Lost To The Waves: Part III Fathomless
Chapter 56: Ashore
(Author's Note: And here we are on the final stretch, which may take a while to get through. It is the last section of the fanfic, after all! Hope that you enjoy reading!)
Lucina sank.
And with every foot she dropped, the water tried to rob Lucina of her breath. Bubbles roared around her ears, and her vision grew dimmer with each second. The wane light of the surface didn't have a hope of following her, down into whatever depths she was getting pulled to. She couldn't break from the grip of whatever held her; when she tried to look around, all she saw were patches of glowing scales, tinged in violet and red. A pair of red eyes flickered back to her, shining bright in the murky waters.
She knew those eyes… And the voice that reached her ears.
"Not dead yet, I see… And you also haven't given yourself over to the ocean, either. You're a stubborn girl. But then, I can use that." Her lungs burned, and she wanted nothing more than to gouge those eyes out, or dig her fingers into the throat and tear that smug voice asunder.
"And you are a fighter." The voice continued, when she tried to struggle. "You know, I hope that you stay alive, long enough to reach where we're going."
Off to the side, Morgan thrashed and struggled in the gloom. His robe rippled in the currents, water soaked through the fabric and making it pitch black. It was a sharp contrast against the gleaming white hair of whoever held him.
'Mother-!?' The thought only lasted for a moment. The woman had a sharper edge to her features, and her look… And Lucina doubted her mother would EVER have such a harsh grip on Morgan. Scaled forms swarmed all around them, to rush them to the bottom of the ocean.
"Let.. Go…" She tried to rasp out, but there wasn't any air left in her lungs.
"Now, now… It would be a poor thing if you drowned yourself, before I got my answers from you." The voice chided.
"In fact… We should do something about that, for at least the moment."
Fingers dragged along her throat, the nails sharp enough to draw blood. The sides of her throat burned as the fresh cuts opened up. Lucina gasped in pain… And felt a little bit of air move into her lungs. But even breathing hurt, each inhale and exhale a torture. Her vision blurred from the pain, and her thoughts went with it.
-o-o-o-
The world had gone muffled. Just the soft rush of waves splashing against the sides of the room, almost like inhaling and exhaling. Chrom matched his breathing to it, his eyes as heavy as the arm over his side and chest.
'Oddly soft…' He thought to himself, trying to stir up from his sleep. But a part of him wanted to stay nestled in the covers. Away from the murmur of sound, letting his wounds heal-
'Those wounds you got from the battle.'
He remembered the details with a jolt, of cutting his way through the battleships and the Valmese and Plegian troops. Chrom jolted upright with a yelp, all his muscles going tense… And he felt someone slipping off his chest and landing in his lap. An elbow slammed into his gut and sent all his breath wheezing out, leaving Chrom to sink back into the pillows.
'Pillows?' His eyes adjusted to the gloom, while his fingers tangled in the bed sheets. His mind reeled, wondering just how long it had been since he'd slept in an actual bed instead of sand dunes, or wrapped in kelp. His mind was coming up blank.
"Chrom… What's going on? There's probably gentler ways to wake up..." Robin trailed off as she looked around, and realized where they were; and just how close they were together. And that they were wrapped in sheets. "…Haven't woken up in one of these for a while."
She echoed his thoughts, while trying to climb onto her hands and knees.
"This looks familiar… Almost like when I first woke up, on board the Shepherd." She glanced around again, making a soft humming noise in the back of her throat. "A-actually, this looks like…"
Chrom narrowed his eyes, and felt an odd blink in his memories; like someone had just struck a match in his mind, and shed a bit of light on his thoughts and surroundings. He knew this room; he'd spent months at sea inside it, going over maps or trying to get some sleep-
"Th-this IS the Shepherd. This is my quarters!" He blurted out. "Which means… At the very least, it means we're not prisoners. I can't imagine Walhart or Gangrel would let us live, let alone put us in a familiar room. But what about the battle?"
Robin didn't answer that. She had already eased herself out of the bed, and padded towards the door. Chrom followed her, and helped ease the door open.
