And here we are at Chapter 11. One more to go until the end of the Plegian Arc. Hope you enjoy!

Also to answer a guest review; No i haven't seen or heard of the Awakening Drama CDs. Might be too late to include them now, but we will see.

Chapter 11: Renewal

Rain pours down from the skies above Plegia, soaking into a barren land with water, turning its ground from sandy dunes to rugged land with puddles and lakes. Rushing through a graveyard of towering bones, the Shepherds, along with Basilio, ran through the water-drenched land to the extraction point, Emmeryn safely among their number. They could only wish Phila and her riders were with them, but they could mourn them later. Right now, they needed to escape.

"Come on!" Basilio bellows to the group as they struggle to push forward, the ground becoming a quagmire beneath them. Not as challenging to move through as the lose deep sand before, but still annoying. "The carriages are not far from here. We should be meeting up with some allies soon." The Shepherds looked at Basilio tiredly while the Guardians looked at each other. Who were these 'allies' he was talking about? Chrom and Lissa, however, were more focused on Emmeryn. They had been by her side, helping her move through the sand, her imprisonment and near-death experience still with her. Despite the worry from her siblings, her calm and smiling face never wavered.

"Just where are the carriages located?" Robin asks as he scans the surrounding area, his thick robe sucking in a lot of water. He could feel a slight chill crawling up his spine but shook it off.

"They are waiting for us just through the ravine." Basilio points a thumb toward said ravine, a long stretch road with rising hills on both sides, while three smaller channels split across it at vertical angles. "We will need to go through one of the channels to reach the spot. Our friends will be waiting for us along the way."

"The sooner, the better. We need to get Emm out of here." Chrom says with steel in his voice. He had almost lost his sister, and he was determined that it stayed that way. Emmeryn looked to her brother before putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I understand your worry Chrom, but please, don't rush through this." He turns to look at her as she smiles comfortingly at him. "I am here, safe with you. It will take time for Gangrel to mount a pursuit. So please, don't risk walking into a trap."

"I think we already have walked right into one." Roxas suddenly says as he narrows his eyes to several dots on the horizon. Despite the dark thunderous sky, thanks to the bolts of lightning, he could see several figures moving between the canyons before them while several wyverns fly around the sky above them, as on patrol.

"Of course, it wouldn't be easy." Sora says before looking at Xion. "Sis, I think it's best you, Sumia and Cordelia stay grounded for this. I don't like the thunder in the sky."

"I was going to suggest it as well, Sora." Xion replies before looking at the clouds above. "This storm just doesn't feel natural." She could not help but feel a pit form in her stomach when looking at the sky. Why did it feel like something was watching them?

"Plegian rider incoming!" a sudden cry from Anna alerted the group as a lone Wyvern Rider descended upon them, along with a Berserker commander. But he was unarmed. Bald and sporting a flowing beard, he had a scar over his left eye. Nevertheless, he raised his hands in peace as the group drew their weapons.

"Ylisseans! I offer you mercy! Surrender to me now and live!" he cries to them, stunning the group. Here was a Plegian, no doubt posted here to stop them, asking them to surrender peacefully? Basilio, for one, was not buying it. Saying how he was not 'familiar' with the word as he tightened the grip on his axe. The commander shook his head slowly before gazing at the Ylissean royals. "Emmeryn would not want us for this to come to bloodshed. Would she?"

Chrom instantly got in front of his sister, ready to shield her from all harm, before she gently placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. Chrom grunts but steps to the side. If Emm weren't here, he would probably be filled with rage. But, instead, he was glad she was here to mediate for them. "If you would tell us your name, why do you seek a peaceful solution. Please do not misunderstand me, for it gladdens me to see a man such as yourself among the men of Plegia, but I can't help but wonder." The Plegian command nods at her before lowering his arms.

"My name is Mustafa. Unlike my fellow commanders, I have not forsaken my honour. And I understood the implications of what your sacrifice would have brought. Indeed, the men under me have also been touched, and I suspect it won't be long until the rest of Plegia is touched." He has a small smile as he explains his reasons, the Guardians looking at him with sympathy. After everything they had dealt with in their journeys, they could tell when someone meant what they were saying, and Mustafa was no different, especially when his smile turned to sadness when he finished. "But even so, as much as we would want to, we can't let you past. For if we do not, then Gangrel will take his frustrations out on our families, my wife and son all the more."

