Chapter 55: A Blood Red Sea
((Author's Note: And here finally after WAY too long of a wait is the last chapter of Part II. See you all in... Uh, several months give or take for Part III! Until then, thank you for reading!))
Even though the wave had receded, the world still spun around Chrom. He winced as the impact against the ship echoed through him… But the lack of water shocked him a second time over. How exposed it left him feeling. The raw air felt like it would blister his skin, if he didn't drown on all the oxygen first.
He blinked, his vision suddenly distorted without so much water to look through. He could just make out those around him, shaking the water from their own eyes. Their faces were familiar; they belonged to the crew of the Shepherd.
"Fred…erick?" Chrom's voice was a whisper against the storm winds and shouts of combat, but somehow the knight still heard Chrom. Frederick took a halting step towards him.
"Your… Your Grace-?" Frederick managed, but his voice was thick with disbelief. Chrom's face burned in answer. Every scale felt like a blemish, his fins foreign compared to the limbs everyone else stood on. He tried to find some strain of magic, something to shift his form somehow, but the storm had turned everything into a mess of noise.
"Impossible…" The knight almost reached a hand towards him, but there was vivid fear on his face that stopped him short. Maybe he would have tried another step, if not for the clash of swords drawing closer. The Plegians were swarming along the Shepherd, and the look in their eyes promised murder.
"Chrom, what… What just happened-?" Robin rasped out. He turned his head to her, feeling his gills sting. She struggled to push herself up on one arm, her free hand occupied with trying to trace magic sigils into the air. Immediately, Chrom attempted to put himself in front of Robin, desperate to protect her while she gathered her spell.
His own hands balled into fists, ready to fight if any of the Plegians stumbled too close.
'I need to protect this place. This is... Was my home, for so long.' He worked himself up into a crouch, even as his arms trembled. His body couldn't seem to decide what shape it wanted to be in-
'Shift to human, if you can. Just once more-' He tried to urge himself… But something was missing, something that he needed to completely push him into the other shape.
"You wish to embrace the air world again?" Came a voice; one that he recognized in an instant. It belonged to the sea dragon. After so many nights and days, he still knew that flash of green hair… Even as she walked on two legs, instead of swimming on fins. The silk of her clothing all but floated on the breeze as she stood over them.
'Tiki…' He wasn't certain how the dragon had made her way to the Shepherd, but his spirits lifted a little at her voice. She was a solid thing, in the midst of all the chaos; the rattle of weapons or heaving seas never shook her.
"Well met; but there's no time for further courtesies. We need you in this fight… And human, if you can manage it." Tiki dropped to her knee, speaking to them face to face. Chrom almost flinched from the sudden proximity, but he was still clumsy in this form. The floor was almost as slippery as he was, and his body shook horribly. A sense of panic was still trying to hook into him, no matter how Chrom tried to fight it.
The rush of bodies around them reminded Chrom that he had good reason to be nervous. They were in a pocket of stillness, protected by the Shepherd crew as a battle raged on. Many of the crew had been forced to put their backs to Chrom, focused instead on repelling a wave of invaders.
"Wh… Why?" Robin asked… Though she didn't shrink from the battle, or the prospect of fighting. "Why do you need us to fight?"
Her answer came in a snarl of lightning, and a gleeful laugh echoing off the sails. Both belonged to Gangrel, Chrom knew with a sickening twist to his stomach… And somehow, the man had picked up an extra bit of madness. The pirate had forced his way onto the ship, and that thought twisted Chrom's stomach.
'He doesn't belong anywhere near the Shepherd, or my crew!'
"We can offer you power… But it's up to you to shape it." The new voice didn't belong to Tiki, instead coming from a robed figure standing close by. Chrom froze at the sight; whoever this person was, he was certain he had no memory of her face… But her robe was familiar, with Robin once wearing much of the same.
"Who… Are you?" But it wasn't the stranger who answered him. It was Robin, in a bare whisper.
"I've… Seen her before. I-in my memories. What little I can remember." She sounded almost close to crying. "Her name is… Is Morgana. She is… My…"
The next word was little more than a desperate whisper.