The Shepherd waited for them on the other side. He couldn't fully trust his memory, but he was pretty sure it was looking more splintered than before. And quiet; no crew manned the masts, the ropes, or looked down from the crow's nest. Beyond the sails, he glimpsed pale cliffs… And a familiar castle, perched on those cliffs. He blinked, recognizing the towers and parapets.
"That… That's the castle of Ylisstol. My… My home." When he said that out loud, his memories did another odd flicker; a part of him wanted to replace the blue sky with teal and blue water shifting all around the castle. To picture the sea coating the castle instead of air. He shook his head, trying to remember other things; his time in the tide pools, visiting the docks, and gazing out over the sea and wondering what was out there.
'Now you know… And it fills all your thoughts.' Chrom inhaled deeply, trying to get the salt breeze to steady him, and remind him that he breathed air instead of water. He took a good look around again, trying to make his surroundings solid.
"Robin… I think I'm remembering wrong, but… Isn't something missing?" Robin gave an agreeing hum.
"The docks look smaller than before; and like the cliffs have twisted around and turned this into a cove… Or an island maybe. But something is different-" She froze alongside him. "Oh gods. This IS an island."
And as he looked, Chrom saw what she meant; the castle seemed smaller, with so much sky and sea framing it. There was no stretch of city, and very little in the way of other buildings nearby.
"This is what Tiki meant? That we'd changed Ylisse-?" Chrom murmured.
"Indeed… And it doesn't surprise me, to know you were the source of this, milord." It felt like it had been an eternity since he heard that voice, and Chrom couldn't keep from grinning as he spun around. Frederick stood against the wheel, hands folded behind him and standing at attention. Sumia sat close by, and also leapt to attention when she saw him, giving him a crisp salute.
"Good to see you awake, Captain! A-and that you're alive, that too."
"You gave us a shock when you showed up during the battle… I should have believed L-Lissa." Chrom blinked at that; he'd never heard Frederick stammer before, least of all over a name. And Sumia seemed diminished for a moment as well.
"You're still alive at least… We should focus on the positive, right now."
"P-positive…?" He hesitated over that, but Robin was a little faster on the uptake.
"You must have hundreds of questions for Chrom. I'm surprised that you let us sleep for this long."
"We've questions for Chrom AND you, lady Robin." Chrom blinked at the title. "You're right, our questions are in the hundreds… But that woman was having none of it, and insisted we let you rest."
"She also dunked anyone who disagreed over the side of the boat. I'm pretty sure we had to fish Vaike out of the harbor twice." Sumia added, while Chrom gave them a confused look.
"What woman-?" As if on cue, he heard the floorboards creak under the footsteps of someone. Their steps were well paced and steady, sounding like the person was well used to moving across a ship… And if Chrom was honest, they sounded more balanced than he felt at the moment.
"Of course, now that you're awake… We likely have a lot to share with each other." A rich voice came to his ears. When he turned to look, for a moment Chrom thought he saw Robin; it was the same pale hair, dark skin, and even the same sort of robe… But when he looked at the face, he realized her hair was short cropped, and there were lines of age and wisdom around her eyes.
Robin noticed the similarities as well, with how she froze at his side… And the sharp gasp she gave.
"Wh-who… Who are you?" Robin whispered out. The woman froze from those words, almost as though they'd been a blow to the face. Her eyes stretched wide, staring at Robin, desperate for something… And Chrom felt like that was familiar. It had been the same look Robin had given him, when he'd lost his memory.
This was someone from Robin's past.
"You… Don't know me? You don't know my name?" The stranger asked. Robin began to shake her head, only to freeze.
"I-it's you… The one from the battle." Robin whispered. "I-I should know you better. But my head is still full of holes… And muffled from so much sleep."
"That's the price, unfortunately…" The stranger hung her head at that. "It took me years to recover my own memories of you. And I'm sorry that I had to leave you behind; I could say that thousands of times, Robin. But first, I believe we all owe each other some answers."
And there was something about her voice that Robin seemed to recognize. And the events of the battle slowly caught up to her.
"You're… Morgana." Robin murmured. "You're my…"
"Yes. Your mother. I… Have spent a long time away from you, when I should have been raising you."
"V-Validar…"
Before Robin could squeak out any more questions of her own, a call rang from the docks.