"And that is why you want us to surrender peacefully." Sora speaks up while stepping forward. "You don't want to fight yet are being forced to despite your wishes." Mustafa nods at Sora, saying he was right and that his men, while having no ill will towards them, have to follow their orders to the letter, whether they want to or not. Emmeryn looks to the ground in sadness as Chrom tightens the grip on his hand.

"I understand why, Mustafa." Chrom speaks, but there is no hostility, but sympathy, while there is steel. "But, just like you, we also have no choice but to fight. Just like how Gangrel will kill your friends and loved ones would you ignore his orders, he won't hesitate to do the same to me and my sisters, or the rest of the Shepherds for that matter. I'm sorry, but we have no choice." Mustafa smiles sadly before sighing and walking back to the rider.

"I suspected you would say much. But I thank you for hearing me out." He mounts on the wyvern as it takes to the sky before saying one last thing to the Shepherds. "Prince Chrom, I shall endeavour to grant you a swift and dignified end to save you from the depravity of our king." Chrom nods sadly as Mustafa flys back to his men before looking at the Shepherds, each displaying their own look of discomfort. Apart from Tharja, who was paying more attention to Robin than the conversation, much to the tactician's chagrin.

"We're not going to fight them, are we Chrom?" Lissa asks as she tightens the grip on her staff. Despite everything that Gangrel has said and done, these men before them were only here because of his orders. If they could, they would sooner have just left them alone.

"We have no choice, Lissa. But even so, we have one other choice." Lissa tilts her head in confusion at her brother's words until his following statement makes it all clear, while a smile forms on Emmeryn face. "Shepherds, when we engage the Plegian, do not kill them! Only injure or disarm them. I won't let Emmeryns actions be dragged through the mud." The Shepherds nod eagerly at Chrom's orders as Robin's eyes the battlefield. They had three ways to pass, but they could quickly end up outflanked surrounded if not careful. He nods to himself before looking to Chrom, plans in hand.

"Chrom, we will have to split into three groups. The left group will have Frederick, Cordelia, Panne, Maribelle, Vaike, Gaius, Lon'qu, Gregor, Miriel and Tharja. The right group will have Riku, Xion, Ventus, Anna, Donnel, Nowi, Terra, Aqua, Ricken, Virion and Libra. The Central group will be me, you, Emmeryn, Sora, Kairi, Sumia, Stahl, Sully, Kellam, Lissa, Roxas and Naminé. Once we have broken through, we will regroup at the carriages. Basilio will be with us and stay near Emmeryn." He then looks at the Khan, giving him an impressive look. "If that is alright with you."

"No need to worry, I'll keep her close. No Plegian will harm her." He boasts confidently while shouldering his Silver axe. Chrom nods thankfully at the giant before looking at Emmeryn, a reassuring look on his face before he turns to the rest of the Shepherds.

"Alright! You heard Robin! Let's move out!" He cried before marching towards the central canyon while the rain continued to pour down, seemingly even harder than before. The rest follow, splitting off into their assigned teams before heading towards the passes. All the while, no one noticed a man walking along one of the ridges around them, his black coat concealing his identity as he kept his gaze locked on Emmeryn.

The journey along the western canyon was not a smooth one. But then again, they did not expect it to be. With the Plegians holding a makeshift fort in the centre, the group struggles to find a way through. The gates were locked shut while archers maned the top of the wall while Plegian warriors rushed about around them. They were lucky the pouring rain made it hard for the Plegian archers to aim precisely, blinded as they were, but that did not mean it left them unchecked.

"Cover the right flank!" Frederick bellows as he swings his silver axe down, splitting a soldiers spear in two. A yell from Vaike sank his fears as the fighter moved to cover a break in their circle. Miriel and Tharja stayed within their ring, casting spells at every opportunity, yet could not spear to open their books, least the rain ruin their pages, and so were forced to recite the most basic of spells from memory. An unenviable job, considering the complex calculations the books would have provided for them, were unavailable. Maribelle had no such problems, thankful that her staff was unaffected. But still, she was beginning to strain under the constant healing she was forced to give. Panne, in particular, seemed to be getting the most attention from the Plegians, considering her proximity to Frederick, yet it still felt unnatural.

Lon'qu was also showing strain, keeping his composure together while staying near Gregor, helping the mercenary at every chance, even with the wounds on his arms. Gregor was doing his best to keep Lon'qu safe, although he kept any from breaking through to the mages, while Gauis seemed to focus mainly on the grounded Cordelia. As much as the Pegasus knight wanted to, she could not risk taking flight, ever due to the lightning above or the archers along the wall. Exhaustion was seeping into the Shepherds as a breakout was looking less and less possible with each passing moment.