"M-mother…" Robin's eyes were wide like they scarcely believed her own words, and her hand half reached out to Morgana.
That was enough for him to grasp at what Morgana offered. The others around him were a reminder of his other life. Of what he'd been forced to leave behind. There was a time when he'd fight through anything to help them, and now he had the chance to get that same life back-
A clang of metal drew his eyes to the front of the ship. A girl with flowing blue hair swept around Gangrel's strikes, like water flowing around rocks. A boy shadowed her, struggling to keep his feet.
He'd seen them before; Chrom was certain of that much. Once from a battle at Wreckage… And another time from a hazy dream. A strange feeling set itself inside of him; a warmth at odds with the chill of the storm.
Gangrel shrieked, banishing that half dream as he drove the girls to her knees. His sword pommel caught her across the ribs and knocked her into the boy behind her. A sudden, red hot anger rose in him like the tide. He had to protect them.
The water began to froth and bubble around him and Robin. Spray washed over them both, dissolving the scales from their skin in an instant. A familiar pain burned down Chrom's tail as it lashed, and in the next breath legs were beneath him. Chrom fought his way upright; even as the familiar weight of his clothes settled on him, he didn't dwell on it. Chrom threw himself forward as Gangrel moved to strike down the girl.
He caught the blade, as Falchion gleamed bright and newly formed in his hands.
"Ch-Chrom!" Robin gasped out, as he turned the blade and glared at Gangrel. Chrom threw himself forward, slamming shoulder to shoulder into Gangrel. He shoved at the man, pushing him back and giving Chrom just enough space to breathe.
He had just enough time to look himself over; Chrom marveled at the old navy tunic, almost black in the storm. Robin soon pulled herself up with a shudder, also clothed in her robe and breeches.
"Looks like you're fully back to yourselves… And we managed to get you to pass through the boundary without losing your memories." Morgana said, sounding satisfied.
"Now we just need to keep you alive… And take care of our little problem."
-o-o-o-
Lissa watched Walhart, and the disbelief tracing across his face as the ships clashed. The Shepherd led the charge, never once shying from the spell fire, tearing into the Plegians. Even as it tangled with the lead Plegian ship, the crew never gave up the fight. In the meantime, the Feroxi fleet spread out, taking shots at pirate and Valmese alike.
Lissa tried not to smirk at that… Even if they hadn't yet touched Walhart's flagship.
"They aren't standing down." Walhart growled. "I thought your forces had more wisdom than that…"
"What can I say?" Lissa said, trying to roll her shoulders against the heavy ropes and manacles binding her. "We're stubborn like that."
Her jokes dried up as Walhart's gaze hardened. He turned from the battle, shrugging off the glow of spell fire. Even as his own soldiers fought valiantly to keep the Ferox and Plegian ships at bay, Walhart focused only on Lissa.
"Princess… This means your use to me is at an end. Make peace with your god, for what little good it will do you." His voice was strangely flat, and Lissa was shocked she could hear it over her pounding heart. Walhart took the axe from his side, and raised it above his head.
"Perhaps this will demoralize your troops. Either way… They must learn I'm not to be mocked."
The axe flashed down as Walhart spoke, and Lissa flinched, knowing this wouldn't be a clean death-
But the jagged edge never struck her, instead ringing off a blade that intercepted it. Lissa stared up, wondering if a Ylissean or Feroxi soldier had somehow snuck on board and saved her.
But it wasn't one of her own, Lissa realized. She was staring up at a silver haired, Valmese soldier. The same one who had guarded her and spoken so much… And who hadn't given up his spot beside her.
"…Don't hurt her." Yen'fay growled, throwing back Walhart's axe. He kept himself between Lissa and the Conqueror. Walhart reeled for only a moment, before lashing at Yen'fay, intent on driving him back. One strike almost ripped the blade from Yen'fay's hand, and Walhart followed it up with another attack; one that tore past Yen'fay's guard and scored a hit along him.
Yen'fay didn't so much as flinch from the strike, even though it tore a gouge from his shoulder to elbow. He still plunged forward, scoring a hit of his own deep into Walhart's ribs. Lissa winced at the blow, knowing it had to have punctured a lung.
