LUCINA'S POV
Naga had left. I was alone. However, I recognized the call of the Fell Dragon. It was over. But how did everyone else fare? The tower was shaking now, rocked by the continuous, eardrum-shattering roar. I needed to get out.
"Lucina, what are you still doing here!" Robin and Chrom leapt five feet down from the destroyed staircase and dashed towards me. "This thing's gonna fall any minute, and we can't depend on any backup!" Robin yelled, and I was shaken out of my stupor and ran with them.
Two floors down, we encountered Morgan, Christian, Serena, and Kir'yu. The three of us stopped. "Are you four okay?" Chrom asked, looking nervously up at the ceiling. Both children nodded weakly as Serena and Kir'yu helped them to their feet. "Can you walk, Christian?" Morgan and Serena both asked, their worried voices overlapping. Despite the situation he cracked a smile. "I'm sure I can manage, thank you." Morgan brushed the dust and debris off her robe as she stood up. "I can walk, Kir'yu, I only sustained a few minor injuries. Thank you anyway."
Kir'yu cleared his throat and turned. "We should escape before this tower of hell collapses on us." He declared, and began to dash for the stairs. Hopefully, there weren't any others in the Dragon's Table.
However, a few floors down, directly above a hole in the floor, Kir'yu stopped. "No." We all stopped beside him and followed his gaze. He was looking at a girl, lying spread-eagled on the ground. Robin stopped too. "Kir'yu… she died a noble death protecting Lucina. She performed her duty in delivering the Gemstone. Madelyn is the sole person who gave us the ability to save the world; her only regret… her only regret is that she couldn't be around to see it."
Kir'yu swallowed. "She was my friend, Robin. Did the Fell Dragon kill her?" Robin and I looked at each other. Pain was swimming in his eyes. "Yes. She saved me from a blast of lightning, which would have killed me. I had no time to react. I am sorry." I said solemnly. The tower rocked again. "We have to go!" Chrom urged, eyeing the roof again. "Her body… I have to…" Kir'yu too, was looking at the upper floors.
"Kir'yu." Morgan spoke in a hoarse voice. "We have to go. I'm sure your… friend, Madelyn, would understand." Kir'yu swallowed again. "O-of course." So we ran, single file down the staircase, leaving Madelyn behind. We rushed down the last few floors and finally made it to the ground.
"We probably aren't safe yet." Robin said, "The building could fall on us." We started walking, without the same sense of urgency. After a while, Robin stopped with a look of horror on his face. "Chrom." He said slowly. "If we let all the Shepherds head for Ylisse already, how are we going to get there with due haste? It would take us weeks!" We all stopped. What an obvious flaw.
"I was wondering when you Ylisseans would think about that!" at the word 'Ylisseans' we all cringed; if they were like me they were probably thinking of Grimleal. However, I remembered that most of the Grimleal in Plegia were most likely dead after Grima accepted the sacrifice and assumed his Awakened Forme, so I looked up.
A small flock of Pegasi were flying towards us in a gale of white. "Father…" However, Chrom was already looking up, and grinning. "Finally, a bit of good luck! Long time no see, Gerik!" The green-haired swordsmaster saluted as he landed. "We thought you'd do the noble thing and send your troops forwards. So Crona here decided to fly out here himself. Unfortunately controlling Pegasi without a mount is pretty challenging. So you'll have to double up.
Chrom nodded to Crona. "Glad to see that you didn't die, I honestly thought you had." Crona laughed. "Honestly? I was unconscious for a week. But that measly toad couldn't keep me down for long!" Dana laughed from her Pegasus. "So, what are you waiting for?" Crona said, gesturing. "Hop on!"
