Chapter 48: Beware the Phantom

Everyone arrived at the city's entrance. Villagers ran throughout the streets in a disarray; no one knew what to do or where to go. The city's roads were a congested canal of hysteria. Heartless appeared to attack the defenseless villagers, but Sora and his friends made quick work of them.

Chrom's mind moved at the same speed as the frightened crowd, being lunged in different directions, searching for a way to prevent the discord frow growing worse. Many people would inadvertently hurt themselves in the confusion. He noticed something flow like an ominous curtain at the top of his vision, and looked up to see the Phantom heading further into the city.

Now was the time to act. "Fredrick! Round up the guards! We need to get everyone under control and find them shelter!"

"Immediately," Fredrick said with a nod, and he left.

"Lissa, accompany Fredrick," Chrom said in an assertive tone. "He'll need assistance in quelling the crowd of their consternation."

"But what about you?" Lissa asked, uneasy.

"We're going after this creature," Chrom said with a strong resolve on his visage. "It shall not ruin the peace we've been striving to keep."

Lissa was a bit reluctant, but knew her big brother could handle any advisory with the strength and will of a warrior. "Just be careful."

"I will," Chrom said in reassurance. "Just have faith. I am confident that my new allies will serve me well."

Luigi felt sweat burrow into his eyebrows. Glad there was no pressure in protecting the ruler of an entire nation or anything.

"Of course!" Sora said in his usual optimistic tone. "We'll keep an eye on him!"

Lissa darted towards the group with a threatening stare. "You better! It won't be pretty if I have to become exalt!"

"Hey," Luigi said, leaning into Sora, "think bubble wrap has been invented in this world yet?"

Sora frowned. He prepared to grab Luigi by the overalls.

"No, no," Luigi said in a pathetic tone. "I'll save you the trouble." He grabbed his own overalls, pulling himself forward. Sora and Yoshi looked at each other, shrugged, and followed him.

Ignoring Luigi's odd behavior, the siblings said their good-byes, and Lissa hurried to catch up with Fredrick, keeping the fear for Chrom's safety nestled in her arms; she would only relinquish it once they were together again.

The Phantom began terrorizing villager in the heart of the city with its elongated fingers, pining to tear through them until reaching that warm, tender center, devouring the heart in one bite. Some managed to escape, but others fell to the ground, not being conscious of where they stepped from irrational fear. The Phantom prepared to attack one of them without concern for resistance.

"Hey!" Chrom said.

The Phantom turned around to see Sora and group approaching, preparing their weapons for battle. Taking the opportunity, the remaining villagers fled while the Heartless was distracted.

Chrom stepped forward, keeping his blade close. "Anyone is granted visitation into my kingdom. Unless they are unruly towards my people. If you have the slightest hint of humanity, you'll cease your rampage, or else I will be forced to slay you."

Undeterred by Chrom's warning, the Phantom launched another fireball from its hand. Chrom deflected it with the Falchion; the residual heat brushed against his face. He hated imagining how much damage he would've suffered from the full-on attack. Or anyone else for that matter. They needed to eliminate this creature now. Sora and others joined his side.

"Me no think it heard you," Yoshi said. "It have no ears." He paused, in sudden thought. "Or face. Or anything, really."

"Well then," Chrom said, holding his blade with both hands, "I'll have to try another form of communication. One that'll be sharper than my tongue."

Sora grinned. "I like your style."

Chrom's attention focused on the white orb located under the Phantom's robe; intuition dictated that it was a weakness. Chrom instructed the others to keep it busy; when opportunity presented itself, he would go in for the lethal strike. Sora launched a Fire spell; the Heartless simply caught the flaming orb like a softball, crushing it beneath its knife-like fingers.

Luigi leaped into the air, delivering a swing, but the Phantom leaned back to dodge it. After landing, Luigi noticed the Phantom attacking with its claws. He thrusted his hammer upward, deflecting the strike. Next, Luigi swung from overhead, trying to land on the orb, but the Phantom caught the hammer's head; with incredible force, it pushed Luigi backwards.

Once again, the Heartless tried a fireball, and Luigi rolled away to avoid it. The Phantom stuck out its hand, which was encircled by a white clock made from pure energy. Every muscle in Luigi's body suddenly ceased to answer his brain's commands. He couldn't lift even a finger. An unseen force controlled every thought wave, bending them to its own malevolent desires.

