To Slay a God.
The time had finally come. Everyone had prepared their best for this day, the day to finally challenge Grima in a battle that would decide the fate of the world. But they all knew that no matter how much they prepared, it was impossible to be fully prepared for everything that's bound to happen, and they knew not all of them will make it out of this alive. They were scared, anyone who said otherwise was either fooling themselves or they were trying to keep their fear from overwhelming them. Regardless, no one had any intentions of running away, since they all knew if they lost this battle there won't be anywhere to run, the world would be destroyed. Better to die trying to save the world rather than hide and wait for death to come for them.
So now everyone were gathered in front of the massive glowing mountain... Where Grima resides, and where the final battle against the evil Fell Dragon would take place.
"Origin Peak..." Chrom said silently, doing his best to keep himself calm despite knowing they were now at the point of no return.
Cassandra looked at her new blade, Soul Calibur, the weapon that would help them stop Grima and his dark allies. She looked over at Lucina, her poor daughter had to kill Cassandra's future self... Cassandra couldn't even imagine the pain of having to kill her own mother, and yet here Lucina stands, ready to make monsters responsible for her suffering pay. Cassandra couldn't be more proud to see how strong her daughter had become, but she would make sure Lucina's past self would have a happier life, free from so much suffering.
Naga's voice echoed through their minds "The fell dragon is indeed here. Remember, Awakener! The power I gave you cannot destroy Grima".
"It can only put him back to sleep..." Robin remembered.
"Correct, Fellblood" Naga said.
"So you know of my lineage?" Robin asked.
"You possess power not so different from my own" Naga answered.
"We must find some way to break this unholy cycle! We can't just keep putting Grima back to sleep every few centuries. Otherwise we merely will his vengeance on our descendants" Chrom said.
Cassandra nodded "Agreed. I don't want my descendants to suffer because of us".
Robin thinks for a while "...I may know a way".
"Yes, Robin? You have some strategy?" Chrom asked.
"The other me claimed the dragon and I were the same, yes? If I strike the final blow, he'd be killed by his own hand..." Robin said.
Chrom smiled hopefully "Robin! Ingenious! Naga? Will it work?".
"Perhaps. But there would be consequences. Grima's heart and Robin's are inexorably linked. Dragon and man can no longer be separated. Therefore, slaying Grima would also cause the end of Robin's life" Naga answered.
"...I realize that. I am ready" Robin said.
"What? No! We did not come this far together just to watch you die!" Cassandra said.
"There is...a chance you could survive, but it is small indeed. You have bound your heart to those of many others in this world. If those ties prove strong enough, they may yet keep you in this reality. But I would not give you false hope. The chance you would live is insignificant. In truth, you will almost certainly cease to exist" Naga said, and Robin remained silent.
"Robin would cease to be?! No. We'll find another way" Chrom said, his voice full denial.
"Chrom, wait. You're not thinking clearly. Think about what your sister would have wanted" Robin said.
Chrom gave him a hard look "Emmeryn would never have asked you to do this!".
"What is one life, when weighed against millions?" Robin asked.
"Stop it! You're one of us. You'll ALWAYS be one of us. There has to be another way. We just have to find it. Promise me, Robin. Promise me you won't do this!" Chrom demanded.
"You have been so very kind to me, Chrom, always... But this is my decision" Robin said in a sad but firm tone.
"Robin..." Chrom said, clearly disappointed that Robin seemed set on giving his life.
Cassandra wanted to protest, but she didn't know what to say. Robin was right, it was his decision if he wanted to sacrifice himself or not. But ever since Emmeryn sacrificed herself, Cassandra had sworn to never watch a friend die again. A naive and impossible goal, but one she would fight to her last breath to reach.
Naga's voice was heard again "The time for deliberation is over, Awakener. The Grimleal have found us".
"Father, Mother! We're under attack!" Lucina called out.
"Then enough talk! This all ends today! One way or the other, Grima will fall!" Cassandra declared.
Chrom smirked at his wife's brave words, one of the many reasons he married her. Lucina smiled as well, feeling her confidence grow knowing her family was by her side. Everyone got ready as their enemies approached... Lead by an all to familiar woman.
Aversa had recovered form their last battle, and still insistent on standing in their way "Really, now still at your little schemes? Butchering Validar wasn't enough? Do you SEE what your great struggle has won you?! ...NOTHING! Master Grima has returned! The world's fate is sealed! Or perhaps you simply seek a tender embrace here at the end? Hmm? I'm not completely cruel, you know. Come, I have a kiss for each of you... I'll give an extra special one for you, my lovely Cassandra".
"This time we need to make sure she doesn't come back" Cassandra said, be it man or woman, she despise people being creeps to her.
"Be swift, Awakener. Grima's servants will harry you to the very last. You must reach the dragon before it is too late" Naga said.
The heroes clashed with the demonic army, everyone fighting as hard as they could, fully focused on defeating Grima once and for all. As their allies were handling Grima's forces, Cassandra and her family were focused on taking down Aversa, without her, Grima's forces will be weakened.
Aversa was glaring at them "Murderers! You'll pay for taking Master Validar from me!".
"Shut your mouth! You are the last person in the world who gets to accuse anyone of murder! Your master was a heartless monster and a slave to Grima, just like you. So no! You are the one who will pay! For every life you've taken, for all lives you and your cult have ruined! You and your demon of a god will die here today!" Cassandra said readying her blade, this wasn't a threat, but a promise.
Aversa smirked "I like your fire, Cassandra. It will be a real shame to snuff it out".
Aversa fired a blast of dark magic, Cassandra blocked it with her shield. Lucina took the chance to attack, forcing Aversa of her pegasus. Aversa prepared another spell but Cassandra's shield hit her in the gut, giving Lucina the chance to stab her through the chest.
Blood ran came out of Aversa's mouth "Ahh...finally... Sweet...death... Finally...the pain... F-finally...it ends...".
She fell to the ground, finally dead. All this... because she was hoping for death... Before anyone could say anything, heavy footsteps were heard. They looked up and a dark figure was slowly emerging from the fog... Didn't take long for them to realize who it was.
"Nightmare..." Chrom said.
The Azure Knight stops a small distance from them "You are all here, looks like my pathetic servant couldn't even accomplish the most basic of tasks".
Lucina glares at the dark knight "How dare you!? How dare you turn my own mother against me!? I've lost her twice now because of you!".
"Mortals will always be held back by their fragile emotions. Love, hope, family, comrades, all meaningless when faced by the overwhelming dread of darkness. You are witnessing the end of this pathetic world and yet your pitiful hope keeps you from accepting the end and you insist on denying the inevitable" Nightmare said.
"Yeah we're to stubborn to just roll over and die" Chrom said.
"Stubbornness or foolishness. Regardless your efforts are for naught, there is no stopping the darkness. You will all die" Nightmare said.
"Maybe, but we sure are gonna try" Casssandra said as she pointed her blade "And this time, we're ready for you".
"Soul Calibur... HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Nightmare laughed mockingly "You believe holding that makes you my equal?".
"This sword was forged to destroy you!" Cassandra said.
"You don't even know what it really is, do you?" Nightmare asked.
"What do you mean?" Lucina demanded.
"Soul Edge, Soul Calibur. You think it's just an coincidence the blades have similar names? Soul Calibur was forged from a shard of Soul Edge" Nightmare explained.
"Soul Calibur and Soul Edge are the same blade?" Cassandra asked, looking at her blade.
"Centuries ago, Soul Edge were shattered in battle. I've been searching and reclaiming each shard for decades. Soul Calibur is the final shard, used to forge a new blade meant to destroy me" Nightmare explained.
"If what you say is true. Then time to put it to it's intended use" Cassandra said as she and her family got ready.
"Your souls will be mine!" Nightmare rushed and the three family members was ready.
Nightmare strikes his blade down, the force of the impact causing a small shockwave which made the family slide back. Cassandra was forced to block a blow but the force of the attack was enough to knock her off her feet. Lucina tried attacking Nightmare, but the Azure Knight quickly back hands her in the face, knocking her to the ground. He raised his blade to kill her, but the blow was blocked by Chrom who was forced on to a knee from Nightmare's overwhelming strength.
"You're nothing compared to me!" Nightmare shouts.
However, Nightmare sensed someone behind him, he kicked Chrom away and turns to face Cassandra, swinging his sword wildly in an attempt to break her shield. Cassandra was forced back from each swing, Nightmare's strength was unreal, and it was becoming clear she could not beat him in a duel. Nightmare delivers another powerful blow, breaking through Cassandra's defense and was ready to end her, stopped only by Lucina who slashed his side, forcing him to block her next attack, and this gave Chrom the opening to move in for a stab, which Nightmare blocked with his hand... Chrom's went clean through his hand but he avoided what could've been a fatal wound.
He headbutts Chrom in the face, knocking him back before striking at Lucina who managed to block a fatal blow, but was sent back from the impact. Cassandra re-engaged, Nightmare tries smashing his blade downwards but Cassandra jumps over it and tries striking Nightmare with her sword and shield. Lucina slashed Nightmare across his back, causing his to howl in pain before he swings his blade at her, but Chrom managed to cut of his arm. Cassandra rushed in and stabbed him in the chest.
Nightmare backed away holding his chest before falling to a knee. Cassandra and her family were breathing hard as Robin ran up.
"Oh thank Naga, you did it" He said, his voice full of relief.
Cassandra points her blade at Nightmare "You lost, and Grima is next".
"You have accomplished nothing... the eternal nightmare, is yet to begin..." Nightmare said before his body vanished in a glowing light
Soon Grima's roar is heard echoing across the area, shaking up everyone who heard it.
"Yikes! What was that?!" Lissa asked.
"The dragon's call!" Lucina said as Soul Edge suddenly flew up in to the sky, making everyone look up... and the Fell Dragon finally revealed himself "Grima!".
"We can defeat him!" Chrom said.
Frederick looked unnerved by the Fell Dragon's size "Milord, how does a man challenge a mountain?! Where would one even strike?!".
Naga spoke "The fell dragon has a weakness on the nape of his neck. But that weakness will be guarded by his servants. I can send you onto the dragon's back, but the rest is in your hands".
"Then please, milady, and quickly! We would ask no more of you. Everyone, gird yourselves! One way or another this ends here!" Chrom said.
"Right! We take back our future today!" Cassandra declared.
"Together, I believe we can do it!" Lucina agreed.
This was it, the final battle begins now.
.
One more chapter to go.
.
Tell me what you think.