Until a miracle happened.

"Who are-AHH!" one of the Plegian archers cried out in shock before finding himself falling from the ramparts, his fellow archer either following him or falling along the walls. The Shepherds down below could only cast a confused glance before focusing on the surrounding Plegians who, now without the support of their archers, lost heart and fled the canyon, taking all of the wounded with them.

"It would seem we have been saved." Panne states in relief before looking at the now-abandoned fort sternly. "But who is our rescuer? I do not think a Plegian would have done this to his fellow man-spawn so eagerly." The others joined Panne in gazing at the fort, waiting for any sign of life beyond it.

"It would do us no good to remain here and wait for them to reveal themselves to us." Frederick turns to look at Gaius. "Do you think you will be able to open these doors?" Gaius gives the doors an appraising look, gazing at the wooden doors before shaking his head.

"No good, Fred. These doors can only be opened from the inside. And unless Cordelia feels brave enough to take flight or Miriel can risk casting a large enough fire spell, we will have to turn around and go a different way." Frederick sighs irritably at the situation. He couldn't blame Robin; the rain was hindering all visibility. Even they didn't see the fort until there were halfway up the canyon, and by then, they were about to run into it.

"You said door could open from inside only, yes?" Gregor suddenly asks, earning a nod from the thief and startling Frederick from his thoughts. "If that is case, then why is door opening?" The group turn their attention to the fort and find, to their surprise, its doors opening slowly as a man walks out from behind them. Dressed like a thief like Gaius, yet lacking any visible sweets on him and in pitch black with dull silver for the metal, with a red and silver sword located in a black sheath, and sporting green eyes and fiery red hair down to the base of his neck, the spikes of which put Sora's to shame.

"Looks like I made it here just on time." The man says before walking up to them, his height easily that of Terra's, but with a visibly lanky frame. "When none of you made it to the meetup point, we began to get worried."

"'Meet up point'? Are you perhaps one of the allies that Basilio mentioned?" The man nods at Frederick before seeing Lon'qu amongst their number before raising a hand in greeting.

"Hey, Lon! Long time not seen." Lon'qu merely huffs in his direction, but not before giving him a very tiny smile while crossing his arms. The man turns his attention back to Frederick before giving him a confident smirk. "To answer your question, yes, I am with the big man. Names Lea, got it memorised?" he punctuates by tapping the side of his noggin with his finger, getting an uncertain nod from the Shepherds. "Great, now then, how about we spend less time standing and more time moseying? The Plegians will no doubt come back sooner rather than later." Not needing any more to be said, the Shepherds rush through the entrance to the fort along with Lea as they head to the canyon's exit, wondering how the other groups were faring.

"GET AWAY!" with a giant roar, Nowi unleashes another burst of fire at the Plegians, knocking them off their feet while leaving minor burns. Taking a moment to breathe as the Plegian's turn tail to run, Nowi glances around their canyon path. Several wooden obstacles lay strung about, most likely intended to stop any large scale cavalry charges, but not against a Manakete like her. Riku was darting between the Plegian forces, using sword and spear to render them unconscious or remove their weapons. Donnel had no such luck in disarmament, but that didn't stop him from doing his best to protect Ricken and Aqua, the former with her sword drawn rather than any of her tombs. Ventus, for his part, was switching from helping Donnel save Aqua and Ricken to protecting Virion from chancing Plegians.

Virion himself was busy trying to shoot down the incoming wyverns as they dodged incoming thunder from the sky. If it weren't for the weather, he would have been done by now! And having Xion grounded was not any better, even if she was proving to be just as capable of fighting on the ground as in the sky.

"Nowi on your left!" A sudden shout from Terra alerted her to a Myrmidon charging at her with a jagged blade, dark blue on the side while white along the edge. Her draconic eyes widen as she recognises the weapon as the Myrmidon races towards her. A Wyrmbane blade. With no time to act or move, she could only close her eyes as she awaited its biting sting, only for the clash of metal to be heard instead. Opening an eye, she smiles at seeing Anna standing before her assailant, knocking him to the ground and relieving him of his weapon. With a smirk, Anna places it into the bag that she is somehow carrying around until it vanishes in a flash of light.