The others watched in complete bewilderment as Luigi started rolling in reverse, as if someone hit the rewind button on a remote. Luigi ended up returning to the spot where he dodged the Phantom's fireball not moments ago. He soon regained controlled of his sense, baffled as to what just happened.

But that question was irrelevant, as the Phantom prepared to launch another fireball. This time, Luigi didn't have enough time to escape. Yoshi hurried over, catching the projectile with his shield. Furious by the intervention, the Phantom swung at Yoshi, who curled into an egg, rolled underneath the creature's cloak, stood up, and wrapped his tongue around its waist.

The others prepared to strike the core, but the Phantom used its time spell to make everyone run backwards, stopping where they started. Next, it grabbed Yoshi's tongue, and tossed him into Luigi, knocking them both onto the ground. Sora and Chrom hurried over to assist the two.

"Okay," Sora said, helping Luigi and Yoshi to their feet, "anyone feel like filling me on the nervous disorder we just partook in?"

"If I were to surmise," Chrom said, scanning over the Heartless' dreary physique, "this creature seems to have the innate ability to manipulate time. But only in small bursts. That may work to our advantage."

Sora patted his chest in confidence. "No problem. Two can play at this game. Watch this!"

He tried using the Stop spell, but the Phantom wasn't affected in the slightest; it was like feeling a gentle water drop. Harmless.

"Oh," Sora said in a flat tone. "Guess this Heartless opted for solo play."

Luigi winced, swallowing that joke like expired meat; perhaps being forced back in time would prevent him from ever hearing that verbal engine sputter of irritating words. The Phantom launched two more fireballs at the group. Luigi used a Thunder spell to make the first one explode. Chrom disposed of the second one with a slash from his blade.

Sora performed a powerful leap attack, aiming right for the orb, but the Phantom caught his arm, and tossed him to the right. Chrom was next to try with a thrust; the Heartless covered the orb behind its cloak. To Chrom's surprise, his blade bounced off the cloak as if hitting a shield. The Phantom slashed with a claw, but Chrom brought his blade up to block it.

Glancing to the right, the Phantom saw Sora throw the Keyblade at it like a boomerang. The Heartless flew over Chrom, landing behind him. Summoning time manipulation again, the Heartless forced Sora back to the moment he threw the Keyblade. It then pushed Chrom into Sora's line of sight, just as the boy thew the blade again.

Thanks to quick reflexes, Chrom brought the Falchion up to his chest, stopping the Keyblade in its tracks.

Sora gasped in horror upon realizing what happened. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to—"

"Not your fault," Chrom said, spinning around to deflect another fireball, and then blocking an incoming punch with the Falchion. "This creature will use any underhanded tactic to succeed. Stay sharp."

Chrom tried attacking again, but the Phantom leaped into the air. Turning around, he saw Yoshi prepare his egg roll attack. Luigi hurried over, used his hammer like a golf club, and sent the dinosaur straight towards the Phantom. Once again, the Heartless used time manipulation to freeze the egg, making it hover in the air like an oval shaped planet.

After moving to the side, the Phantom allowed the egg to fly pass it. Yoshi rolled down a street until crashing into something. It was loud, startling the crows on rooftops, making them fly away in a panic.

A man (who was still around despite the ensuing chaos) shouted in dismay from the same area, "My cabbages!"

Sensing trouble, Luigi ran down the street to help Yoshi. Meanwhile, Sora hopped onto the fountain, leaped off it, and landed on the Phantom's back. Distressed, it flailed around the area, trying to rid itself of the boy. At one point, the Heartless tried ramming him into a wall; Sora kicked his feet against it before contact, and then pushed them both outward, straight towards Chrom.

"Got him nice and cozy for ya!" Sora said, grunting as he struggled to not lose his grip. "Make it a good one!"

Chrom delivered a powerful slash to the core, causing the Heartless to let out a high-pitched shriek of pain. Sora leaped off the Heartless and slashed at the core, too, constructing a skyscraper of pain for the creature. The two thrusted at it together, hoping to finish the job, but the orb turned bright red, deflecting both attacks.

Sticking its hands out, the Heartless released a burst of energy, sending the two flying back a great distance, until they both landed on the ground's hard pavement. They both scrambled to their feet to prepare for another round.

"Hey, that should've done some damage!" Sora said, both confused and miffed. "Last I checked, sharp things hurt!" (Words of wisdom).

Chrom focused on the orb. "Seems it anticipated our assault on its vulnerable area, so it must've used a protective spell. Never threat. We'll discover how to shatter it eventually."

