Sibling Blades.

After their narrow victory, the Ylissians and their allies were in danger of being crushed between Walhart and Yen'fay's armies. They would never be able to take on the full force of their armies, so they had no choice but to hatch a daring plan to escape and hopefully weaken the Empire's army. But even that was easier said than done, Basilio and Slavia volunteered to delay Walhart's forces, which was all but suicide, but with no other options, they had no choice but to take that gamble. Right now they stood near a volcano, pondering on how to deal with Yen'fay. If he was even half as skilled as they've been told, then they had a hard battle ahead of them.

"Just as I thought: the turncloaks only made a show of opposing us. We're clear of them. But Yen'fay's forces approach swiftly. It won't be long now..." Say'ri said, clearly not looking forward to facing her brother.

"We should hasten south to meet them, and distance ourselves from Walhart. This battle will be challenge enough without the Conqueror breathing down our backs" Robin said.

"I am worried about Slavia and Basilio. They are both powerful warriors, but Lucina said Basilio was killed by Walhart in the future... and worry that history might repeat itself" Cassandra said in clear concern.

"I'm worried too, Cassandra. Had any other option presented itself I would've taken it. But this was our only option, and if it fails, we'll all die" Robin said.

"...Another concern: the dynasts who betrayed us. They attacked us and let us go both, because it suited their purpose. Should they attack us from behind as we battle Yen'fay, it would be an easy victory. They would curry favor with the empire without risk of injury. This is how they think" Say'ri said.

"We cannot defend two fronts. We'll need to choose our battlefield carefully... Say'ri, that mountain—I've seen it smoke for hours but I see no trees on it anywhere?" Chrom asked.

Say'ri looked confused "What...ah. That is no forest fire, sir. It's a volcano. Have you never seen one? That one is called the Demon's Ingle. It is known and feared by all people of Valm. Few dare even get close, lest they anger the wicked fire god".

Chrom rubs his chin "Hmm... Robin? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?".

"Only if you're wondering how quickly we can reach the volcano" Robin answered.

Say'ri looked at them like they were insane "G-go to the Demon's Ingle?! Do you know what you're saying?".

"I have to agree with Say'ri on this. The heat from that mountain could kill us before the enemies does" Cassandra said.

"I'm saying Say'ri's opportunistic former friends wouldn't dare risk following us. And we can use the flames as barriers, to limit how her brother's army approaches" Robin explained.

"Mmm... And my brother will still come. His stubborn pride will force his hand..." Say'ri admitted.

"Then it seems we have our strategy" Chrom said.

"...'Tis a risky plan, but I can devise none better. And you two seem to have a peculiar talent for performing miracles" Say'ri said.

"And now more than ever, will we need a miracle..." Cassandra said.

The strategy worked almost a little to well, Yen'fay did indeed follow them to the volcano along with any soldier brave enough to go there. He watched the soon to be battlefield silently, already knowing how it will end.

Excellus warps in "Why, General, such a melancholic air about you today. Whatever is the problem? ...Oh, is today the day you face off against your beloved sister? Dear me, of course it is! Well then, of course you'd be in a foul mood...".

"She is a rebel and traitor to the empire. I have no sister" Yan'fay said calmly.

"Oh, very good, very good—right out of the book, General Yen'fay! In any case, I'm SO glad I can trust you not to take it easy on her ragtag little troupe" Excellus said but Yen'fay didn't respond "Yes, we BOTH know why you'd never let any of her comrades escape, don't we? Oh, I know it must be so difficult, General. But think of it this way: You still have a family. A big one! The whole imperial army is your family now! ...Well, I should run. Do tell your little sister I say hello? Ta ta!".

Excellus warps out and Yan'fay gained a brief look of disgust from that foul man's words. He would've killed him on the spot if he could. But now he has a battle to fight.

Robin's plan was working, the volcano was making it harder for both sides to move around freely, but it did allow the Ylissians and their allies to fight their enemies on an move even playing field and was slowly but surely gaining the upper hand.

Say'ri approached her brother with her blade drawn "Brother. I won't ask you why... We are well beyond that point now. I will speak it plain: I cannot forgive you, and neither can I let you live".

"I've asked you for nothing, Sister, least of all your forgiveness" Yen'fay replied.

"But you will have my justice, like it or no! You, who stood by in silence while everyone around you suffered! While villages were razed and fields burned, you watched but said nothing... When Father and Mother were murdered, you said nothing! Nothing, before you ran to the arms of the one man responsible for all of it! Your silence was deafening. Maddening. Even now...have you nothing to say?!" Say'ri demanded and Yen'fay did indeed say nothing "Damn you, Yen'fay! Then I will make your sword answer for you! Draw your blade, and let it sing your final words!".

Yen'fay pulled out his sword to lock blades with his sister. The two then proceed with their fight, Yen'fay ducks under a slash then jumps back. He dodges two more swings as Say'ri follows and clashes blades one time before she kicks him away. Their duel almost looked more like a dance, both moving with such skill and grace that only masters of the blades could perform. Say'ri was fueled by her anger for her brother's treachery and unleashed her most powerful sword strikes while barely avoiding her brother's counters.

