Chapter 13 - A Self Fulfilling Prophecy

A cloud of dark smoke rose high over the horizon, an amorphous void churning against the gray overcast.

What happened? The smoke came from over the river, which means…

Corrin dipped into a dive, spreading his wings out wide as he picked up speed. The land below whipped past more quickly now, the momentum gained now propelling him forward with renewed urgency towards the site of the battle.

He was certain of it, the lack of any long trails or billows confirmed that the smoke had come from a single, massive flame. An inferno of near cataclysmic proportions, and it had occurred somewhere on the battlefield. By whose design however, Corrin could only guess. Had it been part of some plan concocted to use against the Invisible Soldiers? Or had it been by their machinations that such a flame had been unleashed against his friends?

Despite his best effort, Corrin could not help but fear the worse: images of his loved ones, charred and scorched beyond recognition, filled his head, spurring him forward with renewed haste. He had to get there quickly. Before it was too late. Before anyone else could get hurt.

He had to protect them. He had to-

A faint whistling filled the air. There was a blur of motion in the edge of Corrin's vision, a dark shape against the bleak landscape. He banked at the last instant, dipping out of the way just in time as an arrow sailed through the air. For an instant he glimpsed it clearly, it's large rounded head oversized for such a missile. What in the-! What purpose would they...

Suddenly something struck him hard in the chest, just below his neck. A second arrow just like the first had been loosed an instant after the first, this one aimed such to intercept his dodge. There was a loud sound like the pop of a firecracker, the arrow's tip detonating in a flash of light. The shape of a net filled his vision, spreading wide to catch in his wings.

A split second later more arrows filled his vision, launched from a small thicket of trees below. From them unfurled more nets, which fell on him before he'd even reacted to the first. They wrapped around him, entangling in his horns and talons. Panic seized him, he clawed desperately, trying to shake free, only to find his arms stuck. He couldn't flap his wings. He couldn't-

Corrin roared, eyes widening as fear gripped him. He began the plummet in an uncontrollable spiral, the ground rushing up to meet him.

. . . . .

"Arcthunder!"

Lighting lanced from Robin's fingertips, blasting through the group of phantoms in a single instant of blinding light and deafening sound.

Through the smoke and falling debris left in the wake of the spell leapt Lucina, Falchion moving as a blur as she darted from one foe to the next, finishing off the foes lucky enough to escape the brunt of the attack but unfortunate enough to have been left stunned or injured by the discharge of electricity.

More spells ripped through the enemy lines to either side, through which rushed the small squad of hand picked soldiers and remaining Nohrian Dark Mages who had accompanied the two. All the army's main spellcasters, Odin and Ophelia included, had gone with Leo's group on the other side of the river. Robin's plan had hinged on them being part of the trap he'd set for the enemy, after all. As such, he'd been forced to make due with any remaining casters they could scrounge up on short notice for his own group.

"Keep moving. We don't stop until we reach the shore!" Robin shouted, projecting his voice out over the the roar of battle all around them.

With momentum gained from the Nohrians' latest push, they soon were in sight of just that. Ahead of them the smooth surface of the artificial lake created from the dammed river could be clearly seen. It's crystal blue surface seemed to pulse between two extremes: light then dark, light then dark. During each extreme shapes could be seen in the water, smoky images that remained gray even as the waters danced between day and night.

Launching another barrage of spells, Robin broke into a full run now, the rest of those accompanying him following suit. Once more Lucina surged ahead, cutting down each phantom who moved to cut them off, felling each without breaking pace. With that final push they broke through the last lines of defense, reaching the water's shores.

"Now, quickly, get ready. We're likely only going to have one real shot at this," Robin instructed. The other mages did as they were told, spreading out in a long line along the shore facing the water. The soldiers moved as well, splitting up to take defensive positions around each of the spellcasters. Satisfied, Robin stepped forward as well, taking his own place. Besides him Lucina prepared as those other soldiers had, ready to come to his aid at a moment's notice.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

"As much as I'll ever be," Robin replied dryly, rolling his shoulders. Closing his eyes he took one, steady, slow breath.

Here goes nothing.

Lifting a hand over his head, Robin mustered his will and unleashed a single ball of fire into the air. It shot high up, detonating in a small burst of brilliant red light. As all of the spellcasters on both sides of the river needed to work in unison, such an obvious signal was necessary. Provided the others were likewise in place, then… well, hopefully then this wouldn't prove to be a complete disaster.

"Now!" Robin shouted, adding his own voice to the mix for good measure. Without even a second's glance to ensure they'd listened, he let the world around him and every sensation that came with it fall away into the background, reaching out with his mind towards the water. At once he was met with massive expense of invisible light, countless threads of magic woven in a great framework that bridged this world and the next. Each strand hummed with its own note, their many tones forming into a single reverberating song. It felt not unlike that of the rifts that had been opened in his own world, only somehow more serene and contained, yet deep and primal like the song felt whenever Corrin or one of the other royals accessed a Dragon Vein. For a moment he wondered at it. Was there some sort of connection between the two forces? Or was it merely an aspect of the magic being tied to the world itself, water mirroring earth?

Robin shoved the thought aside. Now was not the time to ponder such things. Instead he reached out, grasping one of the threads. Distantly he could feel the presence of others joining him, each taking hold of one of the strands of magic with their minds.

For a moment all was perfectly still. Then, as one, they went to work.

The chief problem Robin had long pondered had been the question of how to prevent the enemy from simply creating more opening to this world following each defeat. Destroying every water source in the land would certainly accomplish nothing, not to mention causing far more harm than good. Similarly, simply dealing with each attack as they came was a strategy the Nohrian army was ill equipped to maintain for an extended period. That's not to even mention a host of other minor variables he had to account for.