Sora felt reassured by Chrom's voice; confliction stroked each syllable like fresh, sleek ink from a pen. And it would continue scribbling in elegant cursive handwriting until the paragraph ended with the word 'victory.' Chrom was putting his faith in Sora; it only made sense for him to reciprocate those feelings. Trust is a construct that must be borne together.

Luigi and Yoshi hurried to rejoin the battle (after the former had pull a cabbage out of the latter's mouth, and apologize profusely to the salesman).

"Is there not one moment where something eatable ends up in your mouth?" Luigi asked.

"It fate, Luigi," Yoshi said.

The Phantom spun around, launching a fireball at the two; Yoshi blocked it with his shield. Luigi leaped over the dinosaur, unleashing a Fire spell, which hit the orb. The Heartless shrieked in agony again. That's it, Sora thought! Magic loosened the bars around its defenses. He noticed the orb changed blue. Using Blizzard seemed ideal.

Sora fired it, but the Phantom flew high into the air, avoiding the sparkling ice crystals. It outstretched both hands, releasing a meteor shower of fireballs upon them. Everyone deflected and dodged the relentless attacks. With the group distract, the Phantom slammed its fist into the ground, causing everyone to tumble over from the sudden earthquake.

The Heartless grabbed Chrom by the throat, slamming him into a nearby building. Sora ran over to help, but the Phanton used its time ability to make him land on the floor again. Chrom pounded his fist against the Heartless' arm, struggling to break free. It didn't budge an inch. The air around him became cold, making every hair on his skin jump to attention.

Breathing became a chore as the Phantom squeezed its long fingers across Chrom's neck; it felt the bones crunch against them like lettuce on the verge of being shredded to pieces. The Heartless lunged its free hand backwards, preparing to reach deep within Chrom's chest and rip out his heart.

"Chrom!" Sora shouted.

He had no strength to retaliate. The realization of failure started to cave in around him. No! He hated the repugnant notion and tried backpedaling away from it; but the pedals were latched together by a padlock of truth. There was no escape. Consciousness started to slip between the fingers of vitality.

He failed to protect everyone he loved. Their voices would be drowned by the cackling of pernicious flames. He would no longer feel uplifted by Lissa's outgoing smile; Fredrick wouldn't be there to offer his strength and support; he'd never have the chance to see Robin again…

Worst of all, he wouldn't be there to watch his daughter Lucina grow up and lead the world into a prosperous tomorrow; it was nothing more than a work of fiction shelved in his mind. Everything grew darker. But a beam of light halted its process. The Phantom's grip loosened, and Chrom landed on his hands and knees.

He looked up to see the mysterious woman with blue hair had delivered a downward slash at the Phantom; although it failed to make a dent, the force from the strike knocked the Heartless backwards. The Phantom prepared to retaliate, but Sora and Luigi unleashed a Blizzard spell into its core, dealing significant damage. It wailed in pain, making the air quiver in trepidation.

Regaining his senses, Chrom looked up to see the woman hurrying over to assist him. She seemed concerned for his wellbeing. Chrom seemed both pleased and relieved to see her. It was like part of his stress had been peeled away, removing the excessive weight.

"Are you alright?" the woman asked, helping Chrom to his feet.

"Yes," Chrom said. "You always have a knack for showing up when I least expect it."

She smiled. It had been so long since she heard his strong, yet pleasant voice. But the mood turned sour as they heard the creature let out a cry of rage. "What's going on? What is that thing?"

"Taking it down is our first priority," Chrom said.

The woman nodded. "A reasonable answer."

Everyone else soon joined the two.

"That was a close call," Sora said. He turned to the woman. "Don't know who you are, but thanks. The more we have, the easier this guy falls."

"But it has no legs," Yoshi said.

"Don't start that again," Luigi said, massaging his forehead in aggravation.

The woman seemed a bit weary by the three's bizarre appearance, and she asked Chrom, "Who are they?"

"New allies," Chrom said. "You can trust them."

Before the she could respond, the creature screeched again, and they all dodged its incoming strike. Questioning Sora and his friends' reliable was meaningless now. Not when they shared the same mindset:

To leave with their lives.

"Alright," the woman said. "I'll take your word for it."

The Phantom hovered above them, outstretched its hand, and conjured another spell; a giant ring appeared from the ground, encircling the group.

"What sort of trickery is this?" Chrom asked.

