Mad King Gangrel.
Emmeryn is dead. After realizing a new resolve, Chrom along with his friends and allies, confront the Mad King of Plegia to stop his reign of injustice and insanity. Not only to save the people of Ylisse, but the people of Plegia as well. The Mad King's army is in chaos as mutiny continues to spread amongst his ranks giving Chrom and his forces a chance to end him once and for all.
At a fortress, Aversa and Gangrel were overseeing the situation.
"The enemy has taken the field, milord" Aversa said.
Gangrel raised an eyebrow "Back already? Ha! It feels as though we just said our good-byes...".
"Our scouts report they are in surprisingly good spirits" Aversa said.
"Since when do you trust our scouts? Besides, what does it matter? They're armed like beggars compared to us! I could break their ranks as easily as I break wind" Gangrel declared.
"I'd love to hear the song the bards make of that" Aversa said.
Gangrel smiled "Aversa, there is a truth about he world this Ylissean welp must learn. A man is either strong... ...or he is dead! Bwa ha haaa!".
A soldier runs up to them "Y-Your Highness! Dire news!".
"Oh? Speak" Gangrel ordered.
"Our troops are laying down their weapons and deserting en masse! Please, sire... I am but a messenger... Have mercy..." The soldier begged... but the chances of him surviving his report was slim at best.
At Border Wastes; Frederick runs to Chrom and Robin.
"Milord, I've a report from Khan Flavia. The Plegian army is in disarray" Frederick said.
"How do you mean?" Chrom asked.
"It seems man of their soldiers are opposed to further violence. There has been infighting, desertion... Gangrel is trying to stamp out the mutiny by force, but with little success. Outside of a few faithful who serve him directly, his army has all but collapsed" Frederick explained.
"This is incredible news. But why...? ...Emmeryn" Chrom realized.
Frederick nods "Yes, milord. Emmeryn. The report says Gangrel's men chant her name as they abandon the field. Her words, and her sacrifice, have made her a folk hero of sorts".
"Emmeryn... Why did it take me so long to understand? She believed all people desire peace. She knew, deep down, the Plegians wanted it, too. It just took her to bring it to the surface" Chrom said and Robin smiled at that "I hope she can see this, wherever she is... Today, we put an end to Mad King Gangrel and bring peace back to the land".
"Well, I sure am ready to end this" Cassandra said as she walked up to them.
Chrom looks at her "You sure you can fight, Cassandra? I mean, your injury-".
"I healed. I'm back at full strength. Really Chrom, I'm fine" Cassandra assured as she looked over the field "Besides, there is no way I would miss the chance to finally end all this once and for all".
"Cassandra..." Chrom said before he smiled "Thank you, having you here by my side fills me with hope. We can win this, we will win this, together".
Cassandra smiled back "Yes... Together".
On the battlefield, Gangrel looked over his enemies with an evil sneer. He was close enough to be heard, but also far enough away for any archer.
"Good day, my little princeling! Still dreaming of your squashed sister?" He asked in a mocking tone.
Chrom glared at him "No more talk, Gangrel. Today, you die, and peace returns to Ylisse and Plegia".
"Pah! Such hypocrisy! You despise me, wretch! You want to cut me down! You don't know the first thing about peace! No man does!" Gangrel said.
"I know more than you ever will" Chrom said.
"More than me? More than ME?! Bwa ha! ...You ARE me! When life asks you a question, you answer with blood!" Gangrel said.
"Maybe you're right... I will never be my sister. I cannot forgive men like you—men who sow nothing but evil. All I have left arc words and her memory. Were I alone, I would be driven to madness. ...Or worse. But I'm not alone. My friends and brothers-in-arms stand behind me" Chrom said.
Gangrel was silent for a moment "...Are you done? May I vomit now? Bwa ha ha! What a flowery harangue! Men are beasts! Nothing more! We fight! We kill! We devour our prey! Beasts do not stand behind beasts, little prince... They use each other only so long as it suits their own selfish purpose!".
"Perhaps this explains why your own soldiers refuse to stand behind you? You are a poison. A festering wound. And I will do what my sister could not" Chrom declared.
Gangrel growls, growing more and more frustrated by Chrom's refusal to give in to despair "Such a clever tongue you have, little prince... It will look quite fetching hanging on my mantle, next to your sister's corpse!".
"I can't wait to shut him up" Cassandra said.
Sophitia walks up next to her "Be careful sis, and use my sword and shield wisely".
"You sure you don't want them back?" Cassandra asked.