"ENEMY ATTACK! Everyone to arms!" Vaike shouted out. Chrom flinched from the volume and the voice.
"Gods rot their eyes! How many more of those scaly bastards do we have to put up with!?" Sully's yell yanked at their attention, and rattled anymore questions out of Chrom's head.
-o-o-o-
Morgan's first thought was that he could still breathe… But he couldn't quite move. The rest of his surroundings took some time to catch up to him.
He was imprisoned in a cave, one half flooded with sea water. A few pinprick holes were in the ceiling and let in wane light. The walls were stained blue and teal; it might have been beautiful, if there'd been any exit he could see. But the only way in or out had to be locked beneath the waves.
"Luci…?" Morgan called out, his voice trembling and echoing off the rocks. His answer was a faint splash, and he looked over to see Lucina laying on a shelf of rock, her body half in and half out of the water. Her clothing was in shreds, barely held together. And through the rents, he saw flecks of scales on her skin; like someone had grinded up a dozen sapphires, and sprinkled the remains on her. But despite the scales, her limbs were still human.
So were his, he realized with a jolt. His legs kicked out against the water, reminding him that they still existed; no fins had taken the place of his toes.
'Too bad. You could use a way to swim right now…If you weren't tied up.' He looked down, bemused by the coil of rope tied around his legs. His arms were similarly hobbled, clapped in rusted manacles. When he took a closer look at Lucina, he realized the same was true for her.
'Oh. That's not a good sign.'
"Morgan? Where- No, what-?" Lucina groaned out, her eyes forced to squint, thanks to the dried blood smeared across her hair and forehead.
"Don't really have answers for either of those, sorry. And I wish that I did." He glanced around again. Hoping that this time he'd get some sort of answers.
Instead he found himself looking at the water of the cove, how it almost pulsed back and forth. The waves moved restlessly through the cave, like they were looking for a way out as well… Or like they were impatient for something to happen.
"…Luci? Is it just me, or is the water getting higher?" Morgan found himself asking. Lucina didn't get time to answer, as the waves suddenly shifted and crashed over them.
The waves washed over his head for an instant… And beyond the sudden rasp of bubbles flooding his ears, Morgan heard something else. Something between a roar, and a sorrowful call. Something that deafened his thoughts for an instant, with its volume and weight pressing on his chest. It was like whale song, but coming from something far bigger.
Then the waters receded, and he gasped for breath. Across the rocks, Lucina's sides heaved and she coughed up water.
"Wh-what was THAT!?" Of course Lucina didn't have an answer for that. But what really froze Morgan was that she didn't seem to have any will left at all. Lethargy clung to her limbs, and she barely even raised her head.
"H-hey. There's got to be a way out of this, right-? Luci-?" His sister slumped in the water, her strength draining out of body and into the pools. She wouldn't even raise her head to look at him. "Come on, Luci! We escaped once. We can do it again-"
"Morgan, we got LUCKY once before. We can't expect that type of fortune to strike twice." Her voice was almost numb. "Do you see any sympathetic Mer here?"
She sounded so tired, and flinched each time the waves washed over them… And he knew that same call was wearing her down, tolling in their heads like a bell. Reminding them that time was running out, with how the water rushed in.
"I hate that sound." Lucina muttered. "It's too loud, and getting stronger-"
"…Well, little Lucina. You're more right than you know." Came a cold voice, from the far end of the tide cave. A shadow detached itself from one of the walls, striding over to them. It was the same pale haired woman that had swum with them, and Morgan flinched from the memory. He wondered if she'd dig her nails into him again, but instead she seemed content to loom over him and smirk. The blacks of her dress bled together with the rocks.
"Ah, so you recognize me? The one who pulled you back to where you belong… Even as your bodies still fight against it."
"Who-?"
"You may call me Aversa… And perhaps you can hurry along with your changes." There was something about her voice that made Morgan scowl… And want to do the exact opposite of what Aversa demanded. She took note of that, but seemed more amused then anything.
"In the meantime, you can enjoy the features of your new prison cell. You've noticed the water mark… And that it goes well above your heads." She gestured to the dark line stained into the rock. "I must admit, I'm interested in seeing how long you can hold your breath. Or if you'll decide to embrace your powers… Either way, we'll see the results soon enough."