"Hey, my expertise is whacking them over the head," Sora said, look around in a frantic motion. "Afraid there isn't a published encyclopedia on them."

"Ooh, me know what it is!" Yoshi said in excitement. "First, you draw a circle. Then you dot the eyes. Add a great big smile. And presto, it Kirby!"

Chrom and the woman stared at him in confusion. "What?"

"Nothing!" Luigi said, covering the dinosaur's mouth. "It's one of his chew toys that made a selfless tribute to appease his vast stomach!"

The group noticed a clock face had appeared on the ring. An hour hand appeared below the number twelve. Meanwhile, the small hand appeared to the right, and began moving in a clockwise fashion.

The air started to become thick, requiring more effort to breathe; and yet, it felt frighteningly cold. With each tick that passed on the small hand, the sensation grew stronger; it wrapped around them like a famished boa constrictor, just moments from sinking its teeth into their flesh.

Nervous sweat formed on Sora's forehead despite the circulation of freezing air. "Something tells we're going to be running on no lifespan unless we defeat this guy."

"Agreed," Chrom said, sensing the apprehension in Sora's demeanor. He gestured towards the woman. "She and I will keep the fiend preoccupied, while you conjure your best magic to slay it."

Chrom and the woman ran straight for the Phanton. Luigi caught a glimpse of the sword the woman wielded. Strange, he thought. It looks exactly like Chrom's. Clearly these two were related somehow. But that was an irrelevant question amidst the incoming cloud of death.

Chrom swung inward at the Heartless, and it parried with the palm of its hand. Taking the opposite hand, it threw a punch, with Chrom blocked by raising his sword at a horizontal angle. The woman leaped into the air, preparing to bring her blade straight down, but the Phantom deflected it with an uppercut from the opposite hand.

Chrom tried to attack again, but the Phantom moved back to avoid the incoming strike. It retaliated by tossing a fireball; Chrom brought his blade up at a diagonal angle to deflect it.

The hand reached the bottom of the clock. It was inching closer.

The woman rolled underneath the Phantom, turned around, and tried a horizontal swing. It ascended into the air to dodge the attack. But this was the opening Luigi needed; noticing the orb was yellow, he unleashed a Thunder spell, which engulfed it in spears of sparks. The Heartless writhed in pain, and its orb turned white again.

Yoshi allowed Chrom to use his shield as a step, leaped into the air, and delivered another slash. The Phantom fought against the pain, obstinate in being denied five fresh hearts. They were so close to being nestled in its bone-like palms.

The ticking grew louder like an agitated heartbeat; nothing would stop it until their own beats were silenced.

The woman went on the offense, but the Phantom grabbed her by the arm. Then, it tossed her aside; she rolled onto the ground, and landed on her stomach. The Heartless launched thin, pill shaped fireballs from its fingertips, which flew straight towards the woman; she struggled to her feet.

"No!" Chrom said, extending a dismayed arm towards her.

Before the attack could reach, Sora used his Aero spell to cover the woman in a protective cone of white wind, deflecting every fireball, which flew straight back into the Phantom. While it was bombarded with blasts, Luigi covered his hammer in fire, swinging it straight into the orb. Cracks started to form; it was close to shattering.

But with the little hand close to the twelve, Sora and his friends were in danger of a similar fate.

Sora tried hitting it with a Blizzard spell, but the Heartless jerked to the left. However, Yoshi caught the spell with his tongue, retracted it into his mouth, and launched it right into the orb. Pain traveled through the Heartless' body like a rush of thorns. Before the Phantom could attack Yoshi, Chrom and the woman slashed at its side; again, no damage was dealt, but it was a perfect distraction.

Luigi followed up with another Fire spell. Glass started dropping from the orb like spittle. The Phantom had gone numb from the endless tidal wave of assault. There was no more fight to scavenge.

The hand was an inch away from the twelve.

Sora cut the orb in half right before the time expired. Along with their lives. The Heartless doubled over, clutching onto the spot where its orb used to reside. It struggled to contain a ball of light. But its end was inevitable. A heart ejected itself from within the light, and the Phantom started falling back, vanishing before reaching the ground.

Everyone took a moment to catch their breath. They were content with feeling like their lungs had been floundering around inside a firebox. Sometimes struggling is needed to obtain success.

Sora stretched his back, groaning from the aches. "Man, that was rough. Seems like with every world we visit, the Heartless get a little tougher."