Then he'd hit on an idea, one so simple he'd wondered why he hadn't considered it sooner. As useful as portals and teleportation spells were, they had their limits, particularly in assaulting cities or castles thanks to one particularly prevalent type of spell: wards.

Wards, in short, were long term magical defenses that prevented magical entry into a location both physically and mentally in the case of astral projection or scrying. By their very nature as being one of the most stable forms of magic, a unique property all wards possessed was that it was significantly more difficult to circumvent or disable wards than it was to create them. As such, even a fairly weak spellcaster could create wards that would give a master mage at least a bit of trouble. Meaning they were perfect for what Robin aimed to do.

He and the other spellcasters were going to modify the magic used to connect this world and the strange lands the phantoms hailed from, using the existing spellwork as a foundation for a massive ward that would exist within both worlds. Not only would this prevent further entry at this location, but should, if his theory was correct, prevent any phantoms from entering this world as long as it remained active. And by using the vast magic already there, Robin aimed, or more accurately hoped, that the resulting barrier would prove strong enough that even the phantom's master would have difficulty negotiating it. He, of course, had no illusions this ward would be permanent. Whatever being was on the other side, he was certain it was powerful indeed. Tiki had confirmed to him that Naga herself had been concerned about challenging it directly. But even with this power, it would still take time to remove the ward. And right now, time was what they needed more than anything.

The only problem was that this task was easily the most complicated spell Robin had ever attempted. It had taken hours of preparation to even get to this point, requiring each of the two dozen spellcasters working in perfect harmony to pull it off. One mistake, and the whole spell would fail, and to potentially disastrous effects. Every change they made to the spell's framework, the higher the risk of causing a catastrophic destabilization. Which, you know, would be really, really, really bad to put it lightly. So they would have to work as slowly and carefully as possible to avoid-

"Robin! Look out!"

The cry snapped his focus back to reality, his eyes shooting wide open just in time to perceive the glimmer of steel arching towards him. Robin threw his weight to one side, half side stepping, half ducking, out of the path of the sword blade that passed through the space his shoulder and neck has occupied an instant before. He staggered a step, fighting to regain his balance even as he twisted to face the his assailant. His hand shot for his own sword, gripping the hilt as he tried to pull it free to defend himself. He had to-

There was a faint tug at his consciousness, followed by the sensations of a great weight slipping from where his mind pressed against the woven threads of the gateway's spellwork. The strands he'd been working on begin to unravel, pulling from his grasp as his concentration faltered, a discordant note cutting through the melodic hum of magic.

Dammit, no!

Robin reached out with his mind, seizing hold of the escaped threads. It took all of his concentration to hold them in place and prevent the spell from unraveling further. And with it his attention had once again been taken from the battle, if only for a single moment. But even a split second's hesitation could prove deadly, something he knew all too well.

The enemy's sword slipped in past Robin's defenses, it's blade darting towards his exposed midsection. Suddenly there was a clang and flurry of movement as something crashed into his vision. He caught a flash of blue, silver, and red as Lucina drove her shoulder into the Invisible Soldier, carrying both her and it away from Robin. An instant later there was a puff of violet smoke, the phantom evaporating as Lucina ripped Falchion free from it's chest. She landed deftly on her feet, only to whirl around to intercept another blow aimed Robin's way, driving the ghostly figure back with a counter attack of her own.

"Lucina, what's going on? Where did they come from!" Robin shouted.

"They appeared as if from nowhere. I do not think these are merely reinforcements whose approach we somehow missed," Lucina answered, shouting over the sudden roar of combat that had broken out all around them.

Robin's mind raced as he whirled around, doing his best both to scan his surroundings even as he focused much of his concentration on maintaining his spellwork. Lucina was right, it had been mere seconds since he'd begun his joint effort alongside the other spellcasters to reverse the gateway's magic, and there had been no sign of enemies nearby. Neither had these soldiers come from the water, for most of them seemed to have come from the opposite direction, toward the rest of the Nohrian army.

There has to be… there!

Robin's gaze seized on one phantom who stood apart from the others, remaining further back his compatriots charge. Through the flickering mirage-light that cloaked its form, Robin glimpsed black and purple robes adorned with dull gold jewelry and a horned half-mask covering a pale face shrouded by shadow.

Robin's eyes narrowed. He'd faced this very Invisible Soldier twice before, which more than confirmed his suspicion that they were capable of reforming after being vanquished if given time. But more than that, he now understood that the ambush had come not from the water, but simply the machinations of an enemy spellcaster.

Gods, I hate teleportation, Robin thought, a weary groan echoing through his mind. Least this is something we can deal with.

"There, I see him. That spellcaster must have teleported this lot in while we were preoccupied. We need to- Argh!" Robin doubled over, clutching at his temple as a sharp wedge of pain slit through his skull. Once more he felt the threats of magic begin to tug away. And with it, he felt another presence press forward, it's mental voice a slimy, unclean thing that tore through the spellwork net like a razor's blade.

"Robin, what-" Lucina started to exclaim. Quick as he could Robin replied, frantically waving her away as she turned to face him.

"That mage… he's trying to disrupt the spell. I've got this… just… just keep the others busy… we can't let…" the rest of his words became lost in hiss of pain as the mental assault pressed deeper, snapping several more threads. With a mustering of will, Robin formed a wall with his mind, repelling the advance. "I can keep him busy, but I need… need to focus to do so."