A calm glow washed over the group as Libra used his Mend staff in his left hand to heal them before swinging his axe in his right to disarm another Plegian fighter charging at him. He could afford to be a bit reckless; having Terra watching his back alleviated that fear as he swung his spear in wide arcs, keeping the Plegians back. Even so, the line of spears before them prevented them from moving forward; not even Ricken and Aqua could dislodge them without risking the rain ruining their books. It didn't help that they were also being forced towards the wall of spears. Nowi constantly wondered if she should unleash an attack at them, only to find herself distracted by another Plegian attacking her.

Until a voice echoed from behind the wall of spears.

"Move aside!" the voice cried before a fighter burst from the formation, breaking them up and scattering them. His height was that of Terra's, but with flowing light blue hair, two long bangs flowing past his face, and green eyes. But the most striking feature about him was the X shaped scar on his face, as he holds his silver, blue and yellow axe in a reverse grip. The sight of him, and his sudden entrance, had shattered the already low morale of the Plegians, who turned and routed from the fighter. He huffs at them before shouldering his axe and looking at the Shepherds as they approached, Riku, Xion, Ventus, Terra and Aqua ahead of them.

"Out of everyone who was sent here, you were the last person I expected to see, Isa." Riku comments as they walk up to him, as Isa himself looks to the water-soaked ground. Even though a year had gone by, Isa still blamed himself for what he did as part of the Organization and when he lost all emotions. Even when he was a 'chosen' vessel for Xehanort, he still tried to redeem himself, leading to Roxas, Xion and Naminé returning with the help of others, even if he had to do so behind Xemnas's back. "But I can guess why you are here."

"Indeed, although I am not the only one here." Isa replies before meeting eyes with all present. "Still, it is good to see you still alive. Lea would not go on about how we should have already joined up with you as ordered."

"Lea's here?" Xion asks, slightly surprised. She has learned that wherever Lea goes, Isa is not far behind. "Are you the two that Basilio said we were to meet up with?" Isa nods at her before casting a glance around the canyon.

"It's best we not tarry here. The Plegians will no doubt regroup and attack us." He begins to walk back the way he came. Just as the Guardians follow, Nowi runs up to Ven and tugs him on his jacket in human form.

"Who is that guy anyway?" she asks innocently; Ven could only look in Isa's direction before smiling at Nowi with an honest smile.

"Just a friend who has come to help."

Mustafa could only stand silently in the rain as it continued to pour down. The longer he stood still, the heavier it seemed to get. Mustafa could faintly hear the sounds of combat beneath the rain, signalling the Ylissean's slow and methodical approach. He couldn't help but show a sad smile, though. A recent report from his scout told how they were spearing his men and letting them go. Oh, some still bore injuries, but they still had their lives. He could not help but think how different this would be if Emmeryn were dead. He felt a chill down his spine at the mere thought of a rampaging Prince Chrom. However, the sudden sounds of feet rushing through puddles shakes him from his thoughts.

Turning his gaze to the source, he sees a young woman with a hooded cloak and a lantern in her left hand. With pink eyes and long pink hair tied into a long high ponytail that goes to the base of her spine, and two braided bangs that stretch to her chest, she clutches the cloak tightly around her in shyness. With brown sandals on her feet and gold bands on her ankles, wrists and biceps, she has two large gold rings attached to her wrists, while a sheet of white cloth connects the two from behind. The same fabric covers her chest and waist, with two smaller pieces hanging loosely from her sides, while the rest of her is bare. Around her legs and arms, connected between the golden bands.

"A dancer?" he asks, puzzled. He was not aware of any dancers here in Plegia. Did Gangrel have his own private room filled with them? The dancer seemed scared of him before walking away slowly, her eyes darting towards the canyons nearby.

Ah, I see. He says in his thoughts while closing his eyes. So she is here to see them to safety. Impressive. Not many would ask a dancer to be their way of escape. He looks at the young dancer again as her right hand trembles towards the steel sword on her hip. Mustafa sighs sadly before turning his gaze back to the canyons. "Go." He says, startling her. "I will not draw my axe on a defenceless innocent like you." The woman looks at him puzzled before bolting off into the rain, disappearing not soon after into the torrent. Mustafa sighs sadly once again before giving at the central passage, the figures of the Shepherds starting to become visible in the rain. My time is fast approaching. I am sorry I can not come home, but I have to do this. He unlimbers his axe before resting it on his shoulder, the rain sliced by its sharp edge. Keep me in your prayers.

"Keep moving!" Chrom yells over the rain as they rush through the central cavern. It seemed Mustafa had located the majority of his forces here, but with the heavy rain, the mages and archers among them had been rendered useless. Not that the rain stopped Roxas, with Oathkeep unaffected by the rain, his arrows quickly landed on the clerics amongst their forces. And with Sully and Stahl leading the charge and appearing like watery figures, the Plegian troops broke. That, or they just could not bring their weapons to bear on the Ylissean's, especially with Emmeryn among their number.

