The Sword or the Knee.
The Ylissians and their allies had managed to claim their first real victory against Walhart himself, and not only that, countless of soldiers from across the land had joined them in their battle against the warlord, to end his reign of terror once and for all. It was an uplifting sight, to see so many brave warriors finally stop living under Walhart's boot, and are now willing to do everything they can to help bring him down for good.
Excellus was beyond worried "Th-they... There must be several hundred thousand soldiers out there! Would they dare...?! Is it... Is it possible... Is it possible it was Yen'fay they feared all along, and not me?!".
"Without him to back it up, your threat was only the grand shadow of a tiny spider" Walhart said.
Excellus looked offended "Tiny spider, is it? Well this spider has woven other webs in secret you could not even—".
"You mean how you blackmailed Yen'fay to keep his loyalty? Or perhaps your correspondence with the Plegian woman...Aversa, was it? Yes, I know you have designs on the Fire Emblem... You have no secrets from me, worm" Walhart said in a dangerous tone.
Excellus looked scared "B-b-b-but... I... I don't... If you...knew all of that...w-why...".
"Why haven't I killed you? ...I've asked myself the same thing, several times... But you're no threat to me. And I admit, you have your uses. Besides, I'm not one for court jesters, but you do...amuse me" Walhart answered.
Excellus' lost his temper from those insulting words "Amuse you? I AMUSE you, like I'm a jester?! Are you AMUSED now? With a million swords at your door, come for your head?! You've lost! Lost, and you are going to DIE! All of you, ALL OF YOU! But not me! I want no part of this suicide!".
Walhart scowls at him "Why, Excellus, did you just volunteer to lead my personal guard against the rebels?".
Excellus took a step back "What?! No, that's—".
Walhart's scowl turns in to a deadly glare "Unless you'd rather fight me. Right here. RIGHT NOW".
Excellus panicked and quickly bows "Mercy! Mercy! F-forgive me, my master! A moment's madness only—it will not return!".
"Then it's settled: we have our new captain of the guard. Congratulations, Captain. You'll be right at my side until the fray is upon us" Walhart declares before he walks away, leaving Excellus panting in fear.
"Do give our guests a warm welcome, snake. Perhaps offer them some of your tea? Hah hah... My equal... Pah!" Cervantes said before he leaves as well.
Excellus grits his teeth "They forget who I am. I could have fried them both where they stood with my magic! We will crush these rebels... We MUST crush these rebels... Or maybe...if Walhart is sufficiently injured...I might "amuse" him with a spell... Nya ha, either way, this spider crawls out alive! Eee hee hee hee!".
The allied forces had made it inside. Walhart stood ready with a lot of soldiers by his side. Even with all their new help, this would not be easy.
"I see Walhart, still seated in his throne room. It doesn't seem like he's thinking about escape" Chrom said.
"And his soldiers... They look ready to die before they'd surrender. One must admire their loyalty, at least" Robin said.
"Miss placed Loyalty, they are throwing their lives away in pointless bloodshed. And yet they are all fiercely loyal to Walhart" Cassandra said.
"He does inspire that in people. It's part of what makes him so dangerous" Chrom said.
"He inspires that in SOME people" Robin corrected.
Chrom nods "Yes, in some. But not me".
"Time to end this war. Ready when you are Chrom" Cassandra declared.
"With all of you by my side, I will always be ready. Let's go!" Chrom ordered.
"Rally every last man! We make our stand with Emperor Walhart!" An enemy soldier declared.
The final clash between the two forces began. Chrom and his allies cut down one enemy soldier after the other, their desire to finally end this war and restore peace to these lands guided their every strike. Maxi had managed to rejoin his new friends and was fighting like a lion.
Cervantes stepped forward "Let's have it then, rebellious scum! Like a flimsy belt around the waist of defeat, you shall buckle here!".
"Man you sure like your preaching, mustache man. Enough of your gibberish, let's end this already!" Maxi said as he got ready.
Cervantes thrusts his lance forward, but Maxi easily ducks under it and Cervantes was forced to block a counter strike from Maxi's nunchuck. Maxi forced Cervantes' shield to the side with another strike from his nunchuck before delivering a spinning kick to his face. Cervantes spat out blood before swinging his lance at Maxi, only this time, when Maxi dodged, Cervantes delivered a kick to the younger man's chest. Maxi took the impact and back-flipped through the air and landed on his feet before looked up and his aurs seemed to flare up.
"Ok old man, you asked for it! Time to settle this!" Maxi declared as he rushed forward at even greater speed "Rising dragon of the Zodiac!"
Maxi delivered a powerful charged up kick to Cervantes' chest, shattering his armor and sending him flying in to a wall.
Cervantes slumps to the ground "I...am finished... Nngh... But I have no regrets... I die in the shadow of...greatness...".
Maxi sighed before continuing on.
Meanwhile Say'ri was confronting Excellus.
"You. ...YOU! You and Yen'fay cost me EVERYTHING!" He shouts in rage.
"I only pray my brother is watching... Yen'fay, guide my hand!" Say'ri said as she dashed forwards.