Lucina nodded sharply, her expression hardening as she grasped upon what he was telling her.

"Of course. Go, I'll provide cover while you…" Lucina fell abruptly silent, eyes widening the split second before one phantom, this one a head taller than the others, surged forward with preternatural speed. There was a glimmer of a deep hooded robe, gold and white armor glinting from within it's folds, a naked blade of some material that seemed half obsidian, half like a roughly cut purple gem. Falchion lept up to Lucina's defense, shining sapphire light springing forth to meet with the darkness that surrounded the strange blade.

For the next instant Robin could see nothing but a blur and a flurry of clashing blows, Lucina and the swordsman's blades moving in flawless dance. Lucina went low, Falchion slipping through the phantom's guard, only for him to deftly twist aside, the princesses' blade cutting naught but the trailing edge of his cloak. The counter came an instant later, a powerful blow aimed straight at Lucina's chest. She brought Falchion up just in time, catching the hit on the flat of the legendary blade. There was a loud clang, the sheer force sending Lucina skidding back several feet, forcing her to drop to one knee less be thrown off balance.

"Lucina!" Robin shouted. For a split second he forgot about the spell he was struggling to maintain, his mental wall wavering for a single instant. Then pain erupted through his skull once more, the phantom dark mage's consciousness once more resuming it's assault. He slipped to his knees, unable to stand as the pain continued to intensify, sapping away at his strength with every passing moment. All around his saw pain begin to twist the faces of the other mages who'd accompanied them, the effects the sorcerer was having in disrupting all their efforts beginning to takes it's toll on them as well

Dammit, I can't… Robin grimaced, anger and frustration filling his thoughts. That swordsman… he…it matched the description of the phantom who had led the first invasion into his and Lucina's world. Morgan had told him of how she and Marc has faced him during that battle. They had barely made it out alive, with only Marc's willingness to take a potentially fatal blow to deliver one of his own allowing the two to escape. Marc had nearly died as a result of that wound, one dealt by the very swordsman who Lucina now faced.

"Robin!" Lucina's voice cut through the pain still wracking his skull and the red hot anger that filled his vision. As he watched Lucina rose to her feet, her gaze locked on her foe. She hefted Falchion before her, slipping into a ready stance in preparation for their duel to resume. "I can handle this. Keep focusing on your spell, if we don't stop the enemy tides soon, this will all be for nothing!"

"But what about… he's the same one that..." Robin tried to argue.

"I know," Lucina answered. "My task is to keep you safe, regardless of whatever foe I may face. Be it as it may… I assure you, I do not intend to let the harm he caused our son remain unpaid in kind."

Robin squeezed his eyes shut, nodding slowly.

"Go," he said, his voice perfectly calm.

Moving as one, Robin leapt to his feet, drawing on all remaining reserves of strength even as Lucina leapt forward to meet her foe once more.

The sound of clashing blades filled the air, joining the singing thread of magic that reverberated from within Robin's mind. Two songs, two battles, joined as one furious struggle to tip the battle's fate.

. . . . .

Corrin crashed through the tree canopy, dozens of small impacts bludgeoning him as he smashed through the branches between him and his fall. However, if not for them slowing his descent, the landing that followed would have been far worse. So too had he been fortunate that he'd been already flying so low.

That's not to say he didn't feel it. Quite to the contrary.

Dirt billowed as Corrin smashed into the ground, crying out as he ricocheted into the air, sailing into a tree with a sickening crunch. The world flashed white, for a moment the only thing he could feel was the pain that spread out from each point of impact.

Get up! You need to move now!

The voice at the back of Corrin's head jolted him from is stupor, every instinct urging him into action. He struggled for a moment, then remembered the nets binding him. Growling in frustration, Corrin shifted back into his human form, drawing Yato and hacking through the now slack blindings. Scrambling free, Corrin staggered to his feet, searching for who or what had attacked him.

An arrow whistled through the air, narrowly missing Corrin as he twisted out of the way. He eyes narrowed seizing on the place it had come. The flickering form of an Invisible Soldier stood in the shadows of a tree, already drawing another arrow to the string of his bow.

Corrin leapt forward, closing the the gap between him and the archer. Yato flashed before him, catching the arrow mid flight and deflecting it aside, before falling down to cleave the phantom archer in two.

More arrows whistled out from the shadows, forcing Corrin to take cover behind the trunk of a tree. Dammit, there's far too many of them here to be a couple enemy scouts who got lucky. This was an ambush.

And worse still, it was all too clear the ambush had been set for him. They'd known exactly where he'd be and when, coming with the perfect weapons to force him to the ground.

How'd they know? How'd they know I was going to-

Corrin ducked, the blade of a sword cutting into the bark his head had been in front of an instant before. Throwing himself into a roll, Corrin sailed under another volley of arrows. Coming out of the tumble in a crouch, he twisted around, parrying avalanche of blows from a phantom swordsman before finally gained an opening, cutting the ghostly fighter down with a single savage cut.

Twigs snapped as a swarm of invisible soldiers launched themselves towards him, the archers abandoning their bows and drawing short curved blades to join their fellows in the melee. Their eyes flashed like embers, blades glinting like obsidian amongst the shadows that made up their forms.

Corrin moved as a blur, throwing himself forwards to meet the enclosing force. He couldn't let himself fall on the defensive, not for a moment. Outnumbered he couldn't hope to win a drawn out fight. His only chance was to power through and end it quickly.

