The creaking of the doors opening caused the students to look behind them in surprise. The open doors let in the rain and the wind that had been pounding on their classroom windows. Their voices quickly hushed and Hilda barely hid her gasp when she saw a dark form in the doorway. The cloaked figure let go of the door and let themselves into the room. The students watched in disbelieving silence as the spectre made their way through the central aisle, water seeping off their cloak onto the floor as they went. Heads turned as they passed, but the hood made it impossible to see a face. Finally, they made it to the front desk. Turning around they addressed the students, "Good morning everyone. I will be your new teacher."
Chapter one
"WRETCHED SON OF NAGA! YOU WILL BE DESTROYED!" The disembodied call of Grima rang through her ears. Out of the corner of her eyes, she summoned lighting to hit an archer aiming at Sumia and her pegasus. The lightning merely stunned him but that brought Sumia enough time to swing her lance down to take him out and eliminate the threat.
Damn. These dastards are strong. Normally an archer was no problem for her magic. But these were no ordinary enemies they were facing. These were the Grimleal.
"Sumia!" She called out, "be more careful not to get in range! I see more where that came from!" She signalled her to fly lower and near the middle of their formation.
"Aye!" Sumia nodded. She prodded her pegasus to go upwards. Circling around in a tight circle while gradually flying lower. Robin couldn't blame her. Flying a pegasus on the back of a massive fell dragon was something she hoped Sumia would quickly adapt to.
Robin's brief encounter with her future self still left a bad taste in her mouth. Along with a coppery taste left behind after a nasty punch to the jaw by a Grimleal warrior. She was lucky that Miriel was behind her and took them out with fire magic and into Stahl's waiting lance as the impact had temporarily stunned Robin. But it was the actual encounter with the possessed Robin that shook her. That was too close. The future possessed Robin spoke of chilled her to the bone, she almost didn't want her friends fighting here with her. But the bond she shared with everyone gave her strength. The strength to defeat Grima.
She swore to keep her word. She would see to it that Grima and her future self were killed.
All of her friends were with her in this battle, and she had been through almost everything with them since the war on Plegia. She had seen them all do amazing things in battle, but even they were finding this one though the healing power of Naga had been a blessing, the sigils on Grima's back kept bringing an unending amount of reinforcements, if they weren't careful they'd soon be overrun. Chrom grunted at her side, pushing yet another Grimleal off him and stabbing them in the side with Exalted Falchion.
"Are you ok Robin? You're covered in blood." He asked. Whipping round, he signalled Lissa over.
"I'll be fine. Just stick to the plan." Which was supposed to be simple enough. Everyone just had to punch their way through to get her and Chrom to the top where possessed Robin sat. They were miles up in the air on the back of this dragon and were surrounded by the enemy, with nowhere to go but forward. But what part of that was supposed to be simple?
"Take it easy Robin," Lissa said softly as she waved her staff over Robin's wounds. "We need you alive." Just then Stahl and Vaike came over, both looking a little worse for wear.
"We can give you two a small opening to push forward," Stahl nodded from atop his horse. "But you need to do it now." Robin and Chrom both looked at each other and nodded. After just over two years together they knew what was on the others mind. Robin looked to their left and spotted Owain helping Kjelle deal the last blow to an axe wielding Grimleal.
"Owain!" Robin shouted. "Help us out over here." Upon hearing her voice he pulled back a bit, seeing what they were up to. He seemed a little out of breath but she knew there was plenty of fight still in him. Stahl kicked his horse on the sides and she went running full pelt into the middle line of enemies. Owain and Vaike followed close behind on foot, Owain on his left cursing his sword hand and Vaike on the right screaming at the top of his lungs. Robin gave one small smile to Lissa motioning her to stand near Lon'qu before she ran with Chrom. Once they were through she was slightly out of breath. As strong as she's gotten over the years, this battle was taking it out on her and everyone else. Once they'd overtaken Stahl and the other two and leaving them to fight, standing before her were three more Grimleal, one in battle armour and the other two wielding axes. All three were running straight at her and Chrom.
