Awakening.
Grima has returned, The evil Robin from the future has used his life force to resurrect The Fell Dragon, and the world is now at risk of complete destruct, and he is not alone, a Nightmare from the future, along with a woman who looked like an twisted and corrupted version of Cassandra arrived as well, making the situation even worse than it already was. To stop the dragon, Chrom must ascend Mount Prism, perform the Awakening, and win Naga's power. But the journey could not be completed within a day, so they had to stop and rest up before they could prepare for the battle to come.
However, Cassandra couldn't sleep, the memory of her darker self was still fresh in her mind. She looked to her side and saw Chrom was sleeping, though not peacefully. However, she also noticed Lucina wasn't in the tent. Since she couldn't sleep herself, Cassandra decided to get up and go look for her daughter. After only a few minutes, Cassandra found Lucina standing over a hill, looking over the landscape. She looked really deep in thought and Cassandra was almost tempted to give her a nice spook, but with their current situation, she decided against it, so she simply walked up next to Lucina who barely noticed her without being spooked.
"Mother! Sorry, did I wake you?" Lucina asked.
"No, I can't sleep either... So much has happened" Cassandra answered.
Lucina nodded in agreement "Yes... Grima is back, and now the world faces the end".
"It's not just Grima... Lucina... That woman who showed up with Nightmare... was she really me, from the future?" Cassandra asked.
Lucina clenched her fist "As much as I want to say no... There is no denying it... She's you... my mother from my timeline... the one I believed had died".
"The mere thought of being turned in to that... just a monster... It's horrifying" Cassandra said.
"Worst part... I don't think she's truly gone" Lucina said.
Cassandra looked at her "What do you mean?".
"When she looked at me... I could see her eyes behind the mask... She looked so scared... but not for herself, but for me. Even while being controlled by Nightmare's powers, my mother is still in there and she's begging for help... I... I don't know what to do mother... I don't know what to do..." Lucina said as she began shaking "She's begging for help, to finally be free from that nightmare... But there is only one way I can think of to free her... and I don't know if I can do it".
Cassandra understood what her daughter meant "You believe the only way to free her is to kill her".
Lucina looked at her mother with desperate eyes "But there has to be another way right? You talked me out of killing Robin and now we have a better chance of winning because of it. Maybe it's not to late, maybe we can still free her! Maybe there is still hope for her to be restored back to normal!".
Cassandra was silent for a while. She understood why Lucina was so desperate, sure they had spent a lot of time together, but the dark future Cassandra was still Lucina's mother... the one who raised her... so of course Lucina would be willing to do anything to free her mother... Cassandra wanted to tell her that they could free her, that they could do something to free her mother without the need to take her life... But if she did, she would be lying, and she can't lie to her daughter.
Cassandra sighed "I... I don't know, Lucina. I just don't know... But if there is no other way...".
"No! I believed there was no other way to stop Grima other than killing Robin, but now I can see there is still hope! There must be another way! There has to be!" Lucina almost shouted, looking ready to cry.
Cassandra took her hands "Lucina, I'm not saying there isn't another way, I'm saying I don't know. If there is another way then maybe we can find it... but if there is no other way, then I can tell you with absolute certainty that I would much rather die than remain a slave to that monster. But like I said, I don't know, but there is always hope, even in our darkest moments".
Lucina said nothing for a while before hugging her mother hard, and began to sob. Cassandra hugged her back, she did not envy the impossible choice Lucina might have to make... she could only hope her daughter wouldn't need to make that decision. After calming Lucina down, both returned to their tent and slept together, as Lucina didn't want to let go. She needed this.
The next day, Chrom, Cassandra Robin, Lucina and Lissa arrive at Mount Prism.
"It's beautiful..." Lissa said in awe
Lucina smiled "The divine dragon's power flows through every blade of grass here".
"Hard to believe a place so pure exists" Cassandra said, trying to enjoy the beauty as much as she could.
"Wait... Something doesn't feel right" Chrom said as he looked around.
"Nngh... We must prepare for battle! Grima has sent servants here. I can sense it. They'll be on us soon!" Robin said
Sure enough, several Risen showed up, their deathly appearance unmistakable.
"How could Risen infiltrate this sacred place?" Lucina asked and she drew her sword.
"Their power must be linked to Grima's. We must destroy them!" Chrom declared.
"Wait, who's that?" Cassandra suddenly spoke.
They looked and saw a bald dark-skinned man of above average height with a muscular build. His left eye glows yellow. He wears a white-hooded costume and carried a large scythe. He looked powerful and even the Risen seemed to forget every one else and focused solely on him.
"Foul spawns of Grime, you trespass on sacred ground. Your filth is not welcomed here, begone or be destroyed" The Man warned.
The Risen responded by attacking him. He leaps over the first one and cuts of it's head all one swift motion and when he lands he cut another in half from the head down. Hee moves back and stands, spinning his scythe, ready for more. One Risen goes forward, but The Man merely spins, hooks its body in the curve of his blade and sever the monster's body in half. Both halves land on the ground, slowly fading away, and the rest of the Risen charges.