At her words, more water rushed into the cave, soaking his robes and the ropes. Aversa moved aside, shooting them one last smirk as Morgan struggled against his bonds.
"I suggest that you give yourself over to the ocean, and Grima's will. And sooner rather than later." Aversa glanced to the water, and how the waves slowly lapped higher. "The tide is coming in, and these chains of yours… Well, you'll figure it out. I hope you reach the right choice soon."
She sank back into the waters, leaving them with the rising water, and the binds.
"Luci… She's right. I'm looking at the rope length and… if this place fills up all the way, we're not going to be able to keep our heads above the water!" Morgan pulled uselessly against the chains and ropes. "Luci, just what are we supposed to do-?"
She didn't have an answer to that, either.
-o-o-o-
"We're under attack?" Robin tensed up beside Chrom. He could feel the way her back went tight, braced for a fight. Robin nervously glanced to Morgana. "You… You better get somewhere safe."
With that, Robin whirled to the side, staring over the ship's gunwales, and Chrom found himself pulled along with her. The docks of the island swarmed with activity. Chrom's eyes scanned the horizon, looking for ships. And when he found none, Chrom found himself looking into the waters. And that's where he saw the shapes twisting through the waves.
Emmeryn was easy enough to recognize… But what gave him pause was the second girl she was pulling alongside her. The girl's hair was a paler echo of Emmeryn's. And Chrom recognized the wide, curious eyes underneath the bedraggled bangs. They blinked at the coastline, like they'd never seen the shore from such an angle.
He recognized that sunny hair, and the green eyes underneath the bangs.
'Lissa…?' He was doing a lot of staring as well, Chrom realized.
"I… I didn't think she knew how to swim." Chrom managed, before noticing a gleaming collection of green and teal scales, where her legs were supposed to be. She was picking her way towards the docks, where the Shepherds stood… And where they were all bristling with weapons. All of them aimed at the merfolk.
At first, Chrom couldn't grasp WHY they were doing that. Couldn't figure out why Sully and Vaike had their weapons raised, why their eyes couldn't seem to see Lissa… Or why there was that jolt of fear and anger on their faces, as the mer drew closer to the docks.
'They doesn't see her… All they see is an enemy.' And their eyes couldn't seem to find her face, focused instead on her scales, and the other Mer around Lissa.
He glimpsed Say'ri's black hair, and Emmeryn was drawing close to the surface as well. His eldest sister's eyes were searching the sand and docks, seemingly trying to recognize the surroundings… And blind to the danger.
The spear hissed past Lissa as she raised her head above the waves, and she fell backwards with a yelp. Say'ri surged forward, drawing the blades from her sides and brandishing them against the Shepherds. Her own soldiers swarmed up behind her, drawing their own weapons.
The only thing that kept Say'ri from leaping clear of the water and tearing into the soldiers was another resting against her side, his eyes screwed shut from the pain.
'They're going to tear each other to shreds!' Chrom rushed for the railing, peeling off his clothing as he did so.
"Milord, what are you-!? PUT YOUR PANTS BACK ON!" Poor Frederick sounded like he was close to losing his mind, between the attack and what Chrom was doing. Not that it was enough to stop Chrom.
"NO! I'm not losing or ruining my clothes every time I go swimming!" He shouted over his shoulder. Sumia had slapped her hands over her eyes in embarrassment… But at least she and Frederick weren't joining the fight. Or moving to stop him. Robin was close behind him, already keyed into what he was doing, and readying the spell.
He stripped off the last of his clothing and dove into the waiting ocean. The waves clapped over his head, and the bubbles washed over his legs. The limbs twisted together, prickling as scales rushed over them.
A strangle ripple spread through his skin, and his surrounding flickered in and out. Chrom flinched from the change, terrified his thoughts would get snuffed out as well… But thankfully, they stayed in his head. When he opened his eyes, it was to see his body glowing, outlined in a blue shimmer, brighter than even the sun on the ocean.
Something was different about this transformation… But he didn't have any time to dwell on it.
Instead he surged through the waves, instantly taking to the water. His tail thrashed out, and sent him straight towards Lissa.
"DON'T HURT THEM!" He shouted at the tops of his lungs, surging in front of Lissa and the Shepherds. He knew his skin wouldn't do much to stop any weapons, but he stretched his arms out anyway.
"…C-captain?"
He at least stalled the attack, given how Sully dropped her weapon in shock. Cordelia had gone pale, and stared in disbelief at him. The eyes of all the Shepherds were trained on him now… And on those rich sapphire scales coating him.
"Seven hells, Chrom…" That was Vaike.
"All of you, use your eyes. LOOK at who you were about to spear." He pointed to Emmeryn, and where her bangs had fallen askew. Now the brand of the Exalt shown clear on her forehead. "I know I just arrived back in the fold… But I'm not going to stand back and let you kill my family, no matter how we look."
The Shepherds had gone still, trying to understand what was in front of them.
"I suggest you listen to him… We have enough enemies, without tearing into the people who are supposed to be our allies." Came a familiar voice, and he lifted his head to see someone with emerald hair walking the docks. The Shepherds fell back from Tiki, giving her a respectable amount of space. With the sunlight framing her, making her hair almost glow, she looked like she could have stepped out of a cathedral window.
"Please, give them some room… And I'll try to explain what I can, and why they aren't your enemies. I owe all of you that much, in exchange for your patience." Chrom shot her a grateful look. As Tiki spoke, it gave him time to turn to his sisters.
"Looks like we're all gifted at shape shifting now… Gods, I never thought there'd be a day where we'd all be swimming like this. Or that any of this was possible." Chrom tried to laugh as he spoke. Emmeryn gave a slight smile at that, but Lissa barely responded; she was still glancing around, looking a touch bewildered.
"L-Lissa…?" He trailed off, his heart already sinking when she gave him a confused blink. He knew that look all too well. Emmeryn had that same expression, when they first met under the waves.
"Hey… Come on. Lissa?" But no matter how he implored, no hint of understanding crossed her face.
'You don't know me, do you?'
"It's alright…" Emmeryn murmured to Lissa. She rested a hand on Lissa's shoulders, to keep her from diving into the harbor. "I… I still am trying to remember things about him. But one thing I'm certain of, is that he's a friend."
Both his sisters were a match now; in scales, fins… And their lack of memory. Chrom sank into the shallows, feeling the waves lap at him.
"…The gods have a poor sense of humor." He'd finally regained his legs, only to find there wasn't much use for them. The sea had swept up everything he cared for-
A hand closed over his, the purple mark eclipsing his fingers. Chrom started at that; he hadn't even realized Robin had followed him into the harbor, or that she'd shifted her own shape to match his. Robin tried to put some comfort into her touch, squeezing at his hand.
'Make that almost everything.' He found himself clinging onto Robin, lest the ocean got any ideas about stealing her away as well.
-o-o-o-
The salt water stung at her wounds; at first, Lucina had struggled and thrashed after waking up, trying to break from the chains. But the manacles, however rusted, were still stronger than her. Bashing them against the rocks had only left Lucina with bruises and raw skin.
Now, waters climbed to their shoulders, splashing Lucina across the face as she floated. The binds strained against her wrists and feet, chafing at her skin. Lucina floated in the water, anchored by the chains… With no more slack to give in the ropes.
And the waves still hadn't met the water line.
It was easier to stay numb. To just surrender to the wash of the tides scrapping over her skin, and shut her ears to the cries on the ocean. But it was harder to shut out the cries and struggles from her brother. Morgan still hadn't given up, and still struggled. But something felt oddly broken in Lucina's mind, and her body; like the merfolk had clawed and torn something out of her, as they pulled her through the ocean.
She watched Morgan splash back down, diving to the base of the waters… Only to surface again, gasping for air.
"I… I can't get the chains free! Luci! We need to do something!" He sputtered out to her. He was breathing harder, his efforts only exhausting himself; his head almost slipped beneath the waves. "Luci, come on! You don't give up so easily, right!?"
She was exhausted, a part of her wanted to protest… But the rest of her thoughts watched her brother, still trying to fight.
"We're going to drown! Luci, please!" He stared at her through sodden bangs. The water climbed its way around his neck, and he started to sputter, suffocating-
And it wrenched at her heart, watching him struggle. All while she did nothing.
The waves wash over her head, making her thoughts ring. Lucina lifted her head up, gathering her breath… And letting it out in a long, screaming note. It matched the strange note in the waters, amplified it-
And the rocks seemed to vibrate in answer, before a section of the wall shattered like glass. On the other side, she glimpsed wane, scarlet stained sunlight as the sun set. The water seeped out through the new opening, draining and giving Morgan room to gasp for air. Lucina shuddered, pulling in gulps of air as well, and feeling her throat go raw from the force of the note.
"…Impressive of you. Or stubborn." Came a voice, and more of the water drained away.
A new presence was in the cave now, drawing out of the water like a shadow. A familiar set of violet and black scales coated Validar, as he slowly rose from the waters. Droplets streamed off the golden fangs and circlet adorning him.
"Well then… I'm impressed. Perhaps you two are worthy of the blood line, after all." She was growing to hate that voice; it seemed that whenever she heard it, pain wasn't far behind. Lucina lifted her head, glaring through her clean eye at him.
"What do you want!?"
"Your obedience, and your will… Though in a pinch, I'll settle for your bodies." He raised a hand, and the waves lifted him onto the rock shelf. Validar looked over the two, shaking his head. "I'm a little disappointed, however; I'd thought that by now, you'd have recognized the higher power at work here, and given yourselves over to it."
"You mean that… Thing we've been hearing?" Morgan asked, and Validar leveled his eyes on Morgan.
"So the younger one is the wisest. Yes, child. You've been hearing the call of a god… And judging by the changes to your flesh, a part of you has been answering to that call. Our god DOES work in mysterious ways."
He gave a low chuckle at that.
"…Oh, I was furious when you first escaped. But now by the graces of Grima, you've been delivered back into my hands." Lucina squirmed from the words, like they were getting rubbed into her skin. "And I don't intend to squander this gift."
"Why are you treating us like we're so important?" Morgan demanded.
"The fact that you can cross between air and water. Not many of us have that gift… Apart from your wretch of a mother. But we'll get her back soon enough."
Lucina squired at that half promise, half threat.
"And you can cross more than air and waves; I've finally figured out your story." Validar sounded all too pleased with himself. "You were wrenched through some distant future, to the present. Like the gods themselves, in their battles, tore a hole through time. And you bled through it. So it seems that Grima, and that thrice damned Naga have plans for you. And I'm but a humble servant of Grima's will, much like you."
"I'm not the servant of a fell dragon!" Validar shook his head, and when Morgan argued, it was like he was talking to a slow, stupid child.
"But you have its blood, child. The same as your mother… And which I only have a hint of. But we all possess enough to hear Grima's song, and carry out the god's will. Speaking of… How long will you cling to those half shapes?"
Lucina wanted to close her eyes and ears to him.
She didn't want to shift shape, no matter how her legs burned, or how the salt stung at her mouth. She didn't want to become a water breather; to have any more overlap with Validar, and his sneer… And she also swore that when her scales grew along her arms, she could better hear that call, echoing up from the water.
'I don't want to hear it… And I don't want to understand it!'
-o-o-o-
There seemed to be precious little that she understood. Emmeryn thought that to herself, as she looked over the docks. There was something so familiar to them… And yet, she also knew that she'd never seen them from this angle before.
Neither had she seen such fear on the Shepherds-
'How do I know that's what they're called? Or hints of their names?' She wondered at that… And at one particular figure moving through the crowds. She wore battered armor, and strands of her silver hair were streaming out of a carefully tied braid.
"It… Can't be." Emmeryn tilted her head at the voice, and then winced when the woman's spear dropped to the docks in a clatter.
"Your Grace… You're still alive." The silver haired woman stared at Emmeryn, with tears in the corners of her eyes. And something about that sight pushed a sharp pain through Emmeryn's chest. She shivered from it… Even while her heart also tried to lift at the sight of her.
'You know this person. And she's… Important, somehow.'
"Ph…Phi-la?" The sounds were almost yanked from her lips. And Emmeryn had the vague impression there was something very important to those words… As well as the fact that she didn't want to see this woman crying.
"I thought you were dead." There was so much sorrow in Phila's voice, and a note of pleading as well; like she desperately needed forgiveness for something. "I… Should have known better. Should have known you'd find some way to survive-"
Phila was forced to cut herself off, as Tiki moved beside her. The other woman had cut off her speech to the Shepherds, and instead had her eyes cast up to the sky.
"…Something is coming." Was all Tiki said.
-o-o-o-
Validar was watching her, drawing a nail across one side of his neck. The red sunlight almost hid the fact that he'd drawn some of his own blood in the process, until Validar's throat moved as he spoke.
"My patience grows thin." Was all Validar said, before his hands caught Lucina across the head. She went crashing into the waters with a splash, before Validar clamped his hands over her neck and her shoulders.
"L-let go-!" She hissed out, but her struggles were feeble. The nails dug into her arms and back, Validar's blood dripping into her veins. Her heart seemed to scream in protest.
"Now, Lucina… I need to see if you can do something for me." A hum grew in her ears. "We have another storm brewing… And I want to see what happens when I add your power to it."
"N-no, I won't…"
"You think you have a choice? You don't." Validar chuckled in satisfaction, and a blackness spread through her veins. "There's a blood bond between us, thanks to your Mother. I'll have to thank her, for bringing her own time thrown whelps into my hands. Now, let's see just what sort of magic you have."
At his words, her vision flickered, flashes of white playing out in her eyes. Almost like lightning… And echoed by the rumble of thunder, just beyond the cave walls.
It felt like there was pressure building in her head, clamoring to be let out. Lucina couldn't fight it, and felt another scream building in her throat… And making the storm surge.
She drifted out of her body, the burning in her blood and the weight in her limbs fading out. The cave faded out as well, replaced with a storm streaked sky. The winds seemed to pick up in response to her voice, the lightning pulsing in time to her heartbeat.
"Let's see what this storm is capable of… There's finally a target for us to send it on." When Lucina raised her eyes, it was to see a distant, familiar island. The white cliffs seemed to defy the dark storm clouds. And from Validar's distant laughter, he took that as a challenge.
-o-o-o-
'Something is coming.' Chrom's thoughts echoed Tiki's words, right as the sky darkened.
An ugly snarl of clouds were gathering overhead. The sky spat sparks on every heartbeat, and a wind whipped the waves into whitecaps. The seas started to flood, washing up onto the beaches, while Chrom fought to keep his head above the water.
He could just glimpse the Shepherds trying to stand against the storm. Sully was glaring at the clouds like a challenge, while Miriel was fighting to keep her hat from blowing away in the winds. Stahl was already moving towards the castle, trying to herd Maribelle and Ricken towards the doors… And both of them were digging their feet into the docks, finally looking back to Lissa.
'So they recognize her… But it's not going to help if everyone drowns in this storm.'
"Everyone, get into the castle! Ride the storm out from there!" He tried to call out… And yet Sumia and Frederick hesitated, staring at him. They looked like they wanted to pluck him out of the sea. Chrom tried to cross his arms, making it clear he wasn't going to leave his sisters.
"I'll keep him safe, I promise!" Robin called to them. Not even the fury of the storm had driven her away from Chrom's side. And her words seemed to reach Frederick. He took a step back as the winds slapped his face, bowing his head.
Frederick paused only a moment, as though trying will Chrom into staying safe.
"Please my lord… Be cautious. I'll keep the others safe, and away from the storm."
"No worries. We'll just dive down-" The thunder stole the rest of his words.
"Get underwater, quickly!" He told the others, and motioned to the docks. They seemed flimsy against the storm, but were at least something they could hang onto in the swirling, roiling currents. The storm seemed to have a mind of its own, clawing at them, making the currents scream in what was almost a voice.
Emmeryn and Lissa both seemed to hear it as well; and it was causing their eyes to go glassy. Say'ri simply winced from the sound, holding tight to the silver haired man she'd pulled alongside her; determined not to let him slip from her grasp. And Robin seemed to share Say'ri's determination, with how she clung onto Chrom.
"I… I don't like this." She gasped out. Her voice was almost lost from the shriek of the storm; that was audible even as they dove. And as he listened to it, Chrom felt like his thoughts were draining out of his head, scattered to the waves.