Sophitia smiled "I believe you will need them more than me from now on".
Olivia arrives on the battlefield "Milord, I have come! Am I too late? I don't claim my dance as anything special, but Khan Basilio says it renews the spirit!".
The final battle had finally begun as the two armies clashed. Siegfried rushed forward and struck down two soldiers in one blow, he dodged an ax wielder before slicing him clean in half with his large sword. More soldiers rushed him from behind, but Cordelia flew in and struck them down with her lance. Siegfried gave her a grateful nod, which Cordelia returned. Both continued fighting alongside each other, Siegfried cutting down enemy soldiers left and right, with Cordelia providing aid from the sky.
Armed with a new sword and shield, Sophitia blocked the sword of an enemy before stabbing him in the chest before quickly kicking another one in the gut and finished him of with a swift slash to his throat. A large man was going to attack her from behind, but Taki showed up, landed on his shoulders and stabbed him in the neck, killing him on the spot.
"Taki!" Sophitia said both in surprise and hapiness.
"That's the second time I've saved you" Taki said.
"I will find a way to repay you" Sophitia promised as they stood back to back, ready to face the incoming enemies.
Gangrel watched his enemies approach "Yes—draw closer! Let them charge at me with their RAGE! More of my soldiers shall greet them at every foolish step".
However, the Ylissian's new found spirit combined with the Plagians' unwillingness to keep fighting, lead to the battle quickly turning in Ylisse's favor. Robin blasted an enemy with his magic, his strategy was working, while he and the rest clears the way, Chrom will have the opening he needs to reach and kill Gangrel. Robin let out a battle cry as he called on more power before sending several enemies to their deaths.
Chrom rushed towards Gangrel and finally reached him. Gangrel glares as he holds up his sword.
"Come, princeling! I've sharpened my sword just for you!" He said.
Chrom glares "My sister wished for our people to know peace, Gangrel. But as long as you draw breath, it can never come. For Ylisse!".
He charged the mad king, who blocked his strike before forcing him back and unleashed vicious blows which Chrom was able to defend himself from, though not without difficulty. Their blades locked for a few second before they entered another deadly dance of sword swings, each strike being either blocked. Gangrel delivered a hard kick to Chrom's chest and was ready to finish him... but Cassandra quickly blocked his strike with her shield and forced him back.
"You aren't killing anyone else today, Gangrel! Nor will you ever rob anyone of anything, ever again!" Cassandra said in feriche determination.
Gangrel snarled "Clinging to each other won't save you maggots when the boot falls!".
"You don't know anything. You tried to scare us with unprovoked attacks, thinking we wouldn't fight back, you failed, we stood against you. You tried to pressure us in to giving up the fire emblem, you failed, we still have it. You thought capturing and killing Emmeryn would break our spirits and make us give up, you failed, we are still here. You keep failing over and over again. You lost the war the moment you started it" Cassandra said as she readies herself for a fight "You are a failed king, and a failed man".
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Gangrel shouts as he charged Cassandra with pure blood lust.
Cassandra blocked his attack with her shield before swing her own sword, making him back away... But he touched his cheek and growled in anger. He attacks again, hammering Cassandra's shield with vicious power blows. But before Cassandra could crumble under the preasure, a magic blast struck Gangrel from the side, forcing him away.
"Robin!" Cassandra said happily.
"Get him!" Robin shouts.
Cassandra quickly rammed her shield in to Gangrel's chest, making him stumble back. Chrom the attacked him with fast and powerful strikes, not giving him a second to fight back. Weakened from the earlier attacks, Gangrel was being pushed back... Until Chrom let out a mighty war cry as he brought his sword down in full force... Shattering Gangrel's blade and slashing through his chest.
Gangrel fell to the ground, coughing blood "F-fool of...a prince... Your people care not for you... You are...alone... As every man lives and dies: ...alone...".
"He is not alone, Gangrel. He never was. Our bonds is something you could never understand" Robin said.
Gangrel said nothing as he finally died... It was over... They won!
After the Battle, a Soldier runs up to Chrom.
"Sire, the remaining Plegian forces are surrendering en masse!" He said.
"Order our forces to cease fighting at once" Chrom said.
"Yes, sire!" The Soldier said before heading of.
The alliance leaders gathered in a fortress.
"Then it's finished. Once their messenger delivers our terms, that's it. We put an end to this bloody business, once and for all" Flavia said.
"We've won... Somehow I don't feel like celebrating" Chrom said in a sad tone.
Basilio nods in agreement "Victory can be bitter as well as sweet, boy. It's good you learn that now".