Walhart still kept himself upright, and somehow managed to gather a blood flecked breath.
"It will take far more than that, traitor."
"I was never that loyal with you to begin with." Yen'fay shot back. "Not after what you did to Say'ri." Walhart grimaced, and gathered his strength. Yen'fay was ready to meet him… Until a rogue wave slammed into the ship and sent him staggering. The swordsmaster slipped on a bloody and spray slick deck.
It sent him crashing into Lissa and left him wide open to Walhart's strike. The axe crashed down, biting into them both. Lissa felt her shoulder scream and burn from the blow. Blood flecked her skirts and blouse, staining them black. But it hurt too much for her to die, or so Lissa prayed. Yen'fay fared worse, taking the brunt of the hit across his back, and it sundered his armor and drew a deep cut along him.
"Now… You both pay the price." Walhart told them, spitting out blood with his words.
Yen'fay slumped, glaring up in defiance at Walhart, and waiting for the axe to fall on his head. The blade gleamed silver and red as Walhart swung the weapon aloft… But it never fell. Not before another rogue wave waved over the ship, trying to pull it below the surface. Lissa froze, transfixed as a Mer vaulted up from the ocean. Her movement was an echo to what had saved Lissa, on that first Risen fight. She was using the waves to throw her into the air.
The Mer twisted in the apex of her leap, a curved fang of a blade in her hands. Water sprayed around her, carrying her onto the ship and straight into Walhart. A webbed hand sunk talons into his face, while her sword skewered him through his back. Walhart went rigid with pain, before collapsing as his eyes glazed with disbelief.
His head had turned to see the Mer… And his eyes stretched wide.
"Impossible. You… I killed you myself!"
"It didn't take." The mermaid spat back, glaring through her black haired bangs at him. She gave another wrench with her blade, drawing it back with a spray of red.
Lissa tried to breathe easy for an instant… Only for a vicious laugh to stop her short.
"Well, this little game has been a delight to watch… But I think it's time we brought it to a close!" The voice of Gangrel's sea witch echoed across the waves… And with a snarl of thunder, spell bolts slammed into the ship. Masts splintered, sails fought alight, and her own flesh didn't fare any better when the bolts caught Lissa. Lissa tried to scream, but the magic rushed into her and buzzed with electricity, robbing her of her speech.
-o-o-o-
Robin's ears ached, and it only grew worse as Gangrel let out a shrieking laugh as the teeth of the storm chewed apart Walhart's ship. Robin could barely move as the magic thrummed through her body, trying to deafen her head with thunder and discordant song.
And still the storm raged, like Gangrel's mad howls gave it life and focus. Robin tried to find some way to take control of the storm, but it was like picking out a single word from a cacophony of screams.
The winds whipped around them as Gangrel lifted his blade, slashing the air and forcing many of the crew to their knees. Pegasi and wyverns both screamed as they battled the tempest.
But one of the crew stood fast against the assault, even as he was pushed and skid across the deck. Chrom was determined to hold his ground, and keep himself between Gangrel and the fallen girl. The squall snapped at her blue clothing and hair, and Gangrel seemed to take that as a personal insult.
"You will all fall!" He howled… And as the young woman and Chrom braced against the winds, they were blind to the lightning falling from above. The bolts crashed down on Chrom, driving him to his knees. Worse happened to the girl, giving a desperate cry before Falchion buried itself next to her; it nearly took her hand off, as the blade was wrenched from Chrom's hand.
The sight pushed a sick feeling into Robin as the two went shock still and crumpled.
'He'll pay for that.' A black thought growled through Robin's head. The thought and sight shot a strength through her limbs, and built an uncomfortable shriek in the back of her throat.
Robin let the cry out, and felt the storm shudder in response… And fade for an instant. The light and magic went out from Gangrel's blade, and Robin let her voice fade along with the spell.
A new laugh answered her cry, as a figure in black stepped alongside Gangrel. The sword crackled in response to Robin's cry and its echoes, spider line cracks spreading along the metal.
"What-?" Gangrel gathered enough strength to ask.