Yato erupted into crimson light as it cleaved through steel and shadow alike. Corrin cried out in a savage bellow, falling into the instinctual rhythm of battle. He hacked and slashed, throwing everything into his ceaseless flurry of acrobatic lunges and jumps, relying on his speed and strength to outpace his foes.

And for once it seemed to be working! None of the phantoms managed to lay so much as a finger on him. One by one the phantoms fell, their assault breaking upon his relentless charge like the ocean's waves against a rocky shore. There, that would show them to underestimate him! That would show Xander and all the others for believing he was some helpless child. Let that be a lesson to them all! Let it be shown that he-

The flat of an axe appeared out of nowhere, slamming into his side at full force. The blow swept him from his feet, the force so great that it sent him sailing through the air and slamming into a tree. Stars flashed as Corrin slid down the trunk, landing in a crumpled bruised feet. The world spun, everything before him seeming as little more than blurry shapes flickering in and out of his vision.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Corrin shook his head. Gripping Yato's hilt with both hands, he drove the weapon's tip into the dirt, using it like a cane to support his weight as he dragged himself to his feet. Blinking he shook his head a second time, the images finally falling into focus as he swayed a few short steps.

Then he stopped dead in his tracks, his skin going pale. Only five invisible soldiers remains before him, standing in formation with weapons drawn. Of them, four wore identical garb, it's style marking them a having been Nohrian soldiers in their past life. Not rank and fodder footmen, but but among professional elite forces who'd been under the command of King Garon and his favored captains. But that was not what had given Corrin pause then. That was not what had caused the blood to run cold in his veins.

The fifth phantom loomed more than a head taller than the others. Through the flickering mirage flames and darkness that clung to him Corrin glimpsed overlapping plates, their color a dark, burnished purple-gray. Dyed fur and simple designs of a brighter violet accented the armor. Wherever the armor didn't fully cover its wearer thick, almost grotesque muscles could be seen, veins bulging against pale skin muscles. A massive axe was held in one hand, resting lazily against the ground.

But what Corrin stared at most of all was the phantom's face. It was an face he'd never forget, even as he'd wished to never set eyes on it again. The face of a monster, a man whose cruelty marked him as something less than human. Something terrible.

Why? Wasn't it enough just to torture me with my regrets? Wasn't it enough to face my victims? Wasn't that enough?!

A cruel grin curled across the shadow's brutish face, yellow teeth flashing. And all Corrin could do in response was to take a step back, anger and fear gripping his heart.

The ghostly form of Hans began to laugh, echoing out and filling the thicket with its horrible, hateful song

. . . . .

Robin formed together a spike of mental will, slamming into the unclean presence invading the portal's spellwork. A discordant note almost like a scream filled his mind, the presence receding back towards the edge of his senses. In that instant, Robin turned his focus back to the spell, pooling his effort into the delicate task of disassembling and reforming the structure that connected this world to the phantom's own realm. He could sense that the other mages' own work was reaching completion. He needed to catch up: for this to work, they'd all need to put the final threads in place at the same time. If they didn't, they risk an unstable ward, which would accomplish nothing but create a minor nuisance for their enemies. No, they had to-

The presence slammed itself into Robin's mental walls once again, halting his progress once more. It was clear the sorcerer had realized this too: for he was now focusing only on Robin, aiming to remove the one piece that would send this whole house of cards that was their spell tumbling down.

It's hard enough keeping my focus as it is. Last thing I really needed was this dastard butting in every few seconds! Robin thought, once again battering the invading consciousness back with another surge of will.

Even as he resumed work, Robin remained distantly aware of the duel unfolding outside of his mental landscape. Blades clashed in a continuous cacophony of ringing steel as Lucina and the phantom swordsman strove against one another, neither managing to maintain the upper hand for more than an instant before the pendulum swung back the other way.

For a split second the scene before him shifted, his mind's eye showing him Marc in Lucina's place and Morgan in his own. He wondered how similarly that battle had played out to the duel he now witnessed. As skilled a swordsman as Marc was, it would still be years before he caught up to level of Lucina's abilities. That surely would aid Lucina here, but would it be enough? Marc also employed magic to augment his fighting, an option Lucina lacked. Was her talent with a blade to not only make up for that, but match her foe?

Suddenly Lucina broke free from their dance, lunging forward as golden light erupted forth along Falchion's edge . She brought the holy blade down in a powerful two handed strike that sent the crystalline sword of her foe spinning from his grasp. The swordsman lept back, narrowly avoiding Lucina's follow up, her attack once again slicing through the phantom's hooded cloak as it trailed behind them. It was at that very moment that crystal blade halted still in mid air before shooting back in the opposite direction under its own power. Lucina twisted aside just in time, the razor edge drawing a shallow line of red on the outside of her arm as it flew past, sinking into the earth behind her.

The sound a glass shattering filled the air, Lucina's eyes going visibly wide as the strange blade broke into a dozen razor shards that once again reversed direction and shot towards the princess. However, her shock lasted only a split second, as Lucina having been prepared for this very attack thanks to Marc's testimony of his own duel with the swordsman. That was what saved her then, allowing her to react just in time. Falchion moved in a blur before her as she darted desperately from side to side, managing to deflect several of the missiles she was unable to dodge. A cry fell from her throat as one shard sliced deeply into her thigh, another cutting her across an arm an instant later. She staggered back a step,

Then the phantom swordsman lunged forward, the shards reforming into a single blade once more in his hands. Dropping to one knee, Lucina twisted back around just in time to catch the blow with Falchion in another ringing clash. She strained, struggling to hold the larger, stronger swordsman at bay as he pressed down with all his strength, driving her back inch by inch.

"Lucina, look out!" Robin shouted.

