The Threat of Silence.
After an rough and emotional battle against Say'ri's brother, the Ylissians and their allies learned that Basilio had barely survived an encounter with Walhart and would've died if not for Siegfried... and Said knight is yet to return from the battlefield himself, which did worry many. But for now, it was time to return to Tiki who resides in the Divine Dragon Grounds. It's said to be the former home of the Divine Dragon Naga. It is said that Naga's voice will enact a holy ritual to commune with Naga and regain her power. Said voice being Tiki, so the Ylissian forces headed there with the aid of Say'ri who lead the way. The place was beautiful and peaceful, and nice change of pace from the hellish battlefields they've been constantly moving between.
"Mmm... The air is sweet here. It's so calming" Chrom said with a smile.
Cassandra took a deep breath "So pure... feels like I'm floating on a cloud".
Lissa giggled a little "Makes you want to just flop down and take a huge nap, doesn't it?".
"Tempting..." Lucina admitted.
"Well I have a pair of pillows for you Lucina if you feel like taking a nap" Cassandra said, but she was only half teasing.
Lucina blushed "Thank you mother but I'm fine... for now".
"Don't kid yourself Lucina. I've seen you when you sleep. You like pretending your pillows are your mother's breasts" Severa said with a knowing smirk.
"Severa!" Lucina whined in embarrassment while Cassandra had to fight the urge to laugh.
Robin looked around not really understanding what was so special about this place "Odd. It seems like anywhere else to me...".
"Geez Robin, that hard to admire beauty?" Cassandra asked, earning a shrug from the tactician.
"This is Naga's Cradle. It is said the divine dragon once called this place home. Here, the Voice will enact a holy rite to commune with Naga and regain her power" Say'ri explained.
Tiki herself was sitting on the ground with her eyes closed. A faint glow could be seen
"Lady Tiki" Lucina spoke but Tiki offered no response "...Lady Tiki?".
Say'ri put a hand on her shoulder "Pray be silent, milady. The Voice is currently performing the rite. In doing so, she will draw the divine dragon's power from the land unto herself".
"Forgive me, I didn't realize. I thought she was sleeping... She looks so peaceful. What do you think she sees? Does she perchance dream?" Lucina asked.
"You'd think all that sleeping she did before we met her would've been enough" Cassandra mused.
"I imagine she—" Chrom began before he noticed something "...Uh-oh. Is that what I think it is? Say'ri! Lucina! Enemies approach us from the south. We'd better get ready, or the Voice here is in for a rude awakening".
Cassandra looked and narrowed her eyes "Risen...".
"The Voice is defenseless in this state. We must become her shield until the rite is complete. We await your strategy, Robin. Make us as a wall of steel!" Say'ri said.
"Got it! Those abominations won't harm a single hair on Tiki's head!" Robin declared.
With Robin's direction, they formed a defense line around Tiki. They had several archers to deal with the enemy flyers and the melee units would deal with any ground forces. The Risen wouldn't be able to get anywhere near Tiki unless they made it passed her protectors first. Cassandra blocked a strike from a Risen and stabbed it in the head before shield bashing another that was trying to sneak up on her and beheaded it.
"I hate these things! What are they even doing here?" She asked.
Severa leaps in to the air and when she comes down she sliced a risen in half from head to crotch "Isn't it obvious? Lady Tiki is a threat to their master, so they are trying to remove her".
"We can't allow them to succeed! Our future might depend on her!" Lucina said as she cut of a Risen's head, before blocking the blade of another before kicking it in the chest and then cut it down.
Chrom got ready before dashing forward and cut down two risen with one swift strike "They will not come anywhere near her".
"Naga's wench... Kill...Voice..." The Risen Chief said in a deathly voice while riding his Griffon in to battle.
"Mother! Look out!" Lucina shouted while struggling against two Risen that were trying to overpower her.
Cassandra gasped as the griffon tackled her down and tried to rip her throat out with it's beak. Cassandra held it of with her shield long enough to stab it in the neck with her sword, making it fall of her. She got up as the Risen Chief glared at her while holding it's axe tightly.
"Exalt's woman... kill... queen..." It said as it advanced on Cassandra.
Cassandra deflected it's axe with her shield before striking at it with her sword. But it managed to grab her arm and kicked her in the stomach, making her fall, but she quickly rolled back on to her feet, just in time to block another strike from it's axe and she kicked it back. It stumbled until it hit something big behind it... A large hand grabbed it's head and crushed it, killing the Risen Chief instantly.
Cassandra got wide eyes when she saw who it was "Astaroth...".
The giant golem glared at her "You will not escape me this time, wretched queen. This time I will have your head!".
Cassandra had not forgotten her last battle with Astaroth. If she tried to meet his strength with her own, she would be hopelessly outmatched. She needs to fight smart, or she's dead.
Astaroth charged at her with his axe raised high. Cassandra quickly jumped to the side to avoid a crushing blow which shattered some of the ground under it. The large monster swings his axe in a sideways strike, which Cassandra was forced to block but the impact was enough to send her flying back. She looked up just in time to avoid another strike that could've killed her. She got back up as Astaroth was preparing another strike. However, Cassandra ducked under the blow and stabbed Astaroth in the thigh. He grows in pain before delivering a vicious back fist to Cassandra's face, sending her tumbling across the face.