"My apologies, Gangrel… It looks like your part is long since finished. Though I did enjoy this, while it lasted." Aversa favored Gangrel with a pitying look. Through the haze of his blood lust, he must have realized that SOMETHING was wrong.
He must have also noticed the dark shapes lurking just past the sides of the ship, slowly swarming under the waves and preparing to drag everything they could into the waters.
Aversa didn't keep them waiting, as she easily slid over the side of the ship, into the grasp of the sea. From where she watched, Robin could see black scales sweep over Aversa, changing her in little more than a blink.
Yet Gangrel barely seemed to register her betrayal. A thin film seemed to move over his eyes, and drove him to move towards Robin. Ready to cut her down, even with the damage to his blade.
-o-o-o-
Gangrel leered over Chrom and the young woman by his side, before turning from them. Even with a half broken blade and the loss of his sea witch, he writing them off as injured beyond hope-
Which was his biggest mistake. Chrom snarled, lurching upwards and slamming his head into Gangrel's face. A headache lanced across his forehead, Chrom gritting his teeth against it. Gangrel was in worse shape, nose broken and bleeding.
"Lucina!" Chrom shouted out, driving the girl to her feet… And he had an instant to wonder how he knew her name. But it got her scrambling upright, her hand grasping the dropped Falchion and drawing the blade up one smooth motion.
As Gangrel reeled from the crash, Chrom latched his hands onto Gangrel's wrist. The man struggled, thinking that Chrom wanted to yank the Levin sword from his grip… But Chrom had no such wish, almost feeling the oily magic coming off the blade. Chrom instead wrenched Gangrel's arm upwards. And into the path of Lucina's sword sweep.
The Levin sword screamed once from the impact… And shattered into a dozen pieces. And almost all of them managed to bury themselves into the back and neck of Gangrel.
He froze, staring at Chrom in disbelief… Right before Lucina threw the sword into Chrom's hand. He let go of Gangrel, snapping his hands around the sword grip. Falchion drove into Gangrel's heart, his life snuffed out in an instant as he thudded to the ship deck.
-o-o-o-
Lissa could just glimpse her brother striking the final blow. She wanted to feel relief, a sense of triumph… But the storm and the pain of her wounds was robbing Lissa from all of that.
The only thing Lissa COULD do was stagger backwards. She glimpsed Yen'fay struggling towards the Mer, stretching his arm out to her as he stared… And then throwing himself over her as a lightning bolt slammed down, striking him across the neck and head. The explosion of the spell sent all of them over the side of the ship, and into the waters.
"LISSA!" Her eyes widened at Chrom's voice-
But then the ocean waters swarmed over her. Lissa fought against them, desperately trying to get her limbs to move… But they wouldn't listen, the ropes biting into her wrists. And the waters threatened to rush into her lungs, to take the place of the stale air in them-
'I'm… This is it. I'm going to-'
"L…Lissa." Her eyes widened, at the figure barreling out of the gloom. Her long golden hair trailed behind her, while her pale eyes stayed fixed on Lissa.
'I must already be dead. That looks like-'
"Emmeryn." Lissa tried to say, only for the drowning to begin. Her lungs heaved as sea water rushed into them. Emmeryn surged towards her, wrapping her arms around Lissa, and touching her forehead to hers. Lissa started at the contact, and how warm her touch seemed to be. Not what she would think a phantom would have.
"You can't die here." Emmeryn continued. "I won't allow it."
-o-o-o-
Lucina stared at the two figures, standing over her. She knew that she should probably shut her mouth, and do something about the tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She'd been looking for them for so long, following faint memories… And now they stood in front of her, and she could barely speak.
"M-Moth-" Morgan tried to say again, only for a shiver and shriek of the winds to steal his words. The chaos of the fight had forced him the floor as well, left him half robbed of his voice.
Worse, was that their parents couldn't quite focus on them; not with the way the skies rumbled and threatened to break apart again.
"What's going on?" Robin asked, eyes fixed to the storm clouds overhead. "We've won against Gangrel, so why are the storms still here-?"
She trailed off, staring at Morgana. The woman was running towards them, fighting against the tilt of the ships. Her hand stretched out, and she tried to raise her voice against the crash and chaos of the storm.