Lucina shifted her weight, letting herself drop low to kick out with her wounded leg and catch the phantom in the knee. While lacking much power, the blow managed to knock the swordsman's legs out from under him, sending him into a tumbling roll to evade the sweeping slash Lucina threw his way.

But she hadn't been aiming for him. Rather, her attack had been both to clear the distance between them and to intercept the blade of the first of the two flanking Invisible Soldiers that had been the subject of Robin's warning. She batted the blow aside, following the motion with another sweeping cut that bisected her would-be attacker. She then whirled around, deflecting one, a second, and a third strike from the other phantom before she cut him down as well as Falchion found a gap in his defenses.

Ripping her sword free from the evaporating phantom, Lucina began to turn and-

Lucina cried out in pain as the cloaked swordsman's blade cut deeply into the back of her shoulder. If not for her armor, the blow would have certainly been fatal. Droplets of blood splashed against the dirt, Lucina falling forward to her hands and knees, agony twisting her features.

"Lucina!" Robin screamed. At that instant the phantom sorcerer resumed his assault, halting any thought the tactician had of coming to her aid. Renewed pain reverberated through every recess of his mind as he struggled to maintain his nearly completed spellwork.

No… dammit… I have to… I… I need...

He could do nothing but watch helplessly as the swordsman's blade fell again, this time aimed at Lucina's neck. Then, suddenly Lucina moved, rolling out of the sword's path. She spun around, a cry escaping her throat as she buried Falchion into the phantom's side. For a instant the glowing violet points of light from within his hood widened as if in agony. Lucina lashed out with a foot, shoving the swordsman back even as she too stayed out of reach of the clumsy retaliating strike, swaying as she regained her footing.

For a single moment Robin thought that maybe his wife's injuries had been far less serious than they'd seemed. But that hope soon faded as he recognized the all too real pain plastered across Lucina's face. No, she hadn't been faking the severity of her wounds. Instead it had been thanks to the same indomitable will that had driven her to fight against hopeless odds in a doomed future and to find the resolve to travel back across time and space that had allowed her to ignore her injuries long enough to evade death but moments before. Even now he could tell she was barely managing to keep her composure, every ounce of that iron will pooled into merely remaining on her feet.

Then the hooded swordsman charged once more. Falchion leapt up in defense, Lucina barely managing to deflect the avalanche of blows unleashed upon her. Back and back she fell, her retreat carrying her away from where Robin stood now. Dancing out of the way of another blow, Lucina threw herself back as the phantom brought the crystalline blade down in a powerful two handed blow. The blade smashed into the spot Lucina had stood an instant before, the ground ripping open in a sudden burst of power. The shockwave slammed into Lucina, throwing her from her feet and sending her tumbling across the ground before coming to a slow, grinding halt.

For a moment Lucina lay there motionless. Then a groan fell from her lips, her eyelids fluttering weekly. She lifted her head, grasping for where Falchion lay. She managed to get a foot under her, then another, only to collapse back to her knees when she tried to stand. A sound somewhere between a cry and a whimper filled the air as agony once more filled her face.

"A shame. I would have expected a better fight from you." The words came from within the hood of the swordsman, their sound distorted as if one was speaking from under a great body of water. The phantom came to a stop several feet away from where Lucina lay slumped. He extended a hand, summoning the crystalline blade from where he'd left it stuck in the crater it had created. As it reach his outstretched hand it split into shards once more, which came to a halt to hang in the air around him

Lucina tried to stand once more, managing a single step before falting once again.

No… no… no… Lucina! I need to… no! The words tore through Robin's mind, their sound frantic as he struggled to do something, anything! But it was no use! The sorcerer's presence continued to batter against his mind. If he let go now, the whole spell could fail!

Tears stung his eyes as despair gripped his heart. There was nothing he could do… nothing…

Lucina...

Slowly Lucina lifted her head, their eyes meeting. Then Robin froze, seeing something in her gaze. For a split second the glazed daze over her eyes vanished, replaced by a sudden resolve. He recognized that look. It was the look of someone who'd not yet given up.

He dipped his head in a slow nod. He didn't know what she was planning, but he knew he needed to be ready. Whatever it was, he was going to be part of it.

"Die!" The distorted voice spat. The shards shot forward, flying straight for the seemingly helpless Lucina.

In a blur of motion Lucina leapt into a roll, diving under the swarm of crystals. They sailed through air, passing harmlessly over her head...

… and straight into the spot where the phantom sorcerer stood. This is what she'd been planning, Robin realized. Lucina had maneuvered her retreat to come as close to the sorcerer as possible, aiming for such a chance.

"Robin, now!"

So focused on disrupting Robin's spellwork, the dark mage didn't even have time to react as the crystals dripped through him, shredding his robes and feathered cape. In Robin's mind he heard what sounded like an agonized scream as the presence suddenly vanished, the pressure pressing against his.

With it gone, Robin pushed with everything he hand left, pooling all of his remaining power into the final threads of his spell. He felt the other mages add their strength, Leo, Owain, Ophelia, and countless other Nohrian mages all grasping that final thread with him, tying it into place.

They completed the spell.

A shudder ran through the dammed river's surface. The shadowy images in it's surface vanished, replaced by a faint white glow. All around the phantoms froze, reeling as if in pain at being cut off from their world. Even as they seemed to recover and resume fighting, their movements became frantic and clumsy, all sense of cohesion and strategy lost as they fell into a confused frenzy.

