Sorry about the wait for this!
Chapter 20: The Conqueror
"So, what happened to you, Zack? When we asked about you, they said that you vanished." Ven asks as everyone sits around a large fire. Sitting between Priam and Honō, Zack glances at Ven before swallowing the bite of bear meat he had taken.
"Sure, I can tell you. But is it okay with Chrom and the others here?" Zack asks with caution. A short laugh from Chrom draws his eyes as the prince waves to him with a friendly wave.
"You need not worry. Everyone here in the Shepherds has been sworn to keep the World Order a secret. So no need to worry, alright?"
"Really? Well, if that's the case, I'll be happy to talk!" Zack replies with a grin before clearing his throat. "It was not long after Aqua whooped Hades and his Ice Titan. I was just minding my own business, watching Phill train Herc, until I spotted a black feather near me." Sora's eyebrow raised at the mention of the feather as a chill seeped into his bones.
"I didn't know what it came from, but the aura it gave off was bad enough. So I decided to investigate it. Soon enough, I found myself in an abandoned temple littered with feathers while a man stood in the centre. Just remembering him sends a chill up my spine." Zack shakes his head with a grimace. "I still remember that silver hair of his, that long katana in his left hand and those green cat eyes. Not to mention that one black wing of his on his back. And the darkness that was coming off him, it would have made you look around in discuss Aqua."
"It was that bad?" Aqua asks with dread.
"Yeah, it was." Zack replies with a frown before looking at everyone in the eye. "As I drew my sword, I asked this person his name. His laugh sounded as though he was amused with my question, replying that he wasn't 'just a man'. He called himself-"
"Sephiroth, right?" Everyone's heads turn on a swing towards Sora, the Guardian's face set into a deep frown. Unknown to all but Kairi, Oceania and Caelum, who are next to him, Sora's right hand shook ever so slightly as his skin grew a shade lighter.
"Yeah. That's his name. But how did you… Don't tell me you fought him?" Zack replies with dread in his voice.
"Yeah, I did. Twice." Sora replies. "Once was at Olympus Coliseum, the other was at Radiant Gardens. Both times it was a fight for my life. There were several times I felt I was going to die." The Guardians give Sora concerned glances at him while Kairi places a hand on his arm.
"Well, you lasted better than I did. And without any scars." Zack replies while indicating the scar on his cheek. "Anyway, as I fought him, I realised I was way out of my league. It was all I could do to stall him before I could make a run for it. But he had other ideas, and before I knew it, I was thrown into a dark portal and found myself in a place called Travers Town."
"What sort of place is this 'Travers Town'?" Tiki asks curiously.
"Travers Town is where people go whose worlds had been destroyed by the Heartless." Sora replies. "Think of it as a safe haven for refugees. But if you were in Travers Town, does that mean you met Leon and the others?" Zack lets out a found laugh.
"Yeah, I know them, alright. They appeared not long after I showed up. Leon and Cloud were determined to learn swordplay so they could help re-take their home, so I was happy to instruct them. It was during that time that I got the Buster Sword." He pats the handle on the large blade with a distant look. "But that is a story for another time. Anyway, as the years went by, I grew closer to them to the point that I felt like the big brother of the group. Apart from one anyway…" Zack looks away with a large blush on his face as everyone looks at him with knowing smirks.
"He is talking about his girlfriend, Aerith." Prima explains with a giant smile, much to Zack's embarrassment.
"You just HAD to mention her." Zack grumbles with a blush before regaining his composure. "Anyway, the years passed, and nothing exciting happened during those years, other than training Leon and Cloud and beating up some Heartless. Until 'she' appeared, that is. Maleficent." Zack's eyes narrowed in anger as he looked at the campfire before them. "I had just finished one of my patrols around the Third District when I saw her appear with a large Heartless behind her. Seemed she had placed it in charge of the Heartless in Travers Town. Seeing that, I rushed in to fight without really thinking, to be honest. I gave her a good fight, though, considering I had her on the ropes before she grew desperate."
"What happened?" Zack looks at Ven with a look before sighing deeply.
"Just as it looked like I was about to take her out, she managed to blast my sword out of my hand away from me. No sooner did that happen than several of those Neo-Shadows managed to pile up on me. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in a world covered in Darkness."
"The Realm of Darkness." Aqua concludes with a far-away look. "I know what it's like to be locked away in that place, being a prisoner of that Realm myself. Still, I find it strange that I never encountered you while I was there, Zack."
"Well, it's not like I was there for long. At least, I think I wasn't. Anyway, not long after I found myself there, I was swallowed up by a blue portal out of the blue. After that, I wake up in a field with Priam looking at me like he had seen a ghost."