She dodged to the left and Chrom to the right. She saw in the corner of her eye that Chrom was fighting with the two with axes at once. She had to make this quick, she could tell even Chrom was tiring. Looking at her opposing enemy she ducked just in time to avoid her head being cut off. Rolling to the side she kicked his feet from under him and sent an Arcthunder at close range to his chest. He jolted at the impact and stopped moving. Behind her she saw Chrom had taken down one opponent but was struggling with the other. She made brief eye contact with him and he deliberately moved his feet so the Grimleal had to turn and place their back to her. As they were about to swing at Chrom's shoulder, they fell to the floor. A dagger sticking out of his back graciously left by Robin.
"Almost there," Chrom breathed. He sounded confident but when she looked over at him. He was breathing heavily. There was a fresh cut along his left arm and a small one on his face. The feeling in her stomach was getting worse as thoughts swirled in her mind at the ever growing possibility of what she might have to do. A shadow caused them both to look up, she could see Falcon Knights swirling above their heads. One got too close and was sent hurtling over the side by one of Virion's arrows. Whatever he couldn't take down, Noire was covering him and holding up her own.
A worried thought crossed by Robin's mind hoping they did not run out of arrows too soon.
Across from them she noted Lucina working with Kjelle to take down an armoured knight. Lucina's steps were slower than they should be, Robin noted. She knew her allies were tiring. A flash of pink hair and a moment later, Lucina's opponent was defeated, a sword buried into their neck.
"Thank you, mother," Lucina praised, dropping Parallel Falchion slightly. Olivia blushed a little, only she could still be shy on the battlefield. She turned around and saw Chrom looking at her, her blush then becoming a deep red. He chuckled despite the situation and nodded, placing a hand at Robin's shoulder. Olivia nodded back and followed Kjelle and Lucina into battle.
"C'mon, breather's over." Chrom tugged her along. "I think I see a clear path to the neck of this damned thing." She only grunted in response, her mind still reeling with thoughts, and she ran after him. Though not without the protest of her lungs. After fighting to gain a few steps closer to possessed Robin they were finally there.
"...RETURN TO ME...COME...WE ARE ONE...AND THE SAME…" Grima slithered into the back of her mind and she flinched. Somehow they had managed to say that at the same time the possessed Robin spoke.
"Remember the promise, Robin," Chrom muttered to her as he readied Exalted Falchion. Her mind went back to before Naga had warped them all here. Naga had said that delivering the final blow with the divine blade would defeat Grima, but only temporarily and they'd be back to destroy the world for a future generation...the other option was for Robin to defeat Grima. The connection between them meant there was no coming back. Possibly for the both of them. Naga was unsure of Robin's fate should such a thing happen. Yet a nagging sensation pulled at her making her feel uneasy at Chroms solution...a future generation possibly wiped out by the annihilation of the fell dragons return.
"How could I forget, Chrom?" Robin chided.
"We'll take this dastard out and be done with it!" He yelled, picking up speed and racing forward. Robin did her best work while covering for him so she followed close behind. She shot out lightning to the right of possessed Robin, not intending to hit dead on, but enough to perhaps possibly stun or put them off. Much to her dismay, it didn't seem to do much as they were already prepared. Chrom yelled a battle cry and swung his sword, intending to hit with a quick and clean strike. Possessed Robin just smirked and dodged effortlessly, then she flung out her hand and to both Chrom's and Robin's amazement, the actual head of Grima turned around to look at them both. Purple fire came out of its mouth and Chrom had to flee backwards to escape the inferno. Robin then took the chance to use Bolganone while it was focused on him. It worked and hit the fell dragon's head, though Grima seemed more annoyed than damaged.
