low and emotionless, his expression completely impassive. "I've asked for nothing, Sister, least of all your forgiveness." He placed a hand on the grip of his blade, but didn't yet draw it.
Say'ri continued, seeing that her brother was hesitating. "But you will have my justice, like it or no! You, who stood by in silence while everyone around you suffered! While villages were razed and fields burned, you watched but said nothing… When Father and Mother were murdered – you said nothing! Nothing, before you ran to the arms of the man responsible for all of it! Your silence was deafening… Maddening! Even now, you have nothing to say?!" Her voice grew louder and less controlled, sounding near hysterical when she finally paused as tears filled her eyes.
And Yen'fay said nothing.
"Damn you, Yen'fay! Then I will make your sword answer for you! I challenge you to a duel – if you have any honor left, you will accept and die like a man! Draw your sword and let it sing your last words!" She clutched her blade tightly with both hands, her entire body tense and ready to spring into action.
The remainder of Yen'fay's personal guard moved as one, but were stopped after only a few steps by their commander throwing out one arm. "Hold your position." His hand returned to the grip of his sword as he addressed Say'ri, his tone still completely stoic as he said, "Though I serve the Empire, I am still a warrior in the Chon'sin tradition. I accept your challenge, Say'ri." The wicked seven-branched sword was pulled free of its scabbard as he mirrored his sister's stance. "Come."
The princess charged forward, her long ponytail swirling as she threw herself into a mighty slash that connected forcefully with Yen'fay's blade. She struck again and again, each time parried by her brother's masterful swordplay, but she never relented. Her constant barrage of slashes left no opening for Yen'fay to counterattack, the strength of her rage driving her ever forward.
A wind-borne plume of ash blew past the dueling siblings, forcing Say'ri to avert her eyes for just a moment. That moment was all Yen'fay needed to launch an assault of his own, and it was his sister who was forced onto the defensive, forced to evade Yen'fay's attacks so as not to have his heavier sword shatter her own. "Yen'fay!" She screamed in his face, her composure lost as he showed no emotion in the face of his advantage.
Then Yen'fay stumbled as the volcano's rumbling threw him off-balance, leading Say'ri to clash her blade against his. Sparks flew as metal ground against metal, Yen'fay's advantage in both weapon and bodily weight canceled by the off-center stance he was forced into. "Say'ri… you have grown so strong." He pressed forward, the edge of his sword raking along that of her own before aiming for her neck. The strike never came; the princess twirled to the side and scored a deep wound across his stomach, the surge of blood that issued forth immediately indicating it was fatal. The Imperial general collapsed as the momentum of his strike carried his injured body forward.
"Do… do you mock me?" Say'ri gasped as she reclaimed her breath. I have seen your best swordplay… that was not it. You went easy on me, but… why?"
A wet, bloody cough issued from Yen'fay's lips before he turned his face to Say'ri, his eyes already beginning to mist over. "What I could not tell you in life… I say with my death."
Her anger forgotten, Say'ri fell to her knees beside her fallen brother, taking his hand in her own. "But, Yen'fay…"
"You have found strong comrades… I no longer need fear for you. I die… in peace…" An ever-so-faint smile touched his lips at his final words before his head dropped, face landing in the ash as his grip on Say'ri's hand fell slack.
"Yen'fay, wait! What do you mean? Why?! Don't leave me with more silence…!" Tears streamed down Say'ri's face as she watched the life fade from her brother, who had gone from her most beloved family to her mortal foe. "Yen'fay!"
"The Valmese have retreated. Apparently seeing Yen'fay fall was enough to shatter their morale." Cherche and Sumia returned from their surveillance to deliver their report, which Robin received with a grave nod.
"We can press on to the capital now. Two of the three Imperial divisions have been left shattered and leaderless; only Walhart remains."
Say'ri approached with Yen'fay's sword on her belt, her face still downcast. "I will never understand why he joined Walhart… His reason die with him."
As if on cue, the sigils and tinny sound of magic rending space filled the air, heralding the entrance of a grotesque fat man who appeared far more feminine that anyone that awful should. "But oh, what a death it was! Did you see the grief etched on his face? The mix of longing and pain in his eyes? He was an accomplished actor, but that was all too real!" The newcomer laughed, a high-pitched and disturbing noise that made everyone reach for their weapons.
"Excellus… What would you know of my brother, you loathsome toad?!" Say'ri was the first to grip her sword, prepared to draw at any moment.
The fat man gave her a twisted grin in response and answered tauntingly, "More than you, princess of Chon'sin. And I would watch that mouth of yours… I am honoring Yen'fay's sacrifice by not killing you now, but even I have my limits."
Robin interjected in a harsh tone that surprised the other gathered Shepherds, "What do you mean, 'sacrifice?'" The glare in his eyes was matched only by that in Say'ri's.
"Oopsie! Did I just spill the beans? Hyahahahaha! So sorry, but I promised dear Yen'fay I would never tell!" The smug look on Excellus's face reminded the Ylisseans of Gangrel if the Mad King had been criminally ugly in addition to insane.
Say'ri drew the seven-branched sword she had taken from Yen'fay, pointing it at the Imperial and snarling, "Explain yourself, snake – or die!"
"Bah! As if you could harm me! You live only by my grace, you ungrateful wretch! I could have had you killed countless times! And I would have, if not for him…"
Excellus's words served no purpose but to enrage the princess further. "Enough talking around it – say what you mean!"
"Oh, did Yen'fay not groan out the truth as you cut him to bloody pieces? I suppose not. He was always so quiet… honorable, I think they call it. Yes, honorable. Yet he swallowed his pride and cast aside his honor, all to protect his beloved kin. You."
The revelation stunned everyone, but Say'ri was hit the hardest. Her grip on her sword tightened and her face twisted into a harsh grimace, but her words came out in a trembling quaver, "Lies… You're lying!" She screamed, drawing her sword back in preparation for a strike.
Excellus warped a few feet back, face contorted in rage. "No, I'm telling the truth, which I'll admit is a rare treat so you should shut up and enjoy it! Before you met these… Ylisseans," He spat the word in a disgusted tone, "I could've had your head with a word. In Chon'sin, in Valm Harbor, did you really think yourself so elusive? You were my leverage for Yen'fay; unwitting and unbound, but a hostage all the same. He fought for us, we let you live – that was the deal. And he kept his end, right to his end!" The mage took a few rasping breaths before his expression settled into one of grotesque serenity. "Phew… I don't know about you, but I feel much better getting that off my chest! I'll have to give this truth-telling thing more effort. Yes, I'll resolve to do just that. In any case, goodbye friends! Hope to see you again soon, and so sorry about Yen'fay… Oops! I broke my resolution twice already! Kyahahahaha!" With his cracked laughter still ringing in the air, Excellus vanished amid a swirl of magic.
Say'ri dropped to her knees, eyes squeezed tightly shut. "Gods… The things I said to him. He was protecting me, but I…!"
Chrom stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice strong and even as he declared, "You've done nothing wrong, Say'ri. The Empire and Excellus are at fault here – and I swear, they will answer for it."
"Lord Chrom… Thank you. You have done so much for this land while I can give you nothing in return." Say'ri wiped the tears from her eyes, her gaze stronger than ever before. "But I swear on this sword Amatsu, the royal treasure of Chon'sin, that I will avenge Yen'fay. The Empire will fall and peace will return, and those responsible for forcing his hand will die like the dishonorable curs they are."
Robin helped her up and nodded. "Hear, hear! You have all our support, Say'ri – we are the Valmese Resistance, and we'll see Walhart toppled. Yen'fay's sacrifice will not have been in vain!"
That night, Robin sat beside Cordelia, one hand resting gently on her distended belly. "The time's getting closer." He murmured. "Have you been feeling alright?"
"'Alright' might be a bit of a stretch… but I can handle it. I've lived through war, I can bear this discomfort without trouble. Besides, she's our daughter. That's reason enough" Cordelia laughed softly, her dazzling smile present on her lips.
Robin kissed her lovingly and murmured, "You're the reason I fight. You, Severa, and Morgan when the time comes."
A look of confusion spread over Cordelia's face. "Morgan?"
"Ah, right, I forgot to mention it. I asked Lucina about what the Severa of her time is like, and over the course of the conversation she revealed that we end up having another daughter named Morgan. Our family will be a bright and happy one, my love."
The pegasus knight nodded and smiled again. "Severa and Morgan… we'll be blessed with two wonderful daughters. How lucky we are."
AN: So this was an absolute ogre to write, I didn't have any idea how to do it for the longest time. Eventually I settled on having it focus on Say'ri and Yen'fay since the former seems to be the tertiary focus after Robin and Cory, and I like the siblings anyway. Also included some appearances by the other Shepherds, as Pkmn2112 was kind enough to point out that they weren't showing up at all.