Cassandra spat out some blood but before she could recover Astaroth grabbed her by the back of the neck, lifted her up before violently tossing her back in to the ground.
"Cassandra!" Chrom yelled as he tried to force his way through a group of Risen "Get out of my way damn you!".
"Mother!" Lucina yelled in worry as she too was trying to make her way to help her mother.
"Don't worry, worthless wench. Your family will join you soon enough!" Astaroth declared as he held up his axe for a finishing blow.
Cassandra couldn't dodge in time and held up her shield.
"MOTHER!" Lucina screamed, she was going to make it in time.
Astaroth brings down his axe... only for it to shatter against Cassandra's shield "What!?".
Cassandra's shield was glowing with pure light, before she let out a battle cry as she rammed her sword in to Astaroth's chest, and some kind of light beam shot through his body, leaving a gaping hole. Astaroth takes a few steps back... before falling on to his back, and his eyes turned from glowing white to completely black... he was dead.
Cassandra was breathing hard as Lucina ran up to her "Mother! Are you ok?".
"I'll live... just sore..." Cassandra managed to get out before she collapsing to Lucina's arms.
"Mother?!" Lucina yelled in worry.
"Worry not, your mother will be fine. She's just exhausted from awakening her power" Tiki said as she approached them. The battle was over, and Tiki had finished gathering her power.
"Are you unharmed, Lady Tiki?" Say'ri asked.
"Yes, thanks to you. I apologize for the delay, but the rite has borne fruit" Tiki said.
"You've taken in the power of the divine dragon?" Say'ri asked.
Tiki nodded "Some of it, yes. ...It's strange. This power had always isolated me. Many were the days I wept alone, cursing the charge placed before me...".
"Lady Tiki..." Lucina whispered.
"But now my power has a purpose, and the world needs it to avoid a ruinous future. And so I shall offer it freely. Allow me to join you" Tiki said.
"...Are you certain?" Lucina asked.
"I am. I've had quite enough of living in solitude, thank you. Besides, I've always longed to better know this world. Now I can help you save it" Tiki said.
"You mentioned my mother awakened her power. What power?" Lucina asked.
"So she didn't know. Her sword and shield are divine weapons. Forged by the purest of magic to defend against all darkness. By coming here, Naga's powers has finally awakened their dormant power. She will be vital if we are to defeat the darkness" Tiki explained.
Lucina looked at her mother who was resting peacefully in her arms. She always knew her mother was amazing... but she had no idea she wielded the power of the divine... Her mother was indeed more important than even Lucina herself realized.
"That woman never fails to amaze me" Chrom said as he and Robin arrived.
"Yeah... she sure is something else" Robin said.
They had successfully protected Tiki who had finally joined them, and Cassandra had gained new power which allowed her to kill a monster that could've become a serious trouble if not dealt with quickly. They finally had solid wins and the allies they would need to stop Walhart... Finally, it looked like this was a war they could win. And win it they will.
While waiting for Cassandra to rest, Lucina approached Chrom.
"Might I ask a lesson, Father? I would love to learn the sword from you" She said.
"You're a master in your own right already. What could I possibly teach you? You're likely better served training alone where you can hone your own style" Chrom said.
"But I was hoping that you might... That we could..." Lucina trailed off.
Chrom looked confused "Hmm?".
"...I'm sorry. If it's a bother, I won't insist" Lucina said.
Chrom: I never said it was a bother. I just meant that with your level of skill, you'd be..." Chrom stopped and noticed Lucina looked sad, and then it dawned on him, she just wanted to spend time with him "...Heh. Fine. Go fetch a pair of practice blades".
Lucina's face lights up "Wonderful! I just so happen to have two right here...".
"Well, someone's certainly prepared. Very well, let's begin" Chrom said as he took one of the practice blades.
"Yes, sir!" Lucina said as she got ready.
They clashed for several minutes until both were growing tired, but Chrom ultimately won.
"...Impressive as ever. I was certain I dodged that one, but you nicked my shoulder" Chrom said.
"Still, you had me soundly beat. Had you not held back on that blow to my chest, I'd have a few shattered ribs. I was right to think you still have much to teach me. We'll have to make these lessons a habit" Lucina said.
Chrom blinked "Wait, you didn't just... Did you throw that match just so we'd continue doing this?".
"Why, Father... I would never!" Lucina said but couldn't hide her smile
"...Devious, just like your mother. I see I'll have to keep a closer eye on you, heh" Chrom said in amusement.
"Speaking of mother. Have you two ever trained together like this?" Lucina asked.
"A few times yes. But your mother always beats me every time we train" Chrom said.
"Mom is a better fighter than you? I mean yes she bested me in the arena but only because... oh..." Lucina trailed of as she blushed.
Chrom blushed as well "Yeah... your mother has a weapon I could never hope to compete against... and she is really good at using it".
"Ok I'd rather not think about it! ARGH! To late! The mental image is forming! No!" Lucina yelled as she held her head, trying desperately to not think about what else her mother could use her secret weapon for.
Chrom laughed at his daughter's expense. Yeah, they sure are a unique family.
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