"ROBIN!" Her voice finally reached them. "It's too dangerous to stay here any longer!"
"We…" Morgan finally found his voice. "We just fought off a fleet of ships, and NOW you're saying it's dangerous?"
Morgan gave Morgana a doubtful look. "What's going to stop us-?"
Right as he spoke a tremor ran through the ships, throwing all of the crew off their feet.
Nearby Chrom struggled to stand, even as the world went mad… And as they saw Lissa teeter on the edge of Walhart's ship, then crash into the waves. Lucina felt a twisting in her chest at the sight, her breath freezing up.
Chrom stared, right as Lissa dropped into the ocean. Lucina watched his throat try to work, but he only managed a strained, almost sob of a sound. When her body crashed through the waves, Chrom threw himself forward. He rushed to the railing, only for Morgana to grab him by the arm, holding him back. He thrashed against her grip.
"LET GO! I have to-" Lissa sank beneath the waves, out of sight… But a green and gold flecked tail broke from the waves, following her down. One that tickled the edges of Lucina's memory.
'I… I feel like I've seen those scales before.'
But she didn't have time to dwell on it.
"We need to get you out of here! You saw those things in the water, didn't you!?" Chrom froze for a moment, going a touch pale as he looked over the edge. Lucina followed his sight, and saw the black streaked fins cutting like sharks through the waves.
"…That isn't part of Say'ri's resistance." Chrom managed.
-o-o-o-
"L-Lissa." Emmeryn managed the name, as she traced her hands over the girl's body. Say'ri dropped into the waves as well, and surged around the two. The green gemstone at her side glowed, illuminating the storm wracked waters and adding an extra jolt of magic to the sea.
Emmeryn gladly used that magic, determined that the land dweller wouldn't die. The girl's eyes were glassy, her throat going still. On instinct Emmeryn trailed her hands along Lissa's throat… And felt something shift in Lissa's skin, as gills opened up along her neck.
A part of Emmeryn shuddered from how easily she worked these changes. The rest of her was relieved to see Lissa breathe-
A flurry of motion drew her eyes, and beyond the glow of the gem were dark shapes swirling around the group.
"Emmeryn, we need to withdraw!" One of the fighters urged. "We can't face off against those things-!" He cut off, and blood clouded from a slash across his back. Beyond Say'ri's soldiers, she saw figures bristling with spines, the lights along their tails glowing a sickly violet. They brought to mind things from the depths…
And the one leading them made her freeze. Made her limbs go still, remembering being bound, her head almost going blank like it was being ensorcelled again. She'd seen the leader before; had him leer over her, ready to take her life… If not for Chrom and Robin's efforts. Emmeryn could grasp that memory now; as the specter loomed before her.
His form was gaunt, and his scales were a ripple of violet and ink… And she remembered the red glare of his eyes.
"Who…?" Emmeryn breathed out, staring at the stranger.
"Validar." Say'ri whispered. She clung to another figure, one who was struggling to survive against the ocean. Just as Lissa had; his form wasn't suited to the waves.
And… She was tired of seeing people die, whether from wounds, or from drowning. So she reached again, keying into the spells saturating the ocean. Emmeryn gave a desperate hum, letting it echo through the ocean, and a spray of bubbles moved through the stranger's neck. His legs kicked out, fusing down into a single tail, while Say'ri clung onto him.
Nearby Lissa twisted as well, her form becoming a match for Emmeryn's. She caught another glimpse of Validar, and saw a strange hate blazing in his eyes at the sight.
"Spill their blood." He growled to one group of his soldiers. "The rest of you, follow me."
Emmeryn froze as the feral Mer advanced… But now that Say'ri didn't need to hold the stranger and keep him from drowning, she was free to act. And freed from the weight, she was a tempest as she drew her blades and slashing into the feral shapes.
But she couldn't completely break through the ranks, or give chase to Validar; she could only hold the hostile forces back, as the leader slipped away with his band.
-o-o-o-
Validar clawed his way onto the red smeared ship, the feral Mer swarming around him and tearing into the remaining Valmese troops. The final Valmese ships nearby floundered and sank beneath the waves; over the storm he could just hear the screams of the sailors. Few of them could swim.