"You think I'm afraid? Of YOU?! Come, then. COME AT ME!" Excellus shouts as he prepares a spell... but he didn't even get the chance to use it before Say'ri's blade pierced through him "Eee hee hee... Eee hee... Heeeeeeeauuugh...".
Say'ri watched her hated enemy die, she had avenged her brother. Now, she had to avenge her people.
Robin blocked an enemy's strike with his sword before quickly retaliating with a fire ball that he had already prepared. An enemy archer aimed at him, but was quickly killed by Taki, who stabbed him in the neck from behind. An armored soldier ran at her, but a fire blast from Robin killed him before he could reach her.
"We fight well together, Lady Taki" Robin said.
"We do indeed, Robin. And you can drop the Lady Taki, just call me by my name" Taki said as she kicked an enemy's sword to the side before slicing his neck open.
"Understood, Taki" Robin said as he stabbed an enemy through the chest.
"We need to advance further in, I trust you will watch my back" Taki said.
"Hard not to..." Robin admitted silently as Taki's suit left very little to the imagination.
"Focus, Robin. A tactician can't afford to get distracted" Taki said.
Robin unleashed a powerful spell that killed two soldiers "I can multi task, don't worry".
Taki shook her head but smiled as she and Robin advanced together. Once things calm down, maybe Robin should try speaking with Taki. Something about her mysterious nature made her very attractive... But Robin had no time to blush, or his blood would go from making his cheeks red, to staining the floor.
As the battles raged on, Cassandra and Chrom stood ready to face Walhart once again.
"Walhart!" Chrom called out.
"Prince..." Walhart responded calmly.
"Will you surrender?" Chrom asked.
Walhart scoffs "Don't waste my time with questions you know the answers to, boy".
"It did not have to be this way... You believe in mankind's strength... So did my sister. You believe that we are masters of our destinies... So do I. You could have joined us" Chrom said.
Walhart glared at him "ME, JOIN YOU?! Does a pegasus join with the flea on its back? A dragon, with a cow it eats?! You forget your place, BOY. I am the Conqueror! I will unite the world!".
"No! ...I will. And not by forcing all the people to choose the sword or the knee. Peace will only come by stoking people's hearts...not their fear" Chrom said.
"You think that's what you've done? What your sister did before you? No, she shouted some nonsense and leapt off a rock! Such weakness!" Walhart said in disgust.
"You're wrong, Walhart. Emmeryn's sacrifice took enormous strength and it made us all stronger. Her strength allowed us to bring down the mad king, it's what allowed us to stand against you, despite your power. And it's what will allow us to finally bring you down. And once your conquest becomes nothing more but a bitter memory, Emmeryn's legacy shall outlive us all!" Cassandra declared.
"You're right about one thing, little queen, it will outlive you and everyone you love... Come then, flea, and die for your peace!" Walhart challenged.
"Emm, I tried..." Chrom said silently before he got ready.
"Your pointless slaughter ends today, Walhart" Cassandra said as she stood ready as well.
Walhart let out a loud battle cry as he charged forward with his ax in hand. The married couple charged forward as well, Walhart tries strikes downwards with his ax, but Cassandra dodged it and tries striking at him with her sword and shield. Walhart counters with his ax and manages to send her back with a powerful trike to her shield. She spins horizontally forward to send the conqueror backward and the two exchange multiple strikes and counters with their weapons. Walhart tries striking forward once again, but Cassandra blocks the blow with her shield. This allowed Chrom to leap above them, and Walhart was forced to back of Cassandra, but while he managed to block the strike, he didn't have time to brace himself for it, so he stumbled back.
Lucina joined her parents as she struck Walhart across the back, making him growl from the pain, but he quickly retaliated with a vicious back fist to her face, sending her to the floor. Angered by seeing her daughter hurt, Cassandra goes on the offense, using a combination of sword and shield strikes, she managed to force Walhart's guard open and slashed him across the face, causing Walhart to start bleeding. Blinded by the blood in his eyes, Walhart was left wide open for Chrom to pierce his chest with his sword.
"Nngh... Do you see? Often the sword...is the only way... My conquest...ends here..." Walhart said before falling to the floor... Walhart the conqueror... was dead.
"Even in his final moments, he held on to his belief" Cassandra said as she helped Lucina back on her feet.
"He died as he lived... in battle" Lucina said.
After things calmed down, the news of Walhart's death spread quickly. The battle was finally over.
Frederick ran up "Milord! Walhart's soldiers have agreed to cease hostilities".
"Finally... Then pull our men back immediately. ...It's strange, Frederick... Walhart and my sister were complete opposites. One gave her life to stop a war. The other took lives to create one. And yet they both inspired those around them; both walked a path to end all war. Both lived, and died, trying to unite the people" Chrom said.
"Yes, Father, but as they say, the method is the message. Your father suffered from beliefs similar to Walhart, and his legacy is plain to see..." Lucina said.
"Mmm...these are matters too weighty for this moment. There will be plenty of time for reflection now that the war is done" Chrom said.