"Regna Ferox lost many good soldiers today. We need to see to our dead. Then it's time to attend to the living and rebuild our army" Flavia said.
Chrom looks at her "I'm sorry, Flavia. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Ylisse will compensate your nation in whatever fashion—".
Flavia interrupts him "Oh? In that case, how about you hand over the Fire Emblem and we'll call it even? ...Hah! Just a little Feroxi humor. Don't worry about our finances, Chrom. Reparations will fall to Plegia, and I've seen their treasury they can well afford it".
Basilio smiled "Yes, pity the man who stands between Flavia and a full coffer, boy".
"Heh, I'll have to remember that when you come to visit Ylisstol" Chrom said.
Meanwhile, Cassandra was still catching her breath from an exhausting battle. Sophitia walked up and hugged her, which Cassandra gladly accepted.
"Thank the gods you are safe" Sophitia said.
Cassandra smiled "I've gotten stronger since last time we saw each other. Maybe I'm stronger than you now, sis".
"I have no doubts about that" Sophitia said.
Cassandra pouts "Why are you always so humble? At least act more competitive".
Sophitia giggled before she smiled "There is no competition, Cassandra. You helped win a war today, you've grown so much. And I am so proud that I can't even describe it. You've become an amazing person Cassandra, take pride in that".
"Thank you, sis..." Cassandra said, blushing from the praise.
Chrom walked up to them "I'm sorry to interrupt. But could I speak to Cassandra please?".
"Of course, Prince Chrom. I will see you soon, Cassandra" Sophitia said before she walked away, leaving Cassandra and Chrom alone.
"Well... It's over... We won" Cassandra said.
"Yes... So what will you do now?" Chrom asked.
Cassandra leans back "Well, I guess I will need to head back home now. My family is likely worried sick about me and Sophitia came all this way just to find me".
"I see..." Chrom said, looking sad.
"Hey now, no need to look all gloomy. There are still things I need to do before I go back home, like helping you rebuild everything that was destroyed. You will have to put up with me for a little while longer, Chrom" Cassandra said teasingly.
"That's the thing, Cassandra. I don't want you to go... I want you to stay, forever" Chrom said.
Cassandra looked confused "What do you mean?".
Chrom took a deep breath "Cassandra, ever since we met, you've been a very important person in my life. You joined us for a selfless reason, you risked your life for us again and again. But more than that, you've been a source of strength for me. You listened to my grief, comforted me when I didn't know I needed it... And even when I hit my lowest point, you never turned your back on me, and you took a hit from a blade just for me. You saved me, Cassandra, not just from my enemies, but from my self".
"Chrom..." Cassandra said softly before she gasped when Chrom kneels down and takes her hand.
"Cassandra... Will you marry me?" Chrom asked.
Cassandra covered her mouth as tears began streaming down her face "Yes! Yes I will!".
Chrom smiled as he stood up and hugged her close "You have no idea how happy you've made me, please, accept this".
Cassandra looked down at his hand "A ring?".
Chrom nods "My parents had it made to celebrate my birth. They wanted me to give it to the woman I would spend my life with. Take it. Please. And know I will love you until the day I die".
Cassandra smiled as she removed her glove, allowing Chrom to slide the ring on to her finger... And with that, they finally kissed. A kiss of pure love. Sophitia watched from the distance and she couldn't have been happier for her sister. She grown so much... and now she was finally getting married to her one true love.
And so the war between Ylisse and Plegia was ended. Prince Chrom and Robin worked tirelessly to restore Ylisse's splendor. This would be no easy task, for the war had taken a heavy toll on the halidom. But with Feroxi muscle and Plegian gold, they brought peace back to the people. All the while, the prince forswore the title of exalt, out of respect to his late sister. Even so, his subjects grew eager for their new ruler to take a wife. And in his heart, Chrom had always known who that woman would be. The royal wedding was a joyous occasion, attended by thousands from near and far. Finally, it seemed that the last lingering wounds of Ylisse's history had healed.
And the happiness did not end there. Two years later, Chrom was waiting anxiously outside a room, before a healer walked up and smiled at him, letting him know he could head inside. Chrom hurried inside and smiled warmly as he saw his wife sitting on a bed, holding a baby in her arms. Cassandra smiled at him as he walked up and sat next to her.
They looked at their child, a beautiful baby girl... She had her father's hair, and her mother's face. She was beautiful, the most beautiful child in all of Ylisse.
And her name... is Lucina.
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Tell me what you think.