Suddenly a voice filled her ears, "Hear my words Awakener! Once the fell one is weakened, a choice will await you…" Robin stiffened, Naga wanted to impart more words it seemed. "If Chrom let's fall the final blow, Grima shall survive but return to his slumber… if Robin strikes in Chrom's stead, both her life and Grima's are forever over. Only in this way may the fell dragon be destroyed for good and all."
Robin chanced a look at Chrom. He was still fighting but it was clear he heard Naga. "I can do this Robin! Just help me weaken this beast!"
"The final decision...is yours." Naga's voice faded with the last of her words. But Robin's heart was still loud in her ears. She couldn't screw this up, they had all come so far…
Mentally slapping herself, she ran closer to Chrom and got into close combat. Chrom took advantage of a well timed Arcthunder and managed to get a few hits on possessed Robin. They managed to keep it up for a while, and it was clear they were wearing Grima down. But during the fight Chrom had slipped up, he was too exhausted to see an attack coming, and it stunned him. Sensing this, Grima seized at the opportunity and breathed more purple fire onto him. It hit him square in the chest and knocked him several feet ackwards.
"Chrom!" Robin screamed. He immediately tried getting back up, but it was clear how much he hurt.
"Heh...a little purple smoke isn't going to stop me," he breathed. He only managed to get up on one knee, one hand using Exalted Falchion to lean on. Sweat was visible on his face as he grunted. Turning back round, Robin saw Grima leaning its ugly head backwards to prepare another attack on Chrom. She was sure another hit would finish him off.
"NO!" She yelled. All thoughts abandoned her mind as she stood in front of Chrom and willed all the thunder magic she could and aimed it directly at possessed Robin. At the last second she let go.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Came a deafening scream. Grima had turned its neck and was roaring, so loud it could be heard above the battle.
"What have you done!?" The voice inside and outside her head screamed.
"For once, I'm glad you and I are the same," Robin retorted, "Now I can give my life to protect those I care for." In front of her, Grima's head was disappearing from view as it shook and screamed in agony as it went. Possessed Robin was stumbling backwards. Robin watched as she stumbled over her feet, purple miasma clouding over her disappearing figure. In a burst of dark light she vanished without another word. And that was the end of her.
"Robin, no!" She looked over and saw Chrom clutching his side but was finally on both his feet. He stopped short when he saw her. Looking down, Robin saw the same purple miasma was starting to envelop her. Chuckling slightly, she fought back the tears that were beginning to form in the corner of her eyes.
"Thank you, Chrom. For everything." She wiped the side of her eye, never taking her eyes off him but not letting her smile slip either. "Tell the others...my last thoughts were of them. May we meet again, in a better life…"
"No! Robin! Ah gods, NO!" Chrom yelled, he let Exalted Falchion clang to the floor and tried to grip her, but she was more smoke than anything now. Her mind was becoming cloudy and dull. With a small sigh she smiled at him one last time before waving him goodbye. In the back of her mind, she wished she had a longer goodbye with the others. Perhaps even telling Chrom how she truly felt this whole time. That was the last of her thoughts before they were swept away into nothing. At least the last thing she got to look at was his face.
"Professor" said a solemn voice. Byleth, who had been talking to some of his students, turned around to see professor Hanneman walk towards him with a grim look on his face.
"Professor Hanneman," Dimitri stepped next to Byleth as Dedue watched silently on. "Have you been to see her? How is she?" Hanneman shook his head and sighed.
"That woman is as tough as old nails, I dare say it would take a lot more than that to bring her down, however…" he looked to the side and sighed through his nose.
"What was the damage?" Byleth asked. He had been eager to find out the wellbeing of his fellow professor. He harboured guilt he has not told anyone of yet, if they had been there a little sooner it might not have happened.
"Well the attack might slow her down, so to speak, but she'll be up again soon. She was conscious when I went to the infirmary and wouldn't you believe that woman was so riled up about the attack, and how she'll 'get them back for this,'" he gave a dry chuckle, "after I calmed her down we had a small discussion."