The Man spins his weapon slicing several of approaching monsters apart, until one strikes at him, narrowly missing as he leans back, allowing the Risen's blade to pass harmlessly in front of his face, before killing it in another swift motion. Another Risen almost stabs him from behind, but he spins out of the way, cutting the Risen's head of with a quick spin strike, and kicks at the one behind him. He twirls his scythe and cuts down several Risen from both sides, dodging another attack to hook a Risen in the back before tossing it in to another Risen, the impact killed them both.
The Man advances towards the rest, he goes in to dismember and cut down one, and catches another's neck in his blade and beheading it with a quick pull. Two Risen charged, but he cuts one down and slices up the other one when he has to block a strike from a Risen's blade, which didn't even make him back up as he spins his weapon, killing it. But there was still several enemies left.
The Man narrowed his eyes before he began glowing with some strange magic, and suddenly he moves at an impossible speed, almost like he was moving through time itself, coming at the Risen like a blur and spins his way through the mass, cutting up and down, left and right, body parts flying into the air. He disembowels them quicker and quicker until the last one falls.
Everyone starred at the man dumbfounded. The Risen had always been formidable enemies, even to the best of them, but this man cut through them like they weren't even there. He looks at them, eyeing them carefully before he lowers his weapon.
"Prince Chrom, Lady Cassandra, Princess Lissa, and Princess Lucina. I've been expecting you" He said calmly.
"Who... are you?" Cassandra asked.
"I've been called many names through the years, but my true name is Zasalamel" The Man answered.
"Thank you for your assist, Zasalamel" Chrom said.
"I was merely performing my duty as Naga's servant. For many years it's been my duty to protect this sacred place, while also preserving the history of our world" Zasalamel said.
"Perserving history? How long have you been doing this?" Lucina asked.
"Ever since King Marth's era" Zasalamel answered.
Everyone looked shocked as Chrom spoke "You mean the Hero King Marth? But his time were over a thousand years ago".
"I'm older than I look. Now come, Naga awaits" Zasalamel said as he began walking away.
Knowing any questions they had would need to wait, everyone followed him to the Altar. It was beautiful, fitting for a goddess... this is were the last of their hopes will come from.
"We've made it, the altar. Wait here... I'll be back" Chrom said.
"Be careful, Chrom..." Lissa said in worry.
"We must believe in him, Aunt Lissa" Lucina said.
"If he is the true Exalt, then you have nothing to worry about" Zasalamel said.
Cassandra silently prayed this would work.
Chrom holds up The Fire Emblem "Hear me, Naga! I bear proof of our sacred covenant! In the name of the exalted blood, I ask for the divine dragon's power! Baptize me in fire, that I may become your true son! Hrrraaagh!".
Naga finally revealed herself... he looked beyond beautiful. Describing her with words would be impossible, but it was easy to tell she was a goddess.
"Father!" Lucina called out in worry.
"I'm... I'm all right!" Chrom said.
"Be welcome, Awakener. Your heart has been tested and deemed worthy. Cleansed in my fire, your desire has proven to be the stronger" Naga said, her voice projecting power and wisdom.
"Then you will grant me the power to defeat Grima? ...The power of a god?" Chrom asked.
"Yes. But know this: I am no god" Naga said.
Lucina looked surprised "But milady, you are the divine dragon!".
"So do sons of man name me. But I am no creator. I possess not the powers of making or unmaking. And neither does Grima. Neither of us bears the power to destroy the other utterly" Naga said.
"Then what power can you grant me?" Chrom asked.
"With my blessing, thou may draw forth Falchion's true might. The blade of the exalts shall again strike like the dragon's fang. Your strength will then be my equal" Naga answered.
"But not strong enough to destroy Grima?" Chrom asked, sounding disappointed.
"Alas, Grima cannot be slain. Sleep alone can be your victory. Just as your ancestor put the fell dragon to sleep a millennium ago. But you must weaken him first. Only as the final blow can my power be used to bind his" Naga answered.
"Isn't there ANY way to destroy him for good?" Lissa asked
"There is, perchance, a power that could end Grima. However... 'Twould be his own" Naga answered.
Frederick finally understood "...He has to kill himself?".
"Yes. And never would he do so of his own volition. He seeks only to add to his power, and set ruin upon the world. Now come. There is little time..." Naga said
"Where is Grima now?" Chrom asked.
"To the west lies a volcano known as Origin Peak. You shall find the fell dragon there" Naga answered.
"Thank you for your help, Divine one. We promisse we shall stop Grima and banish the darkness" Cassandra said.
"Yes, you shall. Cassandra, you too wield blessed weapons, and you've already felt their power. But you are yet to unlock your true potential. Now, I shall grant you both the power to banish the darkness" Naga declared as she began glowing withe power
Chrom's Falchion glows, and transforms in to the Exalted Falchion. Cassandra's sword and shield glows until they resembled Ice, which confused her, but she could feel the power.
"What... is this?" Cassandra asked.
"What you're holding, Lady Cassandra, is the blade forged to destroy Nightmare" Zasalamel spoke.
Everyone looked at him, waiting for him to finish.
"That blade... Is Soul Calibur".
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