Cassandra struck a soldier with her shield before cutting him down with her sword. She looked to see the two siblings fight... but if Yen'fay is as skilled as people claim... why was he having so much trouble? Was Say'ri the superior duelist? Or was it something else? Regardless, the duel ended with Say'ri delivering a fatal slash across her brother's chest.

Yen'fay holds his bleeding chest "Say'ri... You have grown...so strong...".

"...Do...do you mock me? I have seen your best swordplay...that was not it. You went easy on me...but why?" Say'ri demanded.

"What I could not tell you in life... I say with my death..." Yen'fay said.

"But, Yen'fay..." Say'ri said, feeling tears in her eyes.

Yen'fay smiled at her in pride "You have found...strong comrades... I no longer need fear for you... ...I die...in peace...".

Say'ri ran up and caught him as he fell "Yen'fay, wait! What do you mean? Why?! Don't leave me with more silence, not this time! Yen'fay!".

She didn't get her answers... Yen'fay was dead.

After Yen'fay's death, the remaining soldiers either fled or were finished of. The battle was over, but the victory was bitter sweet.

"Our victory is secured... Yen'fay has fallen. I will never understand why he joined Walhart... His reasons die with him" Say'ri said in a sad tone.

Excellus warps in "But oh, what a death it was! Did you see the grief etched on his face? The mix of longing and pain in the eyes? He had become such an accomplished actor, but that was all too real, hee hee!".

Say'ri glares at him "Excellus... What would you know of my brother, you loathsome toad!".

Excellus glared back, clearly offended "More than you, princess of Chon'sin. And I would watch that mouth of yours... I am honoring Yen'fay's sacrifice by not killing you now...but even I have my limits".

"...What? What do you mean sacrifice?" Say'ri asked.

"Oopsie! Did I just spill the beans? Hya ha ha ha ha! I'm so sorry, but I promised your dear brother I'd never tell..." Excellus said.

"Explain yourself, snake or die!" Say'ri demanded in anger.

"Bah! As if YOU could harm ME! YOU only live by MY grace, you ungrateful WRETCH! I could have had you killed countless times! And I would have, if not for him..." Excellus said.

Say'ri was growing more and more frustrated "Enough talking around it, say what you mean!".

"Oh, did Yen'fay not groan out the truth as you cut him to bloody pieces? No, I suppose not. He always was so quiet. And proud...honorable, I think they call it? Yet he swallowed his pride and cast aside his honor...all to protect his beloved kin. That's right, Little Sis. He did it...to save you" Excellus explained.

Say'ri looked shocked "What?! ...Lies... You're lying!".

"No, I'm telling the truth, which I admit is a rare treat, so you best shut up and enjoy it. Before you met these Ylisseans, I could have had your head with a word. In Chon'sin, at Valm Harbor... Did you really think yourself so elusive? You were my leverage for Yen'fay. Unwitting and unbound, but a hostage all the same. I let you live; he fought for us. That was our deal. And he kept his end, right TO his end!" Excellus said.

Say'ri began shaking "No...NO!".

Excellus smiled at her heartbreak "Phew... Well, I don't know about you, but I feel MUCH better having that off my chest. Maybe I will give this truth telling a try more often! Yes, I shall resolve to do so! In any case, good-bye, friends! I wish you safe travels, and so sorry about Yen'fay... Oops! I broke my resolution twice already! Tee-".

Before he could finish his smug laugh, a shield hit him square in the gut, soon followed by Cassandra's fist to his face, causing him to stumble back, holding his now bleeding nose.

"You... worthless... heartless... BASTARD!" Cassandra yelled in anger.

"You wretch! How dare yo-" Once again Excellus was interrupted when Cassandra punched him again.

Cassandra grabbed his collar and began punching him over and over again "Shut up! Shut up you filthy rotten ANIMAL!".

Everyone, even Chrom and Lucina looked on in shock as Cassandra's rage had hit it's limit.

"Do you enjoy tormenting others like this!? Does it make you feel good!? Do you even know what love is?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS!?" Cassandra shouted as she kept punching him "You *Punch*! Worthless *Punch*! Filth eating *Punch*! SCUM!".

When she was finally done punching the heartless man, her gloves were covered in blood and Excellus' faced was a bloody mess. Cassandra dropped him on the ground, breathing hard.

"Cassandra..." Lissa whispered in slight fear.

"Mother...?" Lucina spoke in worry.

Cassandra looked at them and finally realized what she did "I... I didn't...".

Chrom took her hands "It's ok Cassandra. He deserved that and more... Just try not to loose control like that again".

Cassandra leans on him while trying to calm down... She couldn't believe she acted like such a savage

"It's just... those monsters forced Say'ri to kill her own brother... If... if this had happened to Sophitia... if I had been forced to fight her.. I..." Cassandra said while shaking at the mere thought of something that horrible happening.