"About what, professor?" Dimitri shifted beside Byleth, anxious to hear the news. Byleth in turn nodded for Hanneman to continue.
"It looks like she may not want to continue on as a professor." Hanneman stated. Byleth's eyes widened slightly but Dimitri almost took a step back.
"W-what? Not continue on? How will this affect her house? The Battle of the Eagle and Lion is soon." He stammered. Hanneman gave a half shrug and continued on his explanation.
"She spoke out of anger and pain. Whether she does or not remains to be seen. I am only telling you this because I imagine once that woman gets back on her feet she'll seek you out. After all, you were the ones to discover her." He looked at Byleth.
"That's true, it was lucky we found professor Manuela when we did." Byleth said. He brought his hand up to his chin in thought. "Does Rhea know?"
Hanneman shook his head, "No, not yet. I am waiting for Manuela to gain more strength and hopefully a clearer mind."
"And her job here as a physician?" Dimitri asked.
"That I do not know, however I hope we gain all the answers soon. I must leave you now, you must still be rather tired." Hanneman bowed and went on his way.
Byleth and Dimitri returned the bow and watched him go. It was true that Manuela was tough, and he hoped she would make a full recovery. He turned round to Dimitri.
"Heh, I know what you're going to say professor," Dimitri said, smiling and pushing a hand through his hair, "you want us to go after whoever stabbed professor Manuela?"
Byleth nodded, "The mask she was holding belonged to Jeritza."
"Yes, and he is supposedly this 'Death Knight' that everyone in town is talking about." Dedue contributed. "However professor, remember that he left before we could apprehend him." Byleth looked at his feet in disappointment. Such a person should never have been able to get as far as he did.
"Do not get yourself down, professor," Dimitri said, "he used some kind of warp magic to evade us. Anyway, look on the bright side, professor Manuela is safe and Flayn is back with us."
Byleth nodded, his thoughts going back to Flayn, who had been found next to another girl. Supposedly a student from last year. Who was she? And who was the masked apparition who talked to the Death Knight? He seemed as mysterious as he was important to this puzzle. He also disappeared along with the Death Knight before Byleth could get a closer look. His head was spinning from the questions. He was sure he'd see both of them again in the near future…
Robin could feel herself floating. What bliss it was to not have to think. Sure it was dark but her mind was empty. There was nothing here but her own being, floating in whichever corner of the universe she was in. After a while she became vaguely aware of herself, until thoughts started to form again.
Something around her started to shift and she along with it. Gradually, the feeling of floating was taken away and she suddenly became much heavier. Like she had a body again. Her thoughts became a little sharper, though she could still not remember much.
She could do nothing but let whatever was happening, to happen. Soon she felt something, for what felt like the first time in aeons. It was something at her back. Like she was pressed against something. She waited a little longer, her senses seemed to come back to her, little by little. Then she felt something gentle move across her face.
Robin recognised the feeling, it felt like a breeze.
What was a breeze doing in the void? No...she was somewhere else now. It felt like she hadn't felt the wind in such a long time. Almost immediately after that thought had formed, she felt a dull pain in her chest and she gasped, realising she needed to breath again.
But the dead do not breathe. Was she no longer dead?
After relearning how to breathe, she realised she had limbs back. Though a little numb, she tested them out and felt her hands touch something soft. Slowly, she opened her eyes. Blinking away the blurriness, she almost had to shield them from a piercing light.
Glancing around, she realised her back and her hands were on the grass. Moving one in an up and down motion, she almost savoured the feeling of just being able to feel again. Then the rest of her body caught up to her and she felt somewhat stiff, like when she had been in one position reading a book for too long. She sighed slightly and enjoyed the feeling of stretching all of her limbs. This place felt relaxing, and she could not sense any immediate danger. The sun was warm, and she could hear the soothing sound of the wind in the trees. Her mind was still somewhat foggy as she watched the trees above her.