They went to meet up wit Say'ri, who looked a lot more relieved now that the war was finally done, and her most hated enemies were dead.
"Sir Chrom, a thousand thanks from every Valmese couldn't repay what you did for us. But I recovered Vert, the Gemstone that was stolen from Chon'sin as a trophy" Say'ri said as she held up the gemstone.
"You're giving it to me?" Chrom asked in surprise.
Say'ri nods "Of course, sir. It seems the fell dragon will soon threaten us all. I would feel safer knowing the Gemstone was in your hands".
"Then so it will be. Thank you, Say'ri" Chrom said as he inserted the gemstone in to the Fire Emblem.
"It was an honor fighting alongside you, Say'ri. I pray we meet again one day" Cassandra said.
Say'ri smiled at her "Likewise, Lady Cassandra. You strength in battle is matched only by your beauty and kindness".
Cassandra blushed but smiled "Thank you".
Once things had settled down, everyone were ready to head back home after the hard won war.
"Are we packed and saddled? Our business in Valm is finished, but we have another task ahead. One perhaps even more dire than we faced here... To Ylisstol!" Chrom ordered.
They began their trip back home. But several of them could not shake the feeling that something was wrong. Walhart may have been stopped, but the Fel Dragon was still a threat and there was still no words on Siegfried's whereabouts... Lucina dreaded what this could mean, and when she looked over at Severa, she could tell her friend had the same thoughts...
Did they fail to prevent the creation of Nightmare?
Back in Ylisstol Chrom let out a sigh.
"I know that face... "Dueling with unpleasant thoughts," are we?" Robin asked.
"You know me well, Robin" Chrom said.
"Hey, remember when Lissa first brought me here? When I met all the Shepherds? And Sumia... Ha ha! Oh, what a day! ...Actually, that's my first memory, in a way" Robin said.
"Heh, I suppose so. I wish all our memories since could have been as joyful" Chrom said.
Robin looks down "I know... So much needless bloodshed. So many days of pain and doubt and fighting... We would have never made it without you there to guide us, you know".
"Funny. I was going to say the same to you" Chrom said.
Robin smiled "I guess we really are two halves of the same whole".
"Hey, don't forget about me now" Cassandra said as she hugged Chrom from behind "Unless I remember incorrectly, I guided you off a suicidal path".
Chrom smiled as he gently took her hand "You did, I owe you my life in more way than one. Without you, I would've been lost in my darkness".
"You can be real sweet sometimes, Chrom" Cassandra said as she kissed his cheek.
"I've sent Frederick to search for Sable, the final Gemstone. And I've been reading more about the Awakening ritual. It seems that whoever attempts the rite must brave Naga's fire. If both body and spirit survive the agony, they are blessed with the dragon's power. Otherwise, the candidate...dies" Chrom said.
"What?! No! ...Er, that is... Father, must you attempt this?" Lucina asked as she showed up.
Chrom gave her an disapproving look "Eavesdropping, young lady?".
Lucina looked down "Forgive me, Father. I didn't intend to... I came to speak with you, but I couldn't find the right moment and—".
"Calm down sweetie, your father is not mad at you. Right Chrom?" Cassandra asked with a dangerous smile.
Chrom gulped "Y-yes, it's all right, Lucina. And yes, I'll be all right, too. I will withstand Naga's fire. I'm sure of it".
Frederick walked in "Milord, I have returned".
"Yes, Frederick? Did you find it?" Chrom asked.
"I believe so, sire. King Validar has extended an invitation. He says Plegia has been guarding Sable, and now he wishes to return it to you" Frederick answered.
Chrom narrowed his eyes "Validar...".
"They sent word to me, milord. They must have caught wind of my search... In any case, Validar asks that you visit him in person, that he might formally present it. Perhaps needless to say, milord, but I don't like this one bit" Frederick admitted.
"Neither do I, Frederick the Wary. Neither do I. At best, it's selfish political maneuvering at a time when the world can ill afford it. At worst, our run-in with those Risen last visit was no accident... But we will meet with him. Send word at once" Chrom ordered.
"Chrom, I don't trust Validar anymore than I trusted Walhart. Are you certain this is wise?" Cassandra asked.
"No, but we haven't time to be certain. ...And my sister never refused a diplomatic gesture, no matter how foul smelling. If he doesn't give us the stone, he may at least reveal where it is..." Chrom said before looking at his retainer "Don't worry, Frederick. I'm not walking into this blindly. We will make certain everyone is armed to the teeth".
"Then the Fire Emblem, milord—you ought at least leave it behind" Frederick suggested.
"Unless that's what Validar expects, and he comes to steal it with my best men away... No, it's safest with me, for now. We'll learn the truth of Validar's motive soon enough... Any words from Seigfried yet?" Chrom asked.
"Non my lord" Frederick answered.
This whole situation keeps getting worse... whatever happens, they knew even greater hardships awaited them. And with Siegfried missing, Chrom was worried for his' friend's well being... while Lucina silently prayed that what she feared hadn't come to pass... if Nightmare has risen, then their chances of preventing her dark future is slim to non.
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Tell me what you think.