It was thanks in part to their reluctance that they had already made it to the exit of the canyon, with the Plegian forces unwilling to chase after them, orders be damned. Chrom could not help but be amazed at his sister. Her unwavering faith, her unshakable decision to sacrifice herself to end the cycle of pain had proven that not all Plegians were the bloodthirsty barbarians they had been for the past years. It again showed how he could never be like her, how he could only be her 'reaper'.

"I see you have arrived, Ylissean's." the slow deep voice of Mustafa broke him from his thoughts as the Plegian commander emerged from the rain, eye set and steeled. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you broke through. But even so, I can't let you pass."

"Mustafa, please." Emmeryn pleads as she walks forward, standing between him and Chrom. "Haven't enough lives already been lost? Why are you so willing to throw yours away?" Mustafa looks at her sadly, the rain masking a tear leaking from his eye.

"Aye, it is pointless, and I would like nothing more than to step aside. But if I do, then it is my family who will pay the price. And that, I can not allow." Emmeryn could only hold her hands in pain at his declaration. If only there were some way to change his mind. Chrom looked between his sister and Mustafa before sighing to himself. He would deal with this.

"Robin, Sora, Kairi. Make sure no one interrupts what I am about to do." The three named Shepherds look at him puzzled before he starts walking towards Mustafa, steel in his eyes. "If that is the case, Mustafa, then I propose I duel. You and me." All present stare wide-eyed at Chrom proposition. "If I win, your men are to stand down and let us leave. If you win, then we will surrender. Is that acceptable?"

"C-Chrom!" Lissa cries in shock at what her brother has said. "Are you crazy? If you lose, then Gangrel will get everything he wants!" But Chrom ignored her outburst, his eyes firmly on Mustafa. The Plegian commander eyes Chrom, looking for any sign of fault. But to his surprise, he sees none.

"Aye. Those terms are acceptable." He replies sternly, tightening the grip on his steel axe. Chrom nods in reply before drawing Falchion from its sheath. The two stare at each other in silence, lightning rumbling above. Just then, the other two groups reach the central group, only to find the standoff.

"So, what's going on here?" Lea asks, surprising the other Guardians to his presence.

"Axel!?" Roxas exclaims before noticing Isa with the other group. "And Saix too? When did you arrive?" instead of answering his question, Lea gave a theatrical sigh before slumping over.

"How many times do I have to say it. My name is not Axel, Roxas; it's Lea." The pyro replies to a sheepish Roxas before Isa puts a comforting hand on his shoulder while hiding an amused smile. Even one year on, they STILL call him by his name from when he was a Nobody. Isa too, but that's beside the point!

"To answer your question, Axel, Chrom had just challenged Mustafa to a duel." Lea and Isa turn their attention to Sora, who kept his gaze firmly on the two combatants. "The terms are that if Chrom wins, we can leave in peace, but if Mustafa wins, Gangrel takes us, prisoner. It was the only way to end this without needless casualties." The two groups look at each other in suspense before looking back at the duel. The two had still not moved a mussel, seemingly waiting for a sign as Emmeryn stood off the side, worry plastered on her face.

The flash of lightning striking a bone pillar above them, lighting the ground in blinding light, signalled the start as the two charged at each other. Each was aiming for a single swing to end the fight.

Mustafa grabbed his axe with both hands, swinging down with all his might, as Chrom blade was engulfed in a golden glow. At first sight, Sora fought Chrom had managed to activate Ars Arcanum but soon realised that its light was different. Sure, Ars Arcanum could glow gold, but this glow was also mixed with streams of blue. Moreover, none of the moves they had learned shone like that. However, the Plegian commander seemed to recognise the glow, as he changed his swing from aiming at Chrom neck to the back of his blade. But he was too slow. The moment Chrom blade hit his axe, he felt it suddenly get forced into the sky, his grip almost giving as he stumbled back, his body exposed. Chrom flipped back after the strike, holding Falchion at an angle into the air as the light glowed blue before leaping at the helpless commander.

"AETHER!"

The second Chrom blade touched his axe, it shattered into pieces, the force blowing the commander to the ground in shock. The Shepherds looked on agape at the outcome, while the Guardians looked on stunned. Chrom had won the battle in a single move! Mustafa, for his part, did not scream in rage or even curse Chrom for winning. Instead, all he did was look with a tired smile.