"Thoron!" Lightning leapt from Robin's outstretched hand, catching the swordsman in the back. He staggered forward, smoking as he fell to one knee. He began to turn, his eyes burning as he gazed at Robin, a snarl falling from within the hood.

Then Lucina was on him. She gave a loud, clear shout as she brought Falchion down in one final blow. For a moment all was still. Then, slowly the swordsman began to dissipate, fading into a vanishing smoke that scattered in the wind.

Lucina's shouldered heaved as she stood there motionless. She took a single step, swayed, then collapsed to one side, Falchion falling from her grip as it landed in the dirt.

"Lucina!" Robin rushed to her side at once, practically scrambling as he dragged his own weary body to where she lay. Digging in his pockets, he found a vial of elixir he'd been carrying. He lifted Lucina's head and shoulders with one hand, propping her up as he brought the bottle up to her lips with the other.

He sighed in relief as she weakly swallowed the silvery liquid. Then a groan fell from her lips, her eyes fluttering open once more. She blinked wearily, her still distant gaze clearing as it settled on Robin's face.

"Oh… good… You're alright, I take it?" Lucina asked, her eyes seeming to study him intently, as if searching for any visible wounds. She slipped a hand up to the arm cradling her, gripping it tightly.

"Lucina, you're in no position to be asking if I'm the one who is alright," Robin told her, a relieved laugh falling from his lips. He blinked, feeling his eyes sting a bit. "Gods, Lucina. For a moment there, I was so sure…" Robin swallowed hard, his voice cracking as the words caught in his throat. He shook his head, banishing the horrible thoughts of what might have been. "Are you alright? If there's anything I can to do-"

"Robin, I'm fine. There is no need to worry," Lucina assured him gently, her hand drifting up from his arm to caress his face. "The elixir you gave me saw to that. Perhaps a few days rest wouldn't hurt either." She laughed weakly, wincing as her shoulders rose and fell in time with the sound. "I'm sorry, Robin. I was careless. I failed to notice that I was being flanked until it was too late to fully prepare to deal with both them and the other foe…"

She sighed, shaking her head. "Did it work. The plan, I mean? Did we win?"

Robin nodded, for the first time since rushing to Lucina's side lifting his gaze to survey the rest of the battle. While pockets of combat still raged scattered across the field, it was plain that without additional reinforcements the remaining Invisible Soldiers were finished. All that was left now was to route the enemies that remained and ensure none managed to escape.

"Yeah. I think so. The ward seems to have worked, though it's impossible to say for how long. A few days, maybe a couple weeks if we're particularly fortunate. But beyond that…" he shrugged uncertainly. "I wish I knew, but there are simply too many unknown variables. Still better than nothing."

"Yes," Lucina agreed, dipping her head in a nod. "For now, let us just be happy with today's victory.

Robin smiled wearily, returning her nod with one of his own. She was right, of course. Even if the battle had yet to reach its full conclusion, they had still undoubtedly achieved a victory that day, no matter how small.

And that was something to be glad of.

Let's just hope the others fared well. There's been too many close calls as is.

. . . . .

The Invisible Soldiers flanking the phantom Hans charged, jagged blades dancing with light as if aflame. Corrin leapt back, Yato moving as a blur as he intercepted the first strike. He shoved the blade aside, whirling to aim a sweeping slash at the two on his left before they could close in, forcing them to keep their distance, before spinning back to parry a strike from the fourth.

Retreating back to avoid the next strike, Corrin changed directions, darting low under the phantom's guard. Yato's edge found the back of the soldier's leg, severing tendons like so many threads against a razor blade. Coming up Corrin swept Yato behind his back, foiling a flanking attack before following the momentum fully around to finish off the disabled soldier.

A cruel laugh filled the air, the only warning Corrin received as an axe blade suddenly entered his vision. He darted out of the way just in time, the blade passing less than an inch from his face. Dammit he-

Pain pierced his leg, one of the phantom's weapons finding it's mark while his attention had been on the resurrected Nohrian commander. Hissing in pain, Corrin twisted away. He thrust outward with a hand, his arm transforming into a talon-tipped spear that skewered his attacker, banishing the ghostly figure into smoke.

The remaining three phantoms came at him all at once now. Corrin parried a blow from Hans' axe, only to have to throw himself aside to dodge a stab from another phantom. Before he could face the third he felt another line of searing pain sprout from the small of his back. He stumbled forward, snarling as the foe who'd struck him from behind raised his sword high.

Corrin leapt into the air, wings unfurling as he stretched out a hand, a tome clutched within it.

"Ragnarok!"

Fire exploded in the center of the phantoms, engulfing them in an inferno that lit up the world in a sea of dancing crimson. Smoke rushed outward, dead leaves and dry grass igniting from the spell, filling the forest with an inky haze even as the fires died out

Landing on his feet, Corrin swayed, and slipped to one knee, the strain of the spell sapping at his strength. Dammit, I know magic takes a lot out me, but… I must be in worse shape than I thought… the strain this time was-

A bellowing cry stabbed at Corrin's ears, its sound more animal than man. Red eyes flashed in the darkness, the shadowy form of Hans leaping through the smoke, axe raised high.

Corrin's eyes shot wide. He leapt to his feet, digging his heels into the dirt as he raised Yato to block the incoming blow. The two weapons screeched as they met, raining sparks down on Corrin, the impact sending a jolt down Corrin's arms, shaking him to the very core. Reeling back from the sheer force of the blow, he staggered, fighting to regain his footing, but his wounded leg was sluggish to respond to his commands, preventing him from fully shifting his weight onto it and otherwise take a more stable stance. For a split second he was left completely defenseless.