They were not familiar to her eyes. She shook her head in an attempt to clear the fog. She sighed and focused on her breathing. She decided to focus on her hearing since the sun was still a little too bright. In the cacophony of trees swaying there was the sound of running water and her ears pricked up at the sound. Her throat was parched.
It felt like ages had passed since she last drank. Blinking slowly, she sat up a little more and decided to find the source. Heaving herself up proved somewhat difficult, it felt like her whole body has not been used for a while. Her only thought was to drink something. Legs a little shaky, she moved towards the sound. Now she could tell she was on the edge of a forest clearing. She glanced back to where she had been laying and a sense of de ja vu crept up on her. Shaking it away she staggered through the trees and leant on a few for support. Finally, she spotted a river weaving its way through the forest, not necessarily big and more like a small stream but she still dove for it. Splashing her hands in the water she took a handful and drank the precious substance. She coughed, trying to clear her throat. The water helped clear it and she felt all the better for it. She took a couple more, not caring how clean it was. Coughing one final time, she sat back and tried clearing her thoughts again. They quickly became more organised and she could think properly and clearly again. Where was she? Was Chrom nearby? Then a small click. Chrom. That name was so familiar. He was her friend, he, his sister Lissa and their retainer Frederick found her lying unconscious in the middle of a field. That explains the de ja vu. Then she joined the Shepherds on a life altering journey. Suddenly all her memories fell into place. Including the final battle that decided the fate of the world.
She tentatively looked down at her right hand. Is it still there? She peeled off her gloves. If it was gone she knew she did her job right. It was still there. The Fell brand was still there.
A feeling of anger overcame her and she smacked the water causing small droplets to fly everywhere. If she was here did that mean she had failed? Did she fail her friends? Where were they?
"Chrom?" She croaked out. Her voice wasn't very strong yet so she cleared her throat and tried again, this time a little louder. "Chrom? Lucina?" Her voice cracked. She probably shouldn't be drawing attention to herself, she didn't know where she was. No one had responded so she assumed she was all alone. This time there was no Chrom to pick her up off her feet, or a friendly face like Lissa's, or even the stern gaze of Frederick to have awakened her. She woke up by herself in this strange place and she was all alone.
Shaking her head slightly she sighed and got up. There was no way she was gonna sulk here on her own. If she wanted answers or to find the Shepherds, she'd have to leave. Brushing herself off she looked at the direction of the sun. It appeared to be fairly low in the sky, meaning it was sometime in late morning. Checking her pockets and the inside of her cloak she discovered she still had some of her stuff. Her sword and three of her thunder tomes, including Arcthunder and Elthunder. That was good, she didn't drop them in the fight and now she was glad to have them. They were powerful tomes and she knew how to use them. Checking the stream again she decided the best course of action was to follow its direction. Naturally, there could be a settlement of some kind at the end. Perhaps some people will give her directions back to Ylisse. She knew she must be far away from it if the identity of the trees were any indication. Steeling herself she walked onwards. The only sounds to be heard were the birds chirping, which gave her great comfort. Vaike would sometimes complain about them singing in the mornings and keeping him up, but she always found comfort in the sounds of nature. She kept scanning the forest anyway, this was still strange territory and experience told her it was better safe than sorry. Hopefully she found someone with food, as her stomach started to growl. After what felt like half an hour, she was nearing a clearing in the forest.
Robin couldn't believe her luck, half a mile away was a small town. From here she could see people. Her heart leapt in her throat at the prospect of more water and possibly some food. She didn't have any money on her as she remembered she kept that behind when going into a fight. Hopefully she'd find someone who she could explain the situation to. Perhaps she could persuade them to lend her food and water once she promised to send the money when she got back to Ylisse. And maybe somewhere she could rest for a while. She hoped they were kind people. Robin was far from a naive person but she was desperate. She could even offer to do some work in exchange for accommodation. Ever the tactician, her mind was preparing all the possibilities as she got nearer the town.