"Well fought, Prince Chrom." Chrom nods at Mustafa as several Plegian warriors arrive at the scene, shocked at seeing their commander beaten. Mustafa looked at them, tired but still burning with fire. "Inform all troops that they are to cease all attempts at stopping the Ylissean's. They are free to go. I will take all responsibilities for what happened here today." His men looked at him conflicted before nodding and vanishing into the rain. Mustafa sighs deeply before shakingly standing up as Emmeryn approaches him. "You are free, Exalt. I only pray that I might live to see peace between Plegian and Ylisse."

"I pray it is soon rather than later." Emmeryn replies before bowing before the commander, who in return bows before her. Then, suddenly, a wyvern rider flies to them, fear in his eyes.

"C-Commandeer! King Gangrel is on his way here!" he shouts in fear, stunning all. "He marches at the head of an army of Heartless. He claims he will have the heads of Ylisse no matter what!"

"Time is against us. You must leave now." Mustafa bellows towards the Shepherds as the Wyvern rider flees, doubtlessly not wanting to feel the wrath of his King. Emmeryn nods sadly at Mustafa and turns to walk back to Chrom until another blast of lightning strikes above her. Along with the sound of bone breaking. She looked up, and to her shock, a piece of one of the towering bones had broken off and was falling straight towards her. She tried to run but felt her feet freeze up, even though she could hear Chrom and Lissa's voices calling for her to move.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of hands around her shoulder, pulling her back. Then, to her shock and horror, Mustafa steps into her spot, smiling at her as she falls to safety, right as the bone lands on top of him. She stares numbly at the place where she was just standing, processing that Mustafa had just sacrificed himself to save her. But now she was trapped, with a wall of bone in front of her and a muddy cliff behind her. Then, next thigh she knew, she saw only darkness.

"EMMERYN!" Chrom yells in pain at seeing her sister get crushed to death, despite Mustafa sacrificing himself to save her. He runs up to the bone and tries to move it, only to find it far too heavy to carry. "Someone help me move this! I won't allow Emm to be left here!"

"We don't have time!" Basilio yells while pointing down one of the canyons, a sea of darkness and yellow eyes emerging at the far end. "Gangrel is here! We have to move now!" Basilio pulls Chrom on his shoulder, snapping the young prince back to reality and begrudgingly follows him. The rest follow, too stunned to process what had even happened. Soon, they reached a row of carriages, with the dancer standing before them, relief on her face.

"Khan Basilio!" she cries before rushing towards him, dropping the cloak she was wearing. "I thought you had all been captured."

"We still might if we don't hurry, Olivia. The Mad King is right behind us!" Olivia's eyes widen in horror before she motions everyone onto the carriages, with the riders and flyers taking up position around them. Nowi and Panne also join them in beast mode, giving more protection to the caravan as they make their way back to Regna Ferox. In defeat.

"Wake up, sunshine." A voice echoed above her as Emmeryn stirred awake. She could not feel the drops of rain falling above her, only the cold feel of stone. Opening her eyes, she finds herself in a stone temple; purple banners draped along the wall while a stone monolith stands behind her. She was chained to a stone pillar, her arms tied behind her back while a stone ring circled her feet up to her hips. Standing before her is Luxu and Validar. "It's about time we brought you here. Been after you for a long while."

"What do you want from me?" She asks, surprising herself that he held no fear in her voice. Validar chuckles at her question, his eyes gleaming with joy.

"Oh, I would tell you, but it is far too soon. But there is no need to worry. The flow of time has returned to its proper course. And you, my dear, are the first. So enjoy your stay, for when you next awake, you will have the pleasure of witnessing the beginning of the end." Emmeryn's eyes widen slightly before sleep takes her once again, courtesy of Luxu. A glass case is placed over her before they walk towards Grima's shadow form. "And so we finally have one piece of the puzzle, and yet we are still missing eight."

"We need not worry." Grima replies confidently. "It is only a matter of time until we have what we need. Besides, we have something to keep us entertained before then." He turns away before opening a portal of darkness. "Let us go and see the fall of the Mad King.

Emmeryn still lives, but to Chrom and the others, she apparently is crushed to death. One has to wonder what Validar and Luxu are up to.

On a side note, I found describing Tharja and Olivia a bit of a struggle, since it was hard to NOT make it sound they had just walked right of Jabba the Hutt's palace with their style of clothing. At least in Olivia's case she is a dancer, so her outfit makes some sense.