Seven Renegades had come to assist, which was oddly just the right number. Crona, Dana, Gerik, Nick, Augustus, Jason, and Bobby. "Of course, you guys haven't met Augustus Jason and Bobby." Crona said as I slid onto the Pegasus' saddle behind Dana. "Augustus and Jason were out in Valm scouting out paths in the woods leading to the castle, and Bobby was one of our spies, he worked in Pheros' garrison. In case you were wondering, he was the reason she didn't go after you, he struck took down the stragglers by himself! He's quite skilled." Crona explained as everyone saddled up. "Are we all ready then? In case of aerial attack, your pilots will know what to do, so just try not to get hit or fall off!" he said cheerfully. "Next stop: Ylisse!" Right before we took off, I heard Naga's voice, faint in my ear.
"Be ready, Awakener. I will need you for one more job on the way to the Mountain. After all, the Fell Dragon will sense us as soon as we cross into Plegia."
TIKI'S POV
The time for Awakening had arrived. Slowly, I opened my eyes and walked out into the sunlight on the top of the Mila Tree. Sure enough, a variety of throwing weapons zipped by my head. I turned a sleepy head towards the hordes of Risen climbing the staircase rapidly. I tapped a finger to my dragonstone at my side, and transformed.
I flapped my wings twice and I was off into the air, leaving the Risen behind. The Fell Dragon was foolish. He couldn't have expected me to be awake. Why he didn't burn down the tree is a mystery. Perhaps the power of Naga protects it more than I think.
With a crack, I zoomed towards Mount Prism, shattering the sound barrier to pieces. For many peaceful miles over Valm, there was nothing but a bright blue sky with the occasional puffy cloud. Then, I crossed the border into Plegia. The sky could no longer be seen, it was obscured with dark red clouds, from which long streaks of purple lightning arced. The wasteland below was a ravaged, burning wasteland. Not even the Plegian Castle lay undisturbed; it had crumbled over the old bones of Grima.
However, there was one tiny speck of sunlight. It arced down to illuminate what looked like an execution ledge. Somehow that had survived, too. Not wanting to waste time, I kept flying. Suddenly, all the flashes of lightning stopped. The Servant of Naga has arrived. Grima's hissing voice reverberated from all sides. The Fell Dragon broke through the crowds with an earsplitting roar. He was huge, over 100 times my size. I wasn't even as big as one of his horns.
You've walked right into my trap. You will not be able to instruct the Awakener. Their quest will end with your life! I didn't break my gaze, an act that took all of my willpower. "That is where you're wrong, Fell One. Naga has already instructed a Ylissean in the art of Awakening. They know of the ancient rites. You are too late."
Grima roared. Lies! You MUST be lying! It is time for you to die! Grima opened his jaws wide and lunged forward. I closed my eyes.
A second later, there was a shrieking roar of pain. I opened my eyes in shock to see the Fell Dragon recoiling as a jet of blue flame struck him in the eye. "Lady Tiki. Flee here while you can." Lucina said calmly, a jet of holy fire still gushing from her hand. "Take this as well." The prince, Chrom, flew up beside me and handed me the Fire Emblem.
"Prince Chrom, Lady Lucina, this is madness!" I cried. "You need to flee!" The Fell Dragon roared and began swiping blindly; his eyes clenched shut to avoid the blinding pain of Naga's Fire. "Chrom, you gotta go. Tiki is right. Take the Gemstones, I have a plan that Lucina and I can execute."
Chrom nodded. "Is it a plan you can end up surviving? Because you have a bad track record with those." Robin laughed. "Of course. It shall be simple. Lucina look out he's moving!" Lucina adjusted the holy fire upwards to block the Fell Dragon's attempt to free himself.
"If we have a plan we need to hurry, Naga can only keep this up for another minute or so." Lucina said anxiously. "Ok. Tiki, could you carry two passengers?" Chrom asked. I nodded. "Anything to help the royal line, milord." Approximately 13 seconds later, the Renegades Gerik and Dana were on my back as I zipped towards Mount Prism with Chrom and the other four Pegasi trailing behind.
Jack's Corner
The story is, unfortunately, winding down. What a shame. How are Robin and Lucina going to repel Grima? Take a guess! In the reviews I guess, if you want. Also leave reviews! I love them!