The phantom Hans surged forwards driving the shaft of his axe into Corrin's wounded side. The impact sent a burst of agony radiating out from the spot, driving the air from his lungs and sending flashes of light bursting across his vision. He doubled over, falling to his knees as he gasped, trying to refill his lungs, a wheezing sound escaping his throat as his head spun and his vision darkened.

Corrin gasped again, this time feeling a bit of air beginning to re-enter his lungs. Then suddenly a knife of pain shot through his side, the phantom striking him with a boot in the same place as before. He was knocked back, landing sprawling on his back, once again knocking the wind out of him. A gasping, breathless cry fell from Corrin's lips as he fell. He rolled onto his side, coughing up blood as he fought to take a breath. Everything was dark, and he was barely aware of his surroundings. Every sound and sensation felt muted, as if coming from somewhere very far away.

Through faded vision, Corrin saw a dark shape step forward, towering overhead. An ax blade fell towards him, its edge catching the light.

For a moment time seemed to stand still. Corrin felt his heart beat once in his ear.

So this is it, huh?

I've really been an idiot, havn't I? Running off, so afraid that someone else would die…

Little good that did. Only thing I accomplished was to get myself killed.

Everyone…. Kana…. Shigure… I'm….

Corrin stopped at the thought, a dull pang radiating through his chest. No…. dammit… no! He couldn't do that to them! Dammit, they'd already lost their mother and…

No.

Acting without thinking, Corrin's hand shot for where Yato lay within reach, raising the blade over his head to meet the descending axe. There was a clang as the two weapons collisions, the impact tearing the sword from his grasp and sending it spinning into the dirt, this time too far to be easily retrieved.

Despite losing his weapon, the effort had yet bought him a split second, Hans' attack momentarily foiled. Agony filled every fiber of Corrin's being as he leapt into action, rolling to his feet and swiping at the phantom's chest with his other hand, claws forming to rake through exposed flesh. His next slash he aimed at Hans' arm, ripping the axe from his grasp.

However, the phantom Hans recovered quicker than Corrin expected. A hand suddenly seized the front of his armor, hefting him into the air and tossing him back. Corrin rolled with the impact as he landed hard in the dirt, using the momentum to help carry him back to his feet.

Snatching up his axe, Hans charged. Side stepping the swing, Corrin, slashed at his arm again, drawing another deep gouge that leaked wisps of smoke rather than blood. He ducked low, avoiding another strike and driving his shoulder into the berserker, staggering him. Weaving out of range of a clumsy retaliating blow, he closed once again, raking boths hands down.

However, when he tried to pull back, the phantom changed tactics. Rather than take the time to swing his axe around, he reversed directions, sticking Corrin in the shoulder with the blunt backing where the axe blade was mounted to the haft. The impact staggered Corrin a step, once again off balance. Before he could even think to regain his footing the blade reversed yet again, slicing a deep gash down a leg, even as Corrin tried to pull away. He lost his footing, tumbling to one side, no longer able to support his weight.

With a triumphant laugh the phantom leapt forward, axe held high to deliver the finishing blow.

Corrin tried to move, to stand, to do something, anything! But his body refused to obey his commands, the last of his strength spent. All he could do was watch as the axe descended towards him.

"No!"

There was a sudden rush of movement filled the space between Corrin and the phantom, wind buffeting them both. Scales of gray filled his vision, it taking a single horrible instant before Corrin realized that it was Kana, having entered her dragon form, who had leapt in front of the oncoming attack.

Hans' axe fell. An agonized scream tore from the Kana's throat, its sound caught somewhere between a girl's voice and a dragon's roar. Droplets of blood sprayed out, falling to the dirt like rain as the impact threw Kana back, falling into a crumpled heap some distance away.

NO!

Corrin's hand shot forward, forming a spear that caught the phantom, whose focus had slipped away from Corrin and onto Kana, completely of guard. The strike pierced flesh, smoke spewing from the wound as the ghostly echo staggered back a single step, shock playing out on its brutish face.

Then Corrin was on him, tackling the thug to the ground. He began to rip and tear at the resurrected image of the former Nohrian commander. Red filled his vision, mixing with the overwhelming pain that came with each move. Every nerve body screamed for him to stop, each move he made requiring him to push himself to his very limit and beyond. But he didn't care, all that mattered was making the bastard pay.

Yes, he'd suffer for what he did! He'd suffer!

He'd hurt his daughter! He'd hurt someone he cared about!

"I'll tear you apart! Rip you to shreds until there's nothing left!" Corrin screamed.

Again and again his claws met flesh, each time leaving another ghastly wound in their wake. But even as he tore his foe to shreds, Corrin left the phantom's face and throat intact. He wanted to hear him scream. And scream Hans did, the phantom's voice rising for the first time since their battle had begun in an endless agonized stream of cries.

Yet still Corrin refused to stop, not even when at last the screams fell silent, not even when the invisible soldier's body faded into nothingness and his claws found nothing but dirt. He continued to rage and scream until he had nothing left and he could do nothing but kneel there gasping for breath.

"I… I…"

The world spun before Corrin's eyes, his vision darkening around the edges. Sleep called to him, it's arms reaching out to pull him into the soothing embrace of unconsciousness. He was so tired…

Kana…

Forcing his eyes opened, Corrin turned to where Kana lay on her side. Her crumpled wings covered the place where Hans' axe had struck her, obscuring it from sight. Yet even hidden from view Corrin could tell how dire it must be, the blood pooling underneath a testament to how deeply the blade had cut.