'And that inadequacy is why they are a black mark on the waves. Such marks must be erased.'
Validar finished climbing over the side of the ship, as the crimson sails fluttered around him. Such red was like the banners of a fallen kingdom, or freshly shed blood. He spotted the leader of the fleet, staggered and with red and red on him; blood and crimson armor, all mixing together.
"Well…" Validar's sighed out as he watched the man struggle. Even drawing breath was an effort for him now. "That was a battle well fought, Conqueror. And a warrior like you will make a worthy sacrifice to Grima."
As he spoke, Validar clawed his way forward. Walhart saw him, and his eyes went wide… But he was crippled from the battle. Ready for the slaughter.
Validar scoured his claws across Walhart's neck, drawing thick gouts of blood. The man sputtered out a red spit. The conquerer had taken so much punishment, it was a wonder he could still draw breath… But he was finally drowning on his own blood, pulled under by the weight of all his wounds.
His blood flowed along the deck, and buzzed across Validar's skin. One final offer to Grima, in the midst of so much carnage and sacrifice.
It took only a murmur and a gesture to send the meager remains of the flagship skidding across the waves… And crashing into the final blemish on his sea.
The Shepherd.
-o-o-o-
Robin stared at the ocean, trying to will it to give up Lissa. But there was no trace of her, like the sea had swallowed her completely; and worse, were the dark finned shapes twisting near the surface, the constant threat of a fresh storm-
And she was so fixated on all those things, she didn't notice the worst of it all. Not until it was too late.
Walhart's flagship barreled out of the storm, shoved by an unseen hand. Spray flew around it, as it arrowed straight for the Shepherd. Robin winced, knowing what was coming next.
"Brace for impact!" Morgana shouted. The two ships crunched together, the masts tangling and holding the ships fast. Frederick was already bellowing for axe men to hack the tangle apart and break them free… And for guards to ready themselves for another boarding.
But the boarding party never came. The deck of Walhart's ship was like a grave, no soldiers stirring across it… Instead twisting, sinuous shapes watched the Shepherd from where they clung to the sides and the prow… And there was a haunting quality to their gaze, as dozens of eyes leveled at Robin.
A gust slammed across the Shepherd, soaking the decks with spray and driving Robin forward, no matter how she fought against it. As Robin slid across the deck, she found herself staring at the leader of the Mer… And his chillingly familiar face. He crouched over the slumped, lifeless form of Walhart, with a gloating smile slashed across his features.
"...Plegia's leader-" Tiki choked that out, her voice sounding oddly strained.
'Validar.' He was smirking at her, satisfaction clear on his face. All of her swimming, and hiding, and she still hadn't managed to elude him. A queasy feeling settled into Robin's stomach the longer she watched him, and the more it all clicked together; Gangrel's command of the waves, Avera's ties to the seas… And even Walhart's death.
'Did he orchestrate all of this? Just to get to me?'
"Now… Robin." He all but crooned out her name. "It seems like it's time to return you to the sea-"
Validar cut short, as a flash of lightning seared into their vision. Robin fought against the ringing in her head, and the storm trying to shred her thoughts apart.
And it wasn't just herself. Even Validar winced from the crash of the storm, his focus fraying. The winds seemed to slacken for an instant.
The storm winds were bringing something other than rain, as tendrils of mist twisted through the shattered masts and torn sails. Something that Robin had only seen once before… But she hadn't forgotten the effects of the magic. They were falling into the protection of the mists. Nearby Tiki chanted, drawing and shaping a spell to pull them away.
"Take them, quickly!" Validar spat out. Waves crashed onto the Shepherd, and carried the merfolk forward. Robin slid on the planks, her body going oddly heavy as the rain soaked and dragged her clothing downwards.
She was powerless as the Mer swarmed forward, clawing along the deck with a wave of spells-
But an answering bolt of lightning drove the Mer back. With a startled blink, Robin realized someone was standing over her. She picked out the trim of Morgana's robes… And Validar must have recognized her as well.