"Mother..." Lucina spoke while taking Cassandra's hand "That will never happen. I will not allow it... we will not allow it".

Cassandra was silent for a moment before she nodded "Yes... you're right... We will stop Walhart and end this once and for all".

At Ylissian base a soldier reports to Chrom, Cassandra, Robin and Lucina.

"Milord! *huff, huff* K-Khan Basilio, and Slavia have returned. Basilio is seriously injured!" The soldier said.

"No!" Lucina said.

"Damn it all! Will he make it?" Chrom asked.

"He better make it. Or I will never forgive him " Flavia said as she enters.

"Flavia! What happened? Wait...you're hurt! Lucina—fetch a healer, at once!" Chrom ordered

"I'll be fine, gods damn me... Save your healers for that one-eyed clod. That big, bald oaf! That...that...Aaaaaargh!" Flavia yelled in frustration at her failure to keep the man she loved from nearly dying.

"That's twice now I have failed..." Lucina said while looking down.

"You didn't fail, Lucina. Basilio is still alive, so we still have hope" Cassandra said while rubbing her daughter's back.

"Had it not been for Siegfried arriving at the last second, both of us might've been dead. But I will make Walhart pay for what he did! I will kill him myself! I swear to the gods!" Flavia said in anger

"No, Flavia...for now, you need to rest and to heal. When the time is right, we will avenge Basilio. You have my word" Chrom said.

Flavia looked at him in silence for a second "...Then know that I will hold you to it... Chrom, there's something else. Something important. Basilio asked I give you this..."

She hands over the Gules.

"Wait... Is that...? Ah... I can feel its power resonating through my whole body..." Chrom said.

"It's Gules, one of the Gemstones you need. Don't ask me why in hell's name the oaf hid it from you. He always did love his surprises, damn him" Flavia.

"I'll ask for his reasons when he's recovered, I accept his gift now, and gladly" Chrom said as he inserted Gules into the Fire Emblem.

"Wait, where is Siegfried? You said he saved you" Cassandra said.

"He stayed behind to buy us time" Came a voice that was very familiar to Lucina.

"Severa!?" Lucina said in both surprised and happiness.

The red head smiled at her "Hello Luci".

Lucina quickly ran up and hugged her "You made it... I am so relived. When I didn't see you or the others I feared the worst".

Severa hugged her back "Come now Lucina. You know is better than this. I'm fine, and I'm sure the others are too".

"Umm, Lucina? Mind explaining who your friend here is?" Cassandra asked.

"Oh, sorry. This is Severa, she is from the future, like me. She's the daughter or Cordelia and Siegfried" Lucina explained.

"Cordelia and Siegfried are together? This is news to me" Robin said.

"But I can see it. She has Cordelia's hair and Siegfried's face" Cassandra said as she studied Severa.

"I am my own person, thank you very much" Severa said, slightly annoyed.

Lucina knew Severa was a little sensitive in being compared to her parents... given how she was constantly compared to them.

Say'ri entered "The scouts have reported back. Walhart's army...has retreated to the imperial capital".

"Retreated?!" Robin asked in shock

"It seems the dynast turncloaks are withdrawing their soldiers as well" Say'ri continued.

"I don't believe it..." Chrom said in disbelief.

"Steiger and Yen'fay have fallen; it's no shock Walhart might pull back to regroup. And of course the dynasts now see cracks forming in the empire..." Say'ri said.

"Maybe they'll reconsider which side they will fight for?" Chrom suggested.

"Possibly, if they can see an advantage in it for themselves. With them or not, it seems a decisive battle is upon us" Lucina said.

"To think, how quickly our fortunes have shifted..." Say'ri said.

"Then now is the time. We need to take the fight to Walhart, and finish this before anyone else dies" Cassandra said.

Chrom nods with determination "Shepherds! Comrades! Soldiers! We make for the capital! This "Conqueror's" reign ends now!".

Severa smiled, but was still worried about her father. He never returned after engaging Walhart... She really hoped he wasn't dead... or worse.

Siegfried barely managed to escape from Walhart's forces. He was unable to best the warlord in combat, but he did make him bleed. But Siegfried was also injured and tired... and was wondering if he would make it back to his family and friends...

"I... Can't die yet... I have to... protect... everyone" He said weakly as he fell on his knees.

"You desire to protect, but lack the power to do so" Came an female voice.

Siegfried looked up and saw a cloaked woman "Who are you...?".

"Someone who wish to help bring upon a new world. You are a powerful warrior, with a strong soul. Making you worthy of this" The woman said as she held up a strange looking blade "The Sword Of Salvation. Use it to end your enemies and bring the world to a new era".

Siegfried looked at the blade... it's like it was talking to him... telling him it could grant him the power he needs to protect everyone... His desire to protect his loved ones took over... and Siegfried accepted the blade.

.

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