Kana… why did you…

Corrin began to drag himself forward, tears filling his eyes. She must have realized he'd run away and come looking for him. He hadn't even considered... Gods, no… he'd…

It's all my fault...

As he crawled towards her, Kana's form began to shift, gray scales and wings dissolving into motes of light. The grow faded, revealing the crumpled shape of her human form. Blood stained the side of her armor, staining the dirt beneath her red.

No…

No, no, no, no, no…

Corrin scrambled faster towards her, panic seizing his him. Tears stung his eyes, his whole body shaking as he reached out for her still form. "No, no, no… Kana, please… stay with me. Please…. Please be alright… Papa's here. Please, just please…" He pressed a finger against the underside of her chin, searching for a pulse. But between his shaking hands and the frantic beating of his own heart he couldn't tell if there was one there or not. He reached for a pouch in his armor, to his panic finding that he had no healing potions on him. Seizing his cape from his shoulders, he began tearing off strips of cloth, desperately trying to bind the wound on her side. There was so much blood. So… so much blood….

Please… no….not again… I can't…

Then Corrin heard a soft, weak groan of pain fall from his daughter's lips. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes seizing up her face. Her eyes opened halfway, her lips parting as her chest rose and fell weakly. "Papa?" she whispered.

"Yes, I'm here, Kana. Papa's here. Just… don't move… just hold on… I need to," He cradled her head in in one arm, his other hand still applying pressure with the bundled wad of cloth against her side.

"Are you...alright...Papa? I… saved you… didn't I?" Kana asked, her eyelids fluttering again weakly.

"Yes… I'm fine. You did save me. You did," Corrin sobbed, cradling her closer.

"Good... I'm happy… happy you're safe...:" a smile tugged at Kana's lips, tears tracing down her face. Then her eyes fell closed, her head slumping back as she fell still.

"Kana? Kana?! Please, s-stay with me. Stay awake, listen to my voice. I need you to stay awake," Corrin pulled her close to his side, shaking her. "No….don't… K-Kana… please, can you hear me…"

Corrin heard footsteps approaching all around, the shapes of shadows closing in around him filling his peripheral vision. But he didn't care, he didn't care at all anymore. All he cared about was Kana, he had too-

"Father!" The sound of flapping wings filled the air as a shock of white feathers flew past his vision. He looked up just in time to Shigure astride his pegasus swoop towards the the enclosing lines of Phantoms. His lance struck out again and again, felling several as he whirled around for another past, while others still seemed frozen in fear, clutching their ears at the sound of Shigure's voice. They began to fall back, retreating from the field in the face of his sudden assault.

"Father, I've been searching for you. Are you hurt? Where is-" Shigure fell suddenly silent, a stifled gasp falling from his lips as his eyes fell on Kana. Shock and fear played across his face as he hurried to dismount, rushing to join his father.

"Please… h-help me… she's… I-I don't know i-if…." Corrin babbled, his voice choked by sobs. His whole body shook, tears streaming down his face as he continued to cradle Kana in his arms. "Please… please…"

"Lay her down, quickly," Shigure snapped. His voice seemed to waver as he spoke, as if struggling to remain calm. "Keep the pressure on her side."

Corrin did as he was told, pressing firmly with both hands while trying to give Shigure as much space as possible as he set to work.

The singer pulled out a healing staff, which he held over Kana with one hand. With the other he took his sister's hand in his, squeezing it as he began channeling the magical power stored within the staff. Faint, white light began to spread out from the orb at the head of the staff, suffusing Kana's body with its radiance. Then Shigure began to sing softly, adding the power of his voice to aid the magic.

For what seemed like an eternity they remained there, Shigure channeling spell after spell in a desperate attempt to keep the fading life still within Kana dying away, Corrin remaining there, crying as he tried to stop the bleeding best he could. Soon the sound of more footsteps could be heard, many voices crying out as they were discovered by the rest of the Nohrian army, who began to approach as quickly as they could.

Yet still all Corrin could do was remain there, praying and pleading for his daughter's life.

It's all my fault… it's all my fault... Please… someone… anyone… please may she be alright... I can't lose her… not now… Not her too!

Please… Kana…. Just hang on, You'll be alright. You have to be alright!

Author's Note: So yeah, that just happened. Now before I am mobbed to death-

*dodges a tomato*

-Just don't kill, me, I swear. I mean, it's not like-

*dodges a tomato*

-Oh come on. There's still a decent chance she's alive. Maybe. Perhaps. You'll just have to wait and see next chapt-

*An angry mob burst into the author's note, sweeping TheWerdna away in a tide of pitckforks and torches*

Some time later...

Right… can I get on with the rest of the author's note now?

So yeah, sorry about the delay on this one, my life has been busier post graduation than I expected, so things have been moving a tad slower than I would have liked. Though this was one was quite a bit longer than the last two, so there's that. I considered splitting it into two chapters, but in the end decided this worked best as one. Once again, however, I plan to see if I can get the next one out at a bit quicker pace. Might start aiming for once every 3 weeks for a awhile until I can get back on track.

Anyhow, with that out of the way, onto guest reviews.

Darkness21 - I won't give any specifics, but a lot of secrets should be revealed very soon. There are going to be about 2-3 chapters of stuff to wrap things up in terms of Act 1 of the story and set the stage for act 2.

Anyhow, that's all for now. No character spotlight this time, mainly since it would have to be a random character instead of one relevant to the chapter. With that said, I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter, and I look forward to hearing what you guys thought of it (yes, even the anger I expect to receive after the cliffhanger I left this one on). I will try to not keep you guys in suspense for too long. Until then, I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful day