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Beta Reader: RedRat8

Kintsugi no Fusei

Book 1: On Fields of Fate

Paralogue 3: Break the Chains

In another place, another time…

Rain fell heavily from the dark clouds above as the skies trembled with fury. Heavy were these drops of water and weighed down all caught in its wake, be they peasant, noble, human, or beast. However, this rain could not clear the crimson splattered on the castle grounds as bodies were felled one after the other in a chaotic melee of people who were once allies, family. Neither did the cold damper the fire in the eyes of a young woman as she and her flying mount evaded projectiles that sought to end her flight.

Numerous spells and arrows flew through the air but found no purchase on the elusive target. This visibly frustrated the attackers with their failure, as the rain had made them quite miserable already as the wetness and cold clung to them. However, that emotion was quickly replaced with confused horror as they saw that same elusive target do something unprecedented.

Instead of backing away like she had done many times before to go harass a different battlement and send them on a wild goose chase, the rider and her flying mount surged upon them with a fierce look and an even fiercer offense. An offense that now whistled through the air as it was thrown, the sharp head of a javelin visible for but a moment with a flash of lightning. The javelin easily pierced through layers of cloth before it sunk into the vulnerable shoulder of a flabbergasted mage.

"Wha–AGH!"

"I'm sorry! Please get out of my way!"

Hooves clacked onto the wet stone, wings still spread for drag to prevent further slippage and to smack anyone unfortunate enough to be standing. Though it looked almost fragile, the feathery limbs were deceptively strong to support its flight and sent those who hadn't dodged careening on the floor, out of breath as they clutched at their chest in pain.

"Come." With her hand still outstretched from the throw, Sumia did a pulling motion as she called upon her magic. The intricate floral patterns on her gauntlet glowed brightly before the javelin left the mage's prone body with a sound that made her wince. She wasn't dead but she would need medical attention soon. Not a moment later, it soared through the air where she caught it in her grip.

Weapon back in her possession, the Falcon Knight quickly flicked her mount's reins as she saw the unharmed regain their wits. The act prompted Belfire to fold his wings and gallop before they could move. She gripped the javelin tightly as they went out of the battlements and onto the walkway, though not before she swung the weapon once at the nearest enemy. It didn't even hit the mercenary, but it did deter his pursuit.

I have to go there now. It wouldn't be long before the soldiers wizened up and made a united effort to defeat her, less if the other riders in Ylisstol got involved. She may have spilled blood earlier…but she knew that she wouldn't be able to stomach it if she had to face what remained of her comrades from the Pegasus Knight Squadron in battle.

Could it have been possible for a better solution without the need for bloodshed? That question had plagued Sumia ever since she began her divertive ploy, when the reality of the situation had truly sunk into her incensed mind, now given clarity by the cold rain and with each javelin thrown at Ylisse's clueless soldiers.

Her friend, Robin, was unjustly killed by the person she once admired, Chrom, after a long period of imprisonment. Robin's daughter with Chrom, the baby Lucina, was announced next to be slain. Her friends were out there in combat against the other Shepherds to stop the execution and give them time to escape with her. She was going against Ylisse.

Naga, help us save her.

"Belfire, circle around and head for the towers." With that whispered, another flick of the reins and a gentle nudge of her left foot signaled her loyal mount to fly once more. He did so without complaint immediately, yet she could now see that the effort of doing so had begun to strain him. Each movement from his limbs, both feathered and hooved, had become slower than before and his breath more erratic. The Pegasus would soon reach his limit and she could only hope that they'd be able to reach their objective before then.

As they flew though, she saw two figures on another pegasus in flight. One of them a woman with distinct pale pink hair and behind her a man with borderline sky blue hair, Olivia and Virion. They looked more tired than she was right now but their pegasus looked fresh. That's good. We can work together.

"Sumia watch out!" With the loud crackles of thunder and the harsh rainfall, the Falcon Knight heard the warning a bit too late before an arrow nicked her cheek and sliced off locks of her wet hair. A pained yelp escaped her lips, an act that worsened it as blood flowed down her wounded cheek.

Alarmed, Belfire let out a worried neigh at her distress. The danger was still there, however, a danger that came immediately as a whistle of arrows faster than the normal rattled at her instincts. She held on tighter despite the urge to put pressure on her wound, honed from their years together in combat, that act drove the winged equine to dive and bank to avoid more of the projectiles.

The Pegasus succeeded as they were still airborne, but his growing exhaustion took its toll as several grazed them both this time. Fabric torn and red lines carved on their exposed flesh, only the armor they had equipped and no small amount of luck had saved them from the worst.

"Sumia go! Get to Gaius and Little Light! We'll handle them!" They didn't even wait for her response; she knew they couldn't. With a heavy heart, she could only watch as her friends' mount flew faster to reach their enemies. They had to succeed before the next volley could come.

Belfire continued to push himself until they reached the next battlement and free to have a reprieve from his flight there. The fact that it was conspicuously without guards made it all the easier but suspicion still built up inside her. While she wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth and she had just escaped a harrowing experience, this was too easy.

Sumia dismounted from her mount to help his recovery and to investigate the surroundings. Unnatural silence greeted her, even with the rain and the thunder still present. Based on all that had happened so far, she could think of at least three possible reasons for why this area was deserted.

Her plan had worked and the guards had run themselves ragged trying to intercept her. A nice possibility for sure but a rather unlikely one. The Ylissean militia now was misguided, new blood, or perhaps both but she liked to believe they weren't stupid enough

The next likely possibility was that the guards had wizened up and decided to lay a trap for her, hidden just nearby to ambush her. That or they were reassigned to the courtyard to help subdue the "rebellious" Shepherds. Either way, both had horrifying consequences.

But the third reason, could be that, the guards were dead already before they even got there as a strong possibility. She suspected that to be the case as she saw trails of blood that were not her own on the stone bricks. In fact, most of the crimson liquid led to a few crates stacked nearby and visibly pooled there, with the implication that the bodies were stacked there.

Hold on. That's clearly a guard's hand peeking out. Sumia thought as she spotted the tip of a gauntleted hand as she got closer. An obvious lure for someone to investigate, a trap that lied in wait. And it's one that she needed to spring.

The Falcon Knight lowered her center of gravity as she adopted a wider approach with her legs. The stance was mostly to prevent her usual clumsiness from kicking in with the spilled blood serving as a hazard. Afterward, she held her javelin closer to her. Right hand at where she usually held it for thrusts and the left near the blade. This way, its length wouldn't hamper her and if need be, she could block with the shaft and press her opponent against the crates.

Alright, let's see who it is. A harsh wind blew then and she suppressed a wince as she felt prickles of pain wrack her body, reminded her of her current wounds which still bled. They weren't life-threatening but, she had a feeling that they wouldn't be the last today. And the chill of the rain, something that she could no longer ignore, didn't do her any favors either. Hopefully, there's a tonic or staff nearby that I can use after. With that last thought, Sumia carefully walked towards the trap, the sound of her footsteps muted by rainfall and thunder.

Her cautious strides drew her closer to the crates as each second passed, her own heartbeats were louder than almost anything else, and her knuckles white from the tight grip she had on her weapon. Finally, she only needed to get past the corner to confront whoever was behind this.

The Falcon Knight lunged forth immediately as a bolt of lightning lit up the surroundings. From the glare, she saw a being clad in a cloak over the dead bodies. Startled, a long blade jagged like lightning swung for her head from the cloaked figure. It hit the wooden haft as she raised to block, but alarm flooded her mind all the same as she realized what the weapon was. Fuck! It's a Levin Blade!

"AHHH!" An agonized scream left Sumia's throat as the sword released a pulse of lightning and ran its course over her, the pains she felt further enhanced by the armor she wore and the wetness that enveloped her. When it ended a moment later, she lost her grip on her weapon and fell on the bloody bricks like an abandoned sack, unable to control her body as spasms prevented her.

"Oh shit! Sumia! I am so sorry! I thought it was someone else!" She heard the figure shout with a somehow familiar feminine voice while she struggled to breathe. Blood splashed as the figure dropped down beside her and discarded her weapon. In its place, she took out a Mend Staff from her dark red cloak, the light-colored length of twisted wood topped with a green gem that now shined with healing magic that washed over her. "Don't you worry! This one's free of charge."

"Wait…Anna?" The brunette asked as the spasms ceased. The question prompted the person in question to remove her hood and reveal wavy red locks tied in a ponytail. Her red eyes apologetic and her grin uneasy, she simply nodded and returned her focus on healing. The agony ended, replaced by a soothing feeling as she felt all her wounds knit. "W-what are you doing here?"

"Well, I heard something was stirring here in the capital so Panne and I went to investigate." The Trickster stopped the treatment and placed the staff back underneath her cloak. Then, she retrieved her sword and placed it back on her waist before she grabbed her javelin for her and helped her stand up again. "I know there's been some news but I didn't realize how bad it's gotten here. I even had to call in some favors just to get us inside with the increased security in the city and then the castle itself."

"I see, but where's Panne right now? And would you mind explaining this?" Sumia gestured to the dead soldiers nearby as Anna gained a somewhat bittersweet look on her face.

"Funny you say that. One second Panne and I were sneaking in here, the next thing I knew was that she told me something's wrong and she immediately transformed. That gave us away so we had to…improvise." Anna replied with a wince. "Then she went on ahead and left me here. I couldn't leave this place either since this was supposed to be our exit so I decided to make a trap. You're the only one who got caught in it though so uhh, sorry?"

Despite the sigh that left her lips at the reminder of what had happened earlier, the Falcon Knight gave her ally a smile. "I forgive you, Anna. I'm glad to see you after so long."

"Same on my end, wish it could have been under better circumstances though." Their smiles turned to frowns a second later, the reality of the situation sunk in their minds once more. "What's really going on Sumia?" Anna asked worryingly.

Sumia felt her stomach sink as she dreaded to say it out loud, part of her still unwilling to believe how things had gone from bad to the worst scenario possible, but such was the nature of a horrible truth. "Robin…Chrom, he…Anna he killed her."

She watched Anna blanched at the revelation but she had more to say. "Her daughter, her Lucina, is next. She's just a baby and she's going to be murdered just because she has her blood!"

The last words came out as a shout, which had probably alerted someone nearby and gave away their presence, but she couldn't help it anymore. All the anger that she had repressed in her heart, at the others and herself burned away at her. All that she did and didn't do to keep a false sense of peace and hope. It was too hard, too torturous for her to keep it in, any longer. "The Shepherds are fighting against each other now. We had to fight because we didn't fight for Robin when it mattered."

"But we can save the one person left that matters to her." The Falcon Knight placed her free hand on Anna and looked at her straight in the eye, her tears mixing with the rain as she begged. "Please, help us save her Little Light."

Just as the merchant was about to reply though, a loud wail from within the nearby watchtower interrupted them, accompanied by the sounds of rapid footsteps that now ascend it.

"WAGH!"

"What the–URK!"

"RETURN THE PRINCESS NOW THIEF!"

"NEVER! YOUR EXALT KILLED MY FRIEND! YOUR QUEEN! I WON'T HAVE HER DAUGHTER DIE TOO!"

"LIES!"

"Sumia, take this." The brunette yelped as the redhead immediately took out the staff and pressed it to her chest. "Heal your Pegasus, I'll go cover Gaius. Then, you guys get out of here, capisce?"

"Anna, you…" Sumia began, only for said person to give her a wink and smirk.

"What are you waiting for? The Bill? Well, get the Princess to safety for starters." Anna declared as she took out her Levin Blade once more. "Let's discuss the rest of the payment once you're all out of danger, hm?"

"…thank you, Anna." With a determined nod, the Falcon Knight went back to Belfire and began to heal his wounds. As she did so, she bit her lip as her tears mixed with the rain once more. Ice filled her heart, for she knew what those words really meant. Her torment had yet to end.

The watchtower door to the end of the battlement opened with a flash of gold and out came Gaius, rips in his cloak and with light wounds that continued to bleed. Still, he looked like a man on a mission with the crying baby held securely in his arms. It was Lucina. Their Lucina, not that…Thing that called herself Lucina.

The thief met her eyes and he ran for her, slower than he would have, had he been unencumbered but that didn't mean he had no surprises left. She saw a sphere drop from behind him that let loose a thick cloud of smoke and the first of his pursuers coughed profusely as they arrived. It wouldn't last, not with the rain, but it worked.

Once Belfire was fully healed, Sumia went back up her mount and prepared herself for the flight. She strapped the Mend staff onto her saddle and after a moment of deliberation threw her javelin into the thinning cloud of smoke. It was a direct hit to one of the soldiers and that was one less for her friend to fight.

Out of the corner of her right eye, Anna charged. As the two redheads got closer, she saw his eyes widen as the smiling trickster went past him. A second passed and the look she gave him had his expression morph into a frustrated scowl. He had also realized what this likely meant, for Anna alone would stall the soldiers.

Gaius arrived and dropped the battered buckler he had on and gave Lucina to her to free his arms for climbing behind her. Now seated, he snaked his arms around her waist to help her hold the blue-haired baby and Belfire's bridle. "Let's go Sumia."

The first strike of lighting from the Levin Blade heralded their ascent as they left the secret seller behind. Another burst flashed behind them and the roar of thunder hid the sobs that escaped her lips and that of Lucina.

"Stand still you damn traitor!"

Brother, 'twas this what you felt that day when Chon'sin and our people were conquered? When the Ylissean forces…when I killed you? Say'ri thought as she cut down a soldier whose short axe fell short of hitting her. The past months since Robin's imprisonment had given her plenty to think about what her brother had been through and suffered under. Yen'fay I've been a fool.

And what a fool she was, for all that she had accused her brother of, she ended up in a different yet similar situation as the former Chon'sin king had. She had been inactive and silent for months when her friend needed her most. Now, the consequences were laid bare.

The clash of metal against flesh or fellow metal continued as the rain worsened with winds now blowing. Allies now enemies fought against each other for reasons beyond those bonds. But for her, they could no longer be called as such, not with the sins they were all guilty of.

Still… How much longer? The Swordmaster found herself wondering as she forced her tired body to continue her faltering defense as she heard rapid footsteps from the front…and more behind.

The last heir of Chon'sin parried another heavy blow from the Parallel Falchion with her Side Edge, an effort that nearly wrenched it out of her grip and brought the weapon closer to its limit. Meanwhile, she used what remained of her broken Killing Edge to tear open the throat of the soldier who tried to take advantage of her blindside, unknowing that she'd caught a glimpse of his advance on the metal. "What?! NO!"

The gurgling man let go of his sword in shock as he fell to his knees and with no hesitation, she immediately threw her broken weapon at her growling opponent and nicked the brow over the eye that bore the Exalt's Brand. "GAH! MY EYE!"

Quickly, the Swordmaster took the dying soldier's discarded iron sword as she retreated to avoid the blind attack from the wounded princess. Now, the clueless soldiers arrived and all they knew was that their Exalt and his time-displaced heir were in danger from their own comrades. Hence, why they did not dare to attack her…yet.

Now that she had bought herself some time to recuperate as the soldiers fussed over the Ylissean Royal, she spared a glance at Stahl and the three Future Shepherds who had come to aid them. The addition of the latter three was welcome against the tide of soldiers that had come. The skills they had inherited from their parents and their own experiences had allowed them to triumph against their comrades Gerome and Kjelle to handle the rank and file. But it wasn't enough. The ongoing rain and the arrival of the soldiers had taken away the opportunity for victory.

They were fighting back against the soldiers, but she'd seen glimpses of their hesitation, and she could not fault them for it. Their opponents weren't the Risen, these were living people. Yes, they had fought the forces of Walhart's Empire and that of the Grimleal, killed their fair share of them. But this was different, it was their own countrymen, comrades, and even kin now.

She worried for Stahl, for as hardy as he was, the maddened strikes of Frederick battered at his weakening defenses. And I too, no longer have much left in me.

Her entire body was aching, exhausted from her efforts against a descendant of the First Exalt and the increasing number of soldiers, but she had to remain defiant. They didn't know if their comrades had succeeded, perhaps they never would. But until they breathed their last, they would keep on. With that in mind, her weapons glittered with motes of light as Astra embraced the steel when she raised them.

Struggling to breathe evenly as her lungs burned, Say'ri advanced with an unyielding tenacity that all her swordfaire had to offer with the lingering dregs of energy she had left. And as she began her final dance, the cry that had long been shackled by her vow of silence roared over the battlefield. "FOR ROBIN!"

The last heir of Chon'sin saw some of the soldiers who had begun their charge at her hesitate. Their eyes were that of bewilderment, deeper in them the stirrings of realization. The rest of those who approached had no such hesitation, blinded by loyalty…and hatred.

Good. She had her targets.

Unknown to her, the others had heard her cry and rallied together as they fought to get out of their respective stalemates. They already knew it was a losing battle, but they would make it the hardest they had ever fought. For the sole reason, that their Cause, was Righteous.

And a large brown beast that wreaked havoc in her mad sprint to reach the battlefield heard her as well.

Empowered iron arced through the air and its edge sliced through a vulnerable wrist with precision and speed. Skin, sinew, muscles, and bones, easily gave way for her. The sword severed the hand that held a steel axe, swung overhead to hit her, from its wielder. And she moved past the enemy before the pain could register in his mind. It was both the right and wrong decision to make.

A glint of metal registered at her periphery and closed in fast. Alarmed, she tried her best to avoid it at the last second. From that blind spot, a true spear carved a bloody line at her side. Despite the injury, her now torn armor fulfilled its duty to protect her from a far worse fate. She decided to respond in kind with the weapon from her homeland as she went in close, too close for the soldier to avoid. The swipe tore his throat open and she went low for the next to attack.

The blade aimed for where her head was missed entirely, though that was because her opponent had used a thrust rather than a slash. Say'ri decided to teach her a lesson as she swept low and slapped the new blood's shins with her longer weapon to trip her. It worked. She fell face first with a startled cry that was quickly muffled by the ground as her face smacked on it hard before she slumped, unconscious. It would soon be joined by the cacophony of agonized screams and gurgling death throes left behind her wake.

Blood flowed through the courtyard and mixed with the heavy rain as she swung her blades repeatedly. She defeated each and every one that stood in her way as their bodies fell screaming, unconscious, or lifeless. It was necessary, but she wasn't heartless. Those who looked utterly confused, hesitant, and lost as to why this all happened, those she spared.

Inevitably though, her body did tire more for everyone she fought and that was something which she paid for.

THUNK.

An arrow sunk into her right shoulder while another grazed her left thigh. The rest of the arrows missed her by inches but the shock nearly made her drop the iron sword she used. The second of delay foiled her attempt to parry an axe and tore off her Sode when she barely dodged it. Any later and she would have lost her entire arm.

Teeth gritted; she smashed her side edge's hilt at the axe-user's face to daze him. Afterwards, she stabbed him in the throat and used his body as a shield when she heard another volley of arrows flew through the air. Three of them penetrated the man's torso and two of them gave her glancing blows. He fell to the ground dead and she forced herself to raise her arms again after she removed the arrow.

The Swordmaster's sharp gray eyes met the bloodshot blue eyes of the Princess and furious glares were exchanged between them. And for a second there, she thought she'd seen something leak into those orbs. Tinges of red, purple, and pitch black accompanied with veins. But when she blinked, they were gone. What in Naga's name?

"KILL HER NOW!" Lucina screamed, her bloodied face twisted in madness as she rose to her feet, Parallel Falchion raised. It was a frightening sight to behold, more so for the soldiers with doubts that had festered in their hearts. Alas, she was the future of Ylisse, thus they obeyed.

"ROBIN WILL BE AVENGED!" Not to be disheartened, Say'ri let her vow, her conviction, be heard by all those present as she continued her advance. Lightning lit up the surroundings and with it she saw the glare of her opponents' weapons. There was no escape. Her path was laid down for her as thunder roared.

Her expression grim as the soldiers tensed, it then became perplexed when she heard heavy but swift footsteps that cracked the stones on the wet ground. In a moment, her closest would-be opponents and the princess herself were knocked down and pinned under the weight of a massive hare-like beast clad in a purple outfit over her brown fur. It was none other than the last of the Taguel, Panne.

The battle lulled at the arrival of the newcomer, confused at her presence. Even Frederick himself gave pause as his deep-seated fear of beasts reared its head and gave Stahl a necessary breather despite being at the General's mercy. But then it clicked to them that she had the Exalt's heir beneath her and when they tried to move, the Taguel glared and pressed a forelimb at the royal's head.

The message was clear. If any of them even dared to move, Lucina would die.

Then, she looked at her expectedly with her curious but tense red eyes, the unspoken question all but palpable in them. The very same question that she saw in some of the soldiers' eyes. Why were they fighting each other?

And at this very moment, the last heir of Chon'sin realized this was the chance she needed. The people were clueless of the cause and thus she would tell them. Magical energy gathered in her lungs and throat once more before her voice boomed. "People of Ylisse, heed my words!"

"No…no! Quick! Stop her now!"

Say'ri ignored Lucina's hasty command from underneath Panne, all of her focus spent on what she had to say as her stolen iron sword dropped on the ground, her right arm now numb and unresponsive. "Your former queen, who was wrongfully accused and imprisoned, Robin–!"

SHNK!

The Swordmaster couldn't reveal the truth as she saw blood splatter before her. Not even Panne could react fast enough to what had just happened. Silenced by the pain that originated from her back and bloomed on her chest, a glowing sacred blade could be found impaled there, now stained by her own life essence.

"SAY'RI!" Stahl yelled in horror.

"LADY SAY'RI!" The three Future who sided with their cause called out together.

Say'ri coughed a glob of blood and her side edge clattered on the stone bricks as she lost her strength. The blade was withdrawn and the force caused her to stumble forward. Vision blurred but determined, she turned her body as best as she could to catch a glimpse of its wielder, though she already knew who it was. The short blue hair and the Exalted Brand on his shoulder all but confirmed it. "Chrom…"

She couldn't see his eyes, covered as it was by his shadowed face, but yet again she noticed flashes of color within them as he raised the Falchion. A malevolent blood red and a black so pitch, it was almost like she stared at an abyss. An abyss that stared back and took all the strength out of her as she fell to her knees.

'Tis the end. Yen'fay, will I see you on the other side brother? The Chon'sin princess thought wryly. Perhaps she would reunite with him in hell, she was guilty of inaction and silence after all. Her only redemption was the time she bought for her comrades. Forgive me Robin. I pray that they had succeeded in saving your Little Light.

KRAKA-THOOM.

As she awaited her fate, a massive bolt of lightning smashed between her and the Exalt. The impact tore the ground asunder and released a shockwave that sent Panne, Lucina, Chrom, and the soldiers flying. All but her were thrown away by the blast, even though she should've been.

Blinded, deafened, and nearly all sensation lost, it was seconds later that Say'ri felt two arms encircle her battered frame and pull her in for an embrace. The body felt familiar and so was the voice that spoke. "Say'ri, I– I'm here…you can rest now."

That voice…ah. Lady Tiki. Despite herself, the Last Princess of Chon'sin smiled as her eyes dimmed and she felt her body slump on the Manakete's. Had things been different, she would have shown proper respect like she usually did. However, she could no longer speak. Her body didn't obey her.

But was it so bad? The Voice of Naga's body was warm while hers grew colder. It was like the blanket that Yen'fay used to tuck her in. Maybe, she could be a good friend for the last time and listen to her now. Rest, rest would be good, Tiki.

Say'ri accepted her friend's request and she breathed no more.

Silence rained over the battlefield and none dared to move. The thunderous and violent arrival of the Voice of Naga had effectively ceased the hostilities. Though for how long it would last, none of them knew. For though her face looked serene, her eyes told a different story as her power blazed like a bonfire.

"May you find peace in the afterlife…my friend." Tiki prayed as she closed Say'ri's lifeless gray eyes. She could not bear to look at them any longer. While her face did look peaceful, like she had just fallen asleep, the sight of the bloodstains and the wounds she had sustained enforced a simple fact. This rest was an eternal one. And the hole in her friend's bosom shattered her heart.

Tears gathered in her green eyes, tears that she only wished she could let flow freely. However, she knew she couldn't. Although her chest ached and simmered once more at yet another loss, she suffered…her duty still beckoned. Only when it was done, only then could she be free. But at what cost? She thought.

The Manakete carried the Swordmaster in her arms as she stood up and took great care as she did so. She gazed all around her and observed all who were gathered there. The surviving Shepherds, soldiers, and servants all had their eyes on her as they waited with baited breath. The former in particular, it was them she found wanting…but what she had to say was not for them alone.

Her divine power flared as she exhaled the breath she'd been holding and the ethereal blue flames that was their form erupted high like a pillar towards the heavens. It rose, higher than the castle and its towers, until it reached the thundering clouds. And then, it washed over the masses from where she stood.

Screams filled the air, fear and horror heard aplenty as it consumed them. Thoughts of why the daughter of the one they worshipped were now immolating them projected. It lasted as such for seconds before it was replaced with utter confusion as it dissipated and revealed that they were unharmed. Of course, it was never her intention for them to be harmed. All of them were unscathed, save for the few people they hadn't expected.

Stahl, Panne, Severa, Owain, and Inigo now stood behind her in a circle of flames that deterred the soldiers from interfering with the rupture her arrival had created at its center. The now former Shepherds were left untouched by the azure flames but their wounds had stopped bleeding, partially mended by the binding aspect of Aether. The same could not be said for the Shepherds a short distance before her.

On the other side of the fissure, Vaike, Sully, Frederick, Kjelle, and Gerome were all that remained of the Shepherds aside from the two Exalts. Though their wounds had also stopped bleeding, they found no comfort. Instead, the fires still burned around them and bound them on their knees. It did not burn their skin or flesh but it may as well have for Chrom and Lucina as they writhed in pain. Now, their Brands flickered like feeble torches at risk of being blown out.

"Lady Tiki, what are you doing here? And what is all this for?" Inigo asked before she heard an elbow strike his side and made him grunt in pain. That she knew was likely the work of Severa. Hastily, he spoke again and added, "Not that, I'm complaining or anything."

"Lady Tiki, what is the meaning of this?! Why are we bound and not they?!" Frederick asked angrily as he struggled to get out of his bonds. The fury and indignation were palpable in his eyes as he heaved with all his might. He was unsuccessful, unable to break free, yet he continued to rage.

The General of Ylisse looked less like the dignified yet stern steward that he was and more like a rabid dog leashed. To think that this was what he was reduced into. A pitiful sight.

It is time. Tiki thought as she looked at the core of fire that illuminated the clouds above Ylisstol. A sigh left her lips before she turned to Stahl. "Will you hold her for me?

"On my, honor. Do what you must Lady Tiki." The Green Knight replied as he took Say'ri from her arms. She took one last look at her fallen friend before she buried the pain and returned to her prior position.

The Manakete focused on her connection to the faux sun she created and shaped like a potter with clay. She molded the divine energy with care until it responded to her will. Immediately, it made an image of her likeness, large enough that none in the capitol could ignore her. With that done, magic gathered in her lungs and throat next before she opened her dainty mouth. "People of Ylisse, heed my call."

Her gentle voice rumbled beyond the ruptured and blood-stained courtyard that had been a recent battlefield, for she spoke not only to the castle's inhabitants. No, she addressed the children of Ylisse. Young and old, healthy or sick, noble or commoner, those distinctions mattered not. For all of them heard her and they would listen as they gawked at her.

"I am Tiki. The Voice of Naga and Arbiter of her holy will. And it is her bidding that the truth be revealed and judgement be passed on this day." The image high above now reflected those in her field of vision, one person specifically. "Your Exalt, Chrom of House Lowell stands on trial for the imprisonment and murder of your former queen, Robin Daraen. This trial will now commence."

Shock reverberated throughout the Halidom but it was not the only emotion she perceived. She wasn't naïve to think that it would be the only case. Yes, there was outrage and there was disgust. Uncertainty and denial were there as well. But she also sensed those who approved of what had happened, grateful even for the actions of their Exalt.

The Manakete fought to keep her revulsion from surfacing. Still, disappointed as she was in them, she understood they only heard her words. There would be doubts regardless of her status. Thus, she would lay those doubts to rest now.

A ball of flames flickered to life in between Tiki's hands as she walked towards the rift. Chrom's bloodshot eyes met hers as she approached and she noted the grim recognition in them. He likely realized what her purpose was.

She stopped before the torn ground, the deep darkness within the hole like an abyss that hid secrets. Secrets of pain and that someone had felt for a long time whispered in her ears. Now, it would come to light as the flame fell from her grasp into the void.

It took seconds, seconds longer than she dared to think about of the implications, before it fell through a crack at the very bottom. The image in the heavens reflected the sight of a dark cell now illuminated by her fire. In there were two pairs of bloodstained manacles connected to heavy chains and nothing more. Dried blood decorated the walls and similarly, its floor stained with blood and ashes.

Tiki knew what to expect, yet the gravity of it all nearly made her buckle. I have to be strong. This has only just begun.

The vision shifted as it went back in time, each scene of the past it held secret that was revealed were like knives that tore her heart with sadistic delight.

The pain and betrayal that Robin felt was palpable on her face as she was stripped and forced into her prison clothing, her weakened body. It soon turned to hellish agony as the Dimeritium manacles were bound to her limbs. And she screamed, begged for it to stop until her voice grew hoarse and failed, left to struggle alone in the cold and dark cell.

The former queen's back hit the wall and blemished it with her blood. She only had a moment to breathe before she was pulled in once again by gauntlet clad fists for a punch that shattered her ribs. Bloody, bruised, and broken, she could only accept the wrath unleashed upon her, tears mixed with blood.

The Tactician slammed her fists weakly on the floor as she laid upon it, words whispered endlessly from her dry mouth. They were names, be they Shepherd or soldiers who'd been under her command. For each name uttered, she recited the cause of their deaths as was described to her, and for every death, she voiced what could have been done to prevent their fate. Yet for all that she said, her eyes remained weeping.

Finally, Robin Daraen made an effort to rise as Chrom Lowell entered her cell. The chains weighed her down, the energy she exerted exhausting as labored breaths left her lips, but her dim purple eyes did meet his empty blue ones. In his hands was the Exalted Falchion and he gave his words. News of who fell in the final battle, the defeat of Grima…and the purpose of his final visit. The former husband raised his blade, aimed to stab her chest. The embers of love within her eyes faded along with her life as it impaled her and stained the floor with her blood for the last time. Soon, her body began to burn from within as the Aether clashed with her Ignis. Immolated, until all that remained was ashes and her bloodstained manacles.

Tiki let her scrutiny rest upon the guilty party. "What say you in your defense?"

"L-lady Tiki, i-it…it was nece-necessary…my father…he did it…to save…the world from Grima." Lucina gasped out as she thrashed, the eye that held her brand remained wide open and bled freely.

"That's right! If she wasn't killed, then the Fell Dragon could return!"

"It was to prevent our bleak future from coming to pass."

"That's all we ever wanted! What's her life compared to countless more?!"

Their tirade continued to fill the air while their Exalt remained silent. Yet the green-haired Manakete shifted her attention to the others, to the people.

The former Shepherds behind her shared the same emotions that many from Ylisstol now had after seeing the true depths of what Robin had suffered through all these months up to her death. Anger, disgust…guilt. There were many more she could perceive but it was now the time for judgement.

"'Tis true that Robin Daraen was a Plegian. That she was bred and borne a Fellblood. That she was destined to become the host of the Fell Dragon as the Heart of Grima. That is a truth neither I nor my mother denies." Tiki stated honestly and it disturbed them. Nonetheless, she could see the questions they still had whispered.

"However, that was beyond her control, just like the events that lead to the theft of the Fire Emblem. What control she did have, that she used to defeat Grima."

"Th-that's…impossible!"

"What is the meaning of this?"

"That can't be! Chrom defeated Grima!"

"Why do you say it was her?!"

"The Fell Dragon can only be slain by its own power. In her death, Grima's soul approached Robin's and proposed that they become one to prevent the thousand-year slumber as to take vengeance upon all that made her suffer." She answered before she shook her head. "But that was not the fate she had chosen."

The Divine Dragon's Heir felt their perplexed gazes upon her, their surprise at the revelation tangible. Her ears did hear Stahl's murmur, the relief in his soft voice nearly made her smile. "Heh, tipped the scales again, did you Robin?"

it was only for the briefest of moments, for the pain of reality set in once more. She sensed his and Panne's heart break at the loss of their friend. Her own grew heavier with the weight of Say'ri's death.

"Despite what you had all done to her, Robin refused and used her connection with the Fell Dragon to kill Grima at her own cost." Disappointed at the people across the chasm, she revealed the cause of the tactician's sacrifice.

"And she did it to give her daughter a future where she could live free from the Fell Dragon's reign of terror." Her somber gaze bore into the two royals. First at Lucina, who could only shake her head in denial, and then Chrom, who looked as if he's aged that instant. "The very same daughter, an infant, whom you sought to kill for sharing the same Fellblood as her."

Silence washed all over Ylisstol as the full weight of her words registered in their mind and there were those who remembered the reign of the Chrom's father, Exalt Augustus. They had one thought in mind. History had repeated itself again. And it was they who might pay the price.

Also, in that moment of realization, a great deal of many soldiers had their own reservations or reluctance to fight against their former comrades or commanders felt something else that she could sense. Rage, unending and unyielding rage at their Exalt and the time-traveling Princess as they realized that innocent blood was spilled for nothing, that the Cause they believed in to be righteous was as tainted and corrupted as Augustus himself.

"Fear has consumed both you and your companions, Exalt Chrom. You've allowed yourself to fall into the same state of mind, of paranoia as your father before you once did."

"No…I, but…her will–" Chrom finally spoke for himself, but there was no confidence in his voice, only an emptiness. As such, she saw it fit to interrupt his words.

"It was never the Will of Naga for the Plegian people to be persecuted for what many of them once worshipped. Nor is it her Will for Robin Daraen to suffer and die as she had." Tiki stretched out her arms and beckoned for three items to come to her. In a flash of divine fire, it appeared before her. The Parallel Falchion, the Exalted Falchion, and the Fire Emblem floated above the chasm, out of their respective wielder's reach.

"The actions you have taken, all of you who are complicit, they all have their consequences. Even my mother and I are not without fault. Thus, they must be corrected." The Aether flared once more, brighter than before, and the royals' pain grew greater as their Exalted Brands flickered with more intensity as it began to fade bit by bit.

"Exalt Chrom, Lucina of House Lowell, People of Ylisse. I stand before Ylisse today in my mother Naga's place to exercise her will. The sacred covenant between the Dragon and Man has been violated and today it ends. The Divine Dragon King takes away her blessing and her fangs returned!"

At once it ended and the divine flames released those in their bindings. Gerome and Kjelle worriedly fussed over Lucina; her left eye stripped of the Brand. Vaike and Sully did the same for Chrom, his right shoulder similarly bereft. Frederick however…

"Damned traitors! Die!"

The General had stripped himself of the heavier portions of his armor, unintentionally made easier by the damages that Severa's Armorslayer had inflicted upon it. He leaped over the chasm, unfazed of the fact that he may fall to his death, his heavy spear raised.

Tiki did not move as she stared at the pitiful man twisted by hatred. She had no need to act, not when a transformed Panne swiped her large rabbit limb to smack him away. He crashed painfully before a group of gob smacked soldiers, unconscious.

"…Ylisse, the path before you are filled with difficult trials. But know that this is no punishment. There may come a time when a covenant may be forged once more if man is found worthy of it." A tired sigh left the Manakete's lips as she ceased the projected image in the heavens, the fires above dispersing like ashes in the wind. "We will take our leave now. None of you are to pursue us."

An eruption of azure flames surrounded her, the treasures of her mother and her companions and when it ended, they were nowhere to be seen.

Tormented eyes stared throughout the distance, able to perceive the many things far from the beyond despite the owner's current state. And many things, many events, they were indeed. Just hours ago, the Fell Dragon, a threat that had survived for so long, was to be sealed by a sacred sword that had been entrusted to man throughout the ages. Empowered by the rite of Awakening and the completed Binding Shield, the task was done by the one who proved himself worthy of the flame.

That should have been the end of it, even if only for just a millennium until it would inevitably return. The world's future would have been guaranteed despite the threat that would loom over mankind's descendants…as well as one that was held back without their knowledge. The cause for the silence. The faith that had been given to mankind should have been rewarded with hope.

Now though, the Divine Dragon King who was both jailer and prisoner, she who had chosen this fate for the sake of the world doubted herself. How could it be that the choice to trust in man like many times before had now, ironically, damned the world of its future?

Naga did not know why, as she could only remember in abject horror of the sight found inside a prison with no windows nor light. Where before there were once two figures found within, now only one remained, and the other reduced to nothing more than ashes. In his hands, a divine blade stained with the blood of the innocent.

At the same time, far from the castle grounds where the prison was, the power that emanated from the gigantic corpse of the Fell Dragon was halved before it raged. From its flesh spawned horrors, Risen, and their march began. It was a slow threat, but soon there'd be more.

A world damned through a most grievous murder of an innocent, done by the one who was entrusted to do the right decision and would have prevented this outcome. But that was not to be, for the Exalt had chosen not to listen. And now the Falchion, made from her fang and empowered by the Divine Dragon King's fire, was forever stained like its wielder.

The mistake, the misplaced faith burned at the guardian of the world's heart, far greater than the pain exerted by this anomaly that had been kept trapped since its arrival. Azure flames erupted angrily from the Manakete's divine form, an act that elicited a screech from its prisoner and jailer.

Why did I not interfere? Naga thought as her blaze continued to bind the curses. She knew the answer already. Though currently weak, this new threat had the potential to be even worse than Grima.

Suddenly, her connection to her daughter flared and she knew that Tiki had succeeded in her task. That was acceptable. But she underestimated the feedback of the bonds she herself allowed to be willingly severed.

Though her Aether flared again as it tried to accommodate for the sudden loss, it overwhelmed her for a second.

And a second was enough.

Two shadows escaped the core of Mount Prism where she had sealed herself and the threat away. Weakened but free, they clawed and crawled in search of hosts to survive. The time that elapsed in this endeavor mattered not to them, for they were patient and they had their mission.

Eventually, they found what they needed as two Risen lumbered about, unaware of their presence.

They pounced. And like parasites they burrowed themselves unto them.

The corpses shuddered as their forms became mangled, twisted as the shadows exploded out of their orifices and made new holes to do its work. Muscles rearranged to match their respective abilities, bones broke to be mended in new shapes, and shadows made new skin.

Their weapons changed to match what the shadows knew would fit them, and so did their clothes. Then curses thrived, smelled the prey to hunt.

They were far, very far. But they were more patient.

The two shadows, a large cloaked figure with a white masked and another figure that carried a very long blade ran through the night, undetected. Their destination? An Outrealm Gate.

Story Corner

"Damn it, my return six months ago did not age well." Will S. Lavi spoke as he wiped his rimmed glasses with a cloth, his eye bags on full display.

"Now, now, it wasn't all that bad…I think." RedRat8 replied with a sweat drop as he beheld the disheveled appearance of the author. "I mean, you managed to finish the chapter and survived your semester. We even got to adjust and iron out a lot of things for the story and its future."

"True, but I had to cut out what would have been the outro song for Kintsugi no Fusei and I was actually excited for that." Will replied as he wore his glasses once more before turning to the audience. "Trust me when I say this, readers if I had kept that there would have been spoilers. I'll just make a new one that is a lot less spoiler-y, already had a song picked out too."

"Oh, that's interesting. But I think, we should actually do what this story corner is made for." Red reminded him. "Like seriously, this chapter is…"

"It is harsh?" Will offered.

"I'd say more than that, the chapter title is what the chapter is."

"All I could say is that it is necessary. Gotta do all those setups after all. Not to mention that Say'ri's death and Tiki's judgement had been a long time coming. Same case for what exactly happened to this Naga."

"That is a lot of Naga's here." Red spoke as the images of the Divine Dragon Kings who appeared floating in the air. "This is the third one if I'm correct, right?"

"That she is and she drew the short end of the stick of having to hang out with Angry Mango." Will stated with a solemn nod before he grinned. "Too bad she got distracted~"

"Are those things that came out really who I think they are? Damn, I wonder how that would play out." RedRat8 said in worry.

"We'll have to find out in the next chapters. I should be free to write–urk!" Will's words stopped as he suddenly found himself being choked when chains appeared and wrapped tightly around his neck.

"Holy shit! Is that Scorpion?!" RedRat8 shouted as he followed the origin of the chain and found the Mortal Kombat character standing close to a gate that burned with Hellfire.

"No! It's not Scorpion, it's my new Thesis and Semester!"

"GET OVER HERE!" The personification of the author's mortal enemy growled as he dragged him away towards the hell gate.

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO! I JUST GOT BACK MAN!" Alas, he was unable to escape as he was dragged inside before the gate, Thesis-Scorpion, and Will disappeared in flames.

"Uhh…well that happened." Red commented with a sweat drop before he turned back to the audience. "Sorry it took some time but for the author, his real life and his Thesis takes priority, made only more difficult by how this Pandemic's been affecting us." RedRat8 apologized as he bowed down and snapped his fingers as the curtains closed.

Author's Note:

As the Story Corner has implied, I would be unavailable again for a few months at least due to the return of my most hated enemy. The Dreaded Thesis. Not to mention that my current semester might be harder than the previous one. That's the bad news.

Good news is that with this Paralogue done, most of the focus would go back to the protagonists in the next arc. Have to kick the plot into motion to reveal what I have planned. Tradeoff is that this will be the last Paralogue chapter in a while.

Also, I edited a portion of the previous chapter to finally fix something thanks to all the valid criticism I've been given and am thankful for, as well as the long, long time I've had to reflect on my plans. It would mostly serve as a better setup for a few things that will happen in the near future of this story.

Now, while I'd like to respond to the reviews like I usually do, I will have to tap out from responding for a while. I've got lots of stuff to do. Like seriously, I have to get chapter 1 of my thesis ready by Monday and a bunch of assessment tasks on Literary Criticism on that same date, while I have to prepare a bunch of reports for next week. It's times like this when I wonder why I chose English as my Major and then realize my only alternative is Psychology.

Ignoring all my current gripes, I am very thankful for all of your reviews and support. I promise to take better care of myself so that when I am free, I can deliver more of the story I wish to share with you all.

Anyways, don't hesitate to tell me what you thought of this chapter in a review. Love it or Hate it, do tell me for improvement. I hope I was able to entertain you in these trying times.

Till next time, this is Will S. LaVi.