"And if you had been in MY shoes, you would think the same thing, Zack." Priam replies with a fond smile. "You did just appear in the air before falling to the ground." Several people chuckled at Zack's arrival as Priam turned to face them. "As you can guess, when he arrived, he was unsure of what to do. Not like we have any easy way to leave after all. So, I decided to take him with me. I could tell he was skilled with a blade, and I was in the middle of setting up a mercenary company. Been that way for the past year before we bumped into the little princess here."
"Do you have to call me that, Priam?" Honō asks quietly while shaking her head. Clearing her throat, Honō turns to look at the Shepherds. "As you have ascertained, I had travelled back in time with Lucina and the others, but it was not a smooth journey. Instead of finding myself in the time just as the Guardians were arriving, I found myself two years before it. Right as Walhart had begun his conquest."
"And just when I thought we couldn't get a bigger headache about 'Time travel' than before." Lea moans as Say'ri pats his back.
"Then I shall spear you the pain of explaining, father." Honō replies quickly. "To make a long story short, I had found myself working behind the shadows to see to the resistance gaining a stronger position than in our timeline. Going so far as to recruit Priam and his mercenaries to help us. They should be on their way to the capital as we speak, if they received Priam's message."
"They will have, I guarantee it." Priam affirms. "As for us, Chrom, I hope you have room for us. The little princess was adamant about joining up with you after Walhart was dealt with. Especially if what she told us about the future being true and all."
"Of course. We are always open to new allies joining us in our fight." Chrom replies with a smile before a giant yawn from Nowi, Vaike, Owain, and Oceania rip through the camp. "But I think first we should turn in for the night. We have an early march ahead of us tomorrow."
No one disagreed with Chrom as everyone broke for the tents. Still, just as Robin was about to enter his, he saw Tiki taking Nowi into her and Ricken's tent, as a very tiered Ricken held the flap open for her.
"Thank you for that, Tiki." Ricken says around a yawn. "I would carry her myself, but I'm about to fall over." Tiki smiles warmly at him before leaving the tent, gazing at the stars as they twinkle in the distance.
"You know, I never got the chance to thank you earlier." Robin says, startling her briefly. Tiki tilts her head at him, puzzled as to why he wants to thank her.
"Whatever for Robin?" She asks.
"It was when you tackled me to the ground as my mirage launched an attack on me while I was in a daze. So, thank you for that."
"Oh." Tiki's eyes widen when he mentions it. She looks away with a faint blush as one of her hands plays with her ponytail. "It was nothing, Robin. I didn't want you to come to any harm, that's all."
"Still, if it wasn't for you, I would have taken a nasty hit from myself. So, thank you, Tiki." Robin insists, holding a hand out to her. Tiki looks at it for a second before smiling gentle and returning the gesture.
"It was my pleasure, Robin. And for the record, know that I am always watching your back. Can't have our strategist daydreaming in the middle of a fight now, do we?" Tiki replies with a cheeky grin, letting her inner child take the reins.
"Me daydreaming? I feel like that is something you will be more prone to do than I? Guess I should keep my eye on your back in return?" Robin replies with equal cheek before both fall into quiet laughter. "Anyway, I should turn in for the night. Got plans to finalise for our battle with Walhart."
"Very well, good night Robin." Tiki replies before letting go of Robin's hand. Robin nods at her before turning around to his tent, as the sounds of the night wash over the encampment.
But as Robin fell into the arms of sleep, a certain Dragon Priestess stayed within his mind. And he could not figure out why.
The Ylissean League left in the early hours of the next day, just as the sun started to peak over the mountains around them. Following the route laid out by Tiki, they soon found themselves before the Final Bastion, the silver walls rising from the flat plains like a mountain. Wasting no time, Robin set about organizing the League into formation, with the Shepherds and Guardians in the centre front. Yet nothing came from the Valmese side. No hint of any movement or sign of life.
"This is the capital, right?" Kairi asks with uncertainty at the open plain before them. "Shouldn't Walhart have marched out to meet us by now?"
"You're right. After everything we learned about him, it doesn't make sense that he would just lock himself behind giant walls." Sora replies with a frown before looking at Chrom and Robin. "What do you two think?"
"I agree. Either Walhart's tactician is planning something, or we arrived here before he did. But I find that very unlikely." Chrom replies with a similar frown before glancing at Robin, his eyes closed while hand on chin.
"Look at them all. Lining up so nicely for us." Excellus says with glee in his voice. "The fools have no idea what they've just stepped into!"
"The anticipation before the battle. My hairs stand on end, every one of them!" Cervantes yells in excitement before his eyes darken. "If only those pirates would leave us alone, we would have more of our forces available to us for the upcoming struggle. Were they not your idea to pillage the lands, Excellus?"
"Hmph! What do I care about some sea rats? Their turning on us proves just how untrustworthy they are. We will deal with them once the battle is over." Excellus scoffs at the pirates. It was a sudden shock t see them attacking THEM, here in Valm Castle, instead of pillaging the lands to the south as they agreed upon, but that was a betrayal he would amend in time. His frown soon morphed into one of a deranged smirk, as he turned to look at Cervantes. "But, my dear General. A struggle? I think you mean, a SLAUGHTER!" A flare of darkness envelopes Excellus as his grin grows ever larger, making Cervantes take a nervous step backwards as he agrees hesitantly.
"What? Did my marvellous plan not make sense?" Excellus asks with a sigh at Cervantes. "As I explained earlier, the Resistance and Ylissean League will destroy themselves. There is no need for any of us to raise a finger. They think that the Dynasts are now on their side, but they don't know how, persuasive, I can be. This battle is all but won, and it is not even started!" The darkness again flairs around him before vanishing into mist. "Anyway, while we wait, how about some tea, General? I have some grey-root that I acquired not too long ago."
Is that so? Then I'm sure you would allow us some of this tea as well, Excellus?" Excellus's face went as white as a sheet as Maleficent's voice echoed to the side as she entered the room with Walhart. At the same time, the mind-controlled Terra and Riku waited by the door.
"Cervantes." Walhart begins, his voice as opposing as ever. "Who is the pinnacle of a man, in body, mind and spirit? Who is greater than the gods and darkness themselves?"
"Only you, my master!" Cervantes says with fear in his voice as he bows sharply. An impressive feat considering his armour. Walhart remains impassive at him, before turning his unamused eyes towards Excellus, his legs quivering in fear.
"M-my master! I assure you, my stratagems are only to build upon your successes and strengths! I only celebrate achievements in your service, master. To your glory."
"And where can glory be won, Excellus?" Walhart asks in irritation. "It can only be won on the battlefield! Glory is meeting your enemy's eyes and watching the hope drain away with his life. Glory is not won holed up in a castle with plots and cowardly schemes. Even that Ylissean tactician has won more glory than you have with your plots. And I'll be dead before I let some dynast farm lord take today's glory in my stead." With that, Walhart storms out of the room with Maleficent, leaving the two alone as Cervantes takes amusement in seeing Excellus squirm.
"For someone quiet cleaver, you can really be quiet daft, Excellus. And to think you thought of being my equal. Bah! You will never be my equal. Well, maybe that of a worm, but that is all." With that, he leaves the room, leaving a fuming Excellus as darkness whips around his legs.
"Broom-faced twit! To hell with him… with all of them!" His anger flares as the darkness increase, before it vanishes again like mist as he calms himself. Now Excellus, keep your wits about you. Let Walhart charge ahead. The giant stupid lobster. Once the time is right, I will show him why he was a fool to ignore the powers of Darkness. I should really thank Maleficent for showing us what it can do… Before I end her as well! As for the two she has under her spell… I wonder if they could give ME a Keyblade. Ohhohoh! With his sadistic grin ever plastered on his face, he turns to look out the window towards the Final Bastion, unaware of Diablo looking down at him before flying away to his mistress.
"So, it would seem Excellus is the one who was spreading the knowledge of Darkness amongst your rank, Walhart. Although I suppose I take some fault in my demonstration, of course." Maleficent remarks as Diablo lands on her shoulder, as Walhart mounts his horse with a demonic-looking red sword.
"It matters not. He will soon learn his mistake the moment I am done with this rabble." Walhart replies before moving forward at the host of a cavalry army. "There is no room for weakness in my world."
"Still no movement?" Roxas asks Virion as the two look towards the Last Bastion.
"No. Still nothing. It is odd that Walhart has not shown himself… Hold a moment." Virion says before his eyes land on one of the portcullises, the iron gate slowly opening. It was joined by its fellow brethren, as the central gate slowly opened, revealing a sea of red. "It would seem Walhart has had enough waiting. He marches to meet us!" Roxas nods at him before the two sprint back to the Ylissean army, poised and ready to meet the Valmese head-on.
"What news?" Chrom asks as the two rush up to him. Not saying anything, Virion points behind them towards the Last Bastion as a tidal wave of red begins to pour through the wall. Chrom's gaze narrows at the sight before turning around on his heels. "To arms! The Valmese are upon us!" He yells at the top of his lungs, snapping those who had taken naps from their stupor. Drawing Falchion, Chrom moves towards the centre of the force, before turning around back towards Walhart's army, the sound of hooves echoing across the ground.
"That's a lot of cavalry." Kairi quips on Chrom's left. "I don't think there is a single unmounted person in that force."
"Aye, that's how they managed to swarm us, even when we had a field advantage." Flavia adds with anger. As Chrom grunts in acknowledgement, Sora's eyes wander over the approaching army, before falling on a large man leading the army from the front, giant sword in hand.
"Hey, Say'ri. That guy at the front. Is that Walhart?" Sya'ri follows his gaze, before her face scowls in anger.
"Aye, that's him. The Conqueror."
"This pressure, is more intense than we ever imagined." Lucina says as she and the other future children look forward. "It is like a mountain, unwavering and unfeeling." Those around her share uneasy nods to her words. This was a man who ended Basilio, himself a titan amongst them. The sense of unease builds as Walhart's army suddenly stops, but the Conqueror himself continues to ride forward, his face impassive.
"Wait, don't tell me he's going to try and take us all on by himself?" Zack asks, baffled. I mean, sure, he is strong, but even he would struggle against all of us."
"That, or he wants to talk before we fight." Robin adds before looking at Chrom. Chrom's hard eyes never leave Walhart as he begins to walk forward, Sora, Kairi and Robin walking with him. Frederick and Zack hold hands, telling the army to hold as the four walk across the field, before stopping a stone's throw away from Walhart.
Even from this distance, Walhart exuded an immense presence, towering atop his horse as his blood-red armour glistened in the sun. His face remained impassive as ever, as he scanned the four before him. "I will admit, you have impressed me so far." He speaks with authority. "No one bar Yen'fey had put up such a fight. You do your sister's legacy proud, Prince."
"My sister would not want us to continue this fight, Walhart." Chrom responds, eyes narrow. "What even drives you to cause all this suffering? Why slaughter those who cannot fight?"
"Hmph. You ask me such trivial questions? Why bother to ask when you already know who it is that I oppose? The Gods themselves!" Walhart replies, swiping his sword down with enough force to move the winds. "I would bring them all down, and see man take the reins of his own destiny. Naga, Mateus, Duma, Mila, even Grima himself! All will bow to me!"
"That doesn't give you any right for what you've done!" Sora retorts with anger. "Killing everyone just for the sake of some 'greater good' doesn't make you a hero. It only makes you a tyrant!"
"We already dealt with one person who had the greater good as his intentions but was warped by the very power he sought to destroy!" Kairi adds. "You are walking the same path he took, even if it's only isolated to one world!"
"Hmph! You would compare me to Xehanort, would you?" Walhart replies, surprising the two Guardians. "Yes, Maleficent told me all about him. But he was a fool. He was weak, relying on an ancient power, plots and scheme rather than his own strength. And you are no better. You dance upon the stage of your gods like mindless puppets! THAT is the world I reject: being a slave to obligations, and traditions. The ways of the past should return to the past!" Walhart's horse pounds the ground with a hoof, agreeing with its rider. "But I grow tired of these talks. Now then, Prince, you will hand over the Fire Emblem and the Keyblade wielders, and bend the knee. Now."
"Wrong, Walhart." Chrom retorts, voice steel and passive. "At the end of the day, it will be you who will be surrendering, not us. You're a villain and a murderer, plain and simple. And we are the justice you deserve." Walhart's face frowned at him, before he turned his horse around and galloped back to his lines, while Chrom and the others did the same. "Well, the final battle is upon us, Robin. Are you sure the plan will work?"
"It will, Chrom." Robin replies with complete confidence. "By the time Walhart notices the trap, it will be too late. Not that I'm exactly proud of it."
"It's our best choice in this situation, Robin." Tiki assures him. "Walhart's army are masters of the horse. This is our only way of removing that advantage."
"I know, Tiki. I just wish there was another way." Robin replies, placing a hand on hers instinctively as he gazes at the Valmese army, a pit forming in his stomach as Walhart rides before his army.
"Warriors of Valm! Ride with me now!" Walhart cries at the front of his army, his sword pointed towards the Ylissenas. "Together, we will stamp out this final pack of insurgents and unite the world!" His army roars in victory before they charge across the plain, the ground trembling under the hooves of the countless riders. From above, numerous wyvern riders soar from the top of the Bastion, their sights set on Pegasus Knights above the Ylissean League.
On the ground, a line of armoured knights, backed by fighters, myrmidons and mercenaries, stand at the front of the League, shields planted and spears aimed forward. Behind them, archers, mages and clerics ready spells and arrows as the Valmese draw closer, the cries and screams from the charging Valmese making the very bones of the League shake to their core.
Tiki and Nowi turn to their dragon forms and take flight to join the riders in the air, followed closely by Sumia, Xion, Cordelia, Gaia, Cherche and Gerome. What little cavalry they had, all of whom were Priam's mercenaries, stayed behind, waiting for the right moment to charge. As the Valmese charged closer, the Leagued unleashed a storm of arrows and magic into them, striking many and scorching the land with flames and thunder. Yet the Valmese pressed on, not fazed by the hail of arrows. The rumbling of the ground grew as they closed in, The Ylisseans bracing themselves for an inevitable clash.
But it did not come.
Just as the Valmese were about to strike into their lines, the ground beneath opened up into a broad and deep trench, breaking the charge, and numerous Valmese fell into the channel. Walhart's portion, however, did not crumble away, leaving him and a small part of his army charging at the centre of the Ylissean lines, who themselves had begun a counter charge. The Valmese lost all momentum, locked in hand-to-hand combat, their mobility stolen from them.
In the sky, the wyvern riders found themselves assailed from both above and below as arrows and wind erupted from the ground as Pegasus knights dashed between them. The sight of Tiki and Nowi in their dragon forms, breathing holy fire, did little to assure them they would win as they found themselves trapped in an aerial box.
Walhart himself was taken aback by the sudden change in fortunes. Even as he clashed swords with Chrom, who struggled to hold back or deflect his strikes, he could see the rest of the League moving around to surround his army. Pinned by the trench, even he would be hard-pressed to fight his way out. The sudden arrival of the exiled princess of Chon'sin did nothing to ease his situation.
"Today is the day you come crashing down to the hell you've made, Walhart!" She cries at him before lunging with Amatsu in one hand and a katana in the other. Walhart blocked her strikes with his armour, yet a single trickle of sweat fell down his face. He would never admit it, but this was a battle he could not win. He had been outplayed. The sound of the Ylissean cavalry moving around to cut off their escape only confirmed what the Ylissean tactician had devised.
But he would not die today. Not yet.
Surrounding him like a rising tide, several of his elite Paladins flock to him, urging him to flee to the castle. While the very notion of retreat went against his very soul, he could not deny the situation. The field was lost, but the castle would stand. Turning his horse around, Walhart fled from the battle as his army fought to see him escape, even throwing themselves against the Ylisseans to slow them down. It was not long before he left the melee and was behind the safety of the Last Bastion, with a burning rage embezzled on his face.
"They think they have won. They only blow as if to dose a candle, but they stoke the fires of hell." He tosses aside his blade before moving his horse forward. "The Bastion will not fall so easily. Let them stay for as long as they need. In the end, victory will be mine."
"Well, we won. But it certainly wasn't easy." Aqua laments as she looks across the field. Bodies lay strewn about everywhere, man, horse and wyvern, with arms and armour embedded into the ground. But most depressing was that the dead outnumbered the living.
"They all gave up their lives so that Walhart could escape. In truth, it is like looking at a mirror of what I had sworn I would do, but on a scale I would never imagine." Frederick adds as he scans the blood-soaked fields, the marks of flame and thunder burning away at the grass behind. "Still, it was thanks to Robin's strategy that we succeeded. But I admit, it felt like there was something missing to this."
"That's because it would go against my personal code, Frederick." Robin replies as he walks up to them. "The final part of this would have required a flammable liquid be put in the trench, then alighted with a spark or flame. Needless to say, that sort of tactic is not something I want to do ever again. Not after what happened at sea."
"We can mourn for the loss at a later time." Chrom says as he walks toward them. "But for now, we have a Conqueror to end. If this battle has proved anything, it is that this war won't end until Walhart is either dead, or has laid down his arms. Judging by how he acted before, though, I feel that reasoning with him will not work."
"That doesn't mean you will give up on it, though, right?" Aqua asks. "I mean, I'm sure Emmeryn would want this to end as soon as possible, but she would still try to reason with him, right?"
"Yes, you are right. Even now, she would try and seek reason. And until I am given no other choice, I will continue to do so. Even if it is a lost cause at this point." Chrom replies before gazing towards the Last Bastion. "Now then, the question is, how do we get past this?"
"We might have bigger problems than that, My Lord." Frederick replies with narrow eyes. "We have some unwanted guests behind us." Chrom and Aqua look at Frederick with befuddled looks before the roar of cheers erupt from behind them.
Charging over the hill in vast numbers and waving numerous flags were the dynasts of the southern lands.
When i was thinking of how to do the fight outside the Bastion, i decided to take some ques from the Charge of the Rohirrum from Lord of the Rings. The trench trap was inspired from the Legend of Arslan.