"YOU!" Validar snapped out. "You're the one to blame for all of this, you traitorous witch."
Morgana stood against him, drawing out a spell tome. She tried to weave another bolt… Only for lightning to slam down an inch from her nose as Validar screamed out a spell of his own. Morgana flinched, concentration broken, while Validar continued to chant and call on the storm. Readying another attack.
This time, Robin knew the spell wouldn't miss.
-o-o-o-
Lucina screamed at her limbs to fight through the pain, to do something instead of just helplessly watching… But they weren't interested in listening to her. She could only pull off a stagger as she tried to reach Morgana. But her brother was a little more quick.
Morgan slammed into Morgana, throwing her out of the path of the Mer. They slid across the deck, stopping short of the gunwales and skidding just past the reach of the bolt. Lucina winced from the impact, and the fresh bit of hole carved into the ship.
The Shepherd wasn't looking very good, after weathering so much… And in a way it hurt to see all their hard work stripped away by blade, wave, and storm. But it would've hurt worse to see Morgana die.
"I'll protect you this time." Morgan promised her, having just enough room to meet her eyes. "Least I can do after all you've done-"
But the Mer weren't finished with them. Her temples buzzed as another twist rippled through the storm… And as the sea rose up into a great wall, a wave that hung for an instant before striking down on the Shepherd. Morgan couldn't stand against it anymore than Lucina could, getting swept completely to the side of the Shepherd. Her skin felt half scoured away from all the punishment, and she knew there was worse to come.
She glimpsed the dark shapes swarming up the side of the ship. Reaching out, and hooking their claws into Morgan. Lucina struggled towards them, trying to grab him, trying to hold on, or bring a blade against them-
Instead they snapped their hands around her next.
Lucina tried to scream, struggling against the grip of the Mer. But they were relentless; if she clawed at one set of hands, another settled over her shoulders or clapped like manacles over her wrists.
Chrom struggled towards her, Robin trying to find her feet… But the fight against Gangrel had taken its toll on both of them. They were slowed, collapsing to the deck and forced to watch her be pulled. Lucina couldn't even find enough breath to scream for help, as the Mer took her over the side of the ship. The Valmese fleet broke apart as Lucina plunged over the side, the Shepherd at last springing free from the sinking ships.
The waves closed around her, and Lucina's vision went dim as she fought to hold onto her breath.
"…So we meet again." Validar drifted into her vision and hearing. "You weren't the catch I had in mind… But I'll accept it."
-o-o-o-
Robin collapsed as the last of her power drained out. The storm had changed from furious thunder and wind to a torrential downpour. The deck of the Shepherd swayed underneath them… And a silence stretched through the entire crew, unbelieving of what just happened.
"Lucina…" Chrom whispered, giving a name to the girl. And something about it made Robin's face go a little more wet. Made something in her chest cry out, and loosen her throat just enough to speak.
"L-Lucina. No…" Robin whispered, helpless to stop her from vanishing into the waves. Just like Lissa, and the boy Morgan. She wanted to plunge into the waves after them, to do something-
But her limbs were like lead, her body finally realizing just how many changes had been wrought on it, and the adrenaline surge was fading fast. Chrom gave a strangled sob as the mists closed around them.
"Quick, man the Shepherd!" Frederick managed to cry out.
"Wait, what about Lissa!?" Vaike tried to protest.
"We…" Frederick tried to speak, but pain was clear in his voice. Already visibility was dropping, and Robin couldn't pick out the rest of the fleet.
"...These mists have already proven their properties before." Miriel pointed out, even as her voice had gone curiously numb. "We don't have much choice if they've decided to extend their protection."
"…Aye…" Frederick murmured. Chrom gave a weak rasp, trying to protest… But even he couldn't manage any words.
Chrom crashed onto the deck with a wet slap, giving a last strangled noise. Robin's mind followed him as her elbows gave out. Her vision sank into darkness.
Her last thought before oblivion claimed her, was that they weren't done with their fights yet. Not in the slightest… Especially if that faint roar from the ocean was anything to go by, so reminiscent of a dragon.
And with all that, came a feeling of something ancient stirring beneath the waves.
To Be Concluded.