"Good to know," Luigi said, agitated. "Needed another excuse to drown my sorrows in milkshakes, anyway."

Chrom smiled at Sora's group. "My friends - words alone cannot expression how appreciative I am for your assistance. I'll make sure that you are honored for your selflessness in saving my kingdom."

He then turned to the woman. Her emotions were struggling to stay on a leash. She had been spinning through a maelstrom of fear for him. Tears started to squirm through her ducts.

"And it is good to you again, Lucina," Chrom said.

The leash broke. Lucina ran into his arms; she buried her face within his chest, not wanting to let go. Chrom shared the same sentiment; they were afraid some unseen force would separate them again. He was so elated to have her home, safe and sound.

"Oh, father!" Lucina said. "I'm so glad you're okay! When I saw that creature, I was worried it would've hurt you."

Chrom brushed her long blue hair. "Everything is fine now." She looked into his eyes. "Once again, you've prevented a grim future."

All the stress and anxiety disintegrate in Lucina's body. Nothing else mattered now. She was with her father. His loving expression, his gentle voice – it reassured her that there was an optimistic sunlight between the rustling leaves of uncertainty. She didn't regret a second of her decision to come home.

Sora and his friends stared at the two, tangled in a knot of confusion over what they just heard.

"Did…Did she just call him 'father?'" Sora asked.

"But they look like brother and sister," Yoshi said.

Luigi seemed a bit disturbed. "And with one sentence you made things more awkward."

"But it true!" Yoshi said, defensive.

Realizing her blunder, Lucina gasped. "Oh, dear! I-I didn't mean to…"

"It's alright," Chrom said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Our judgement can sometimes be at the mercy of our emotions. Fear not. These three are trustworthy." He turned to them with an awkward chuckle. "Most likely you'll find this hard to believe."

"Hey, I've had to contend with a giant pig man," Sora said. "Nothing fazes me anymore. Give it your best shot."

Chrom and Lucina looked at other, once again perplexed by the bizarre statements being chiseled in their inner ears like hieroglyphics. But that was immaterial. Lucina nodded, giving Chrom permission to reveal her past.

"Alright. If you're confident," Chrom said. "She is my daughter, but has come from the future – a time in which our kingdom was on the brink of annihilation. Thanks to her interventions here, she changed it for the better."

Sora's eye bulged in shock. "Okay, maybe I wasn't ready for that! Time travel is real!?"

"Sure," Luigi said, nonchalant about the revelation (after all, a previous adventure had him and Mario teaming up with their past selves; the idea didn't seem farfetched to him). "Why not?"

The two weren't sure how Sora would respond next. It seemed unfeasible to the common person. Would he bring their sanity into question?

With that famous grin, Sora placed both hands behind his head. "Think there's a way I can go back and tell my past self not to accidentally break my mom's expensive vase? Got grounded for a week."

Luigi smacked his forehead from the quip. Everyone else chuckled (although there was a moment Sora considered the idea of asking how it worked. Maybe there was a chance to make things right; to revisit that fateful night and stop Riku from making a choice to accept the darkness. But Sora knew he'd be battered with criticism from Luigi about the world order. Besides, the ramifications could be astronomical. Was it worth the risk endangering everyone? No, it wouldn't. Sometimes trying to erase the problem can produce a bigger one).

"Seems like they accept such an outlandish concept," Chrom said, smiling.

"Indeed." Lucina's expression turned grim. "But it looks like we must defend the future again."

"That creature was only the beginning," Chrom said. "We must return to the castle and call a meeting to order. Another war is about to be waged."

"You can count on me to help," Lucina said without hesitation.

Chrom looked grateful. "I wouldn't expect any less."

Sora and his friends felt the weight of their involvement in this world. It was bigger than anything they've expected. Validar was their toughest opponent so far; what's worse, he had Riku for an ally. And now Kairi was here, too. Sora placed both hands in his pockets, taking a deep breath, trying to not feel overwhelmed.

This wasn't going to be easy, but Sora had gained the trust and respect of an exalt. No doubt his resources would be invaluable in combatting the Heartless.

But would anything in this world be able to help revitalize that brilliant glow in Kairi's eyes? Or would they be arid forever?

Validar sat on a throne in The Great Hall of his fortress. It was stranded, with a long table situated in the middle. Overhead were chandeliers that were lit by his magic. A red carpet traveled from his throne, under the table, and to the exit. On each side of him were doors that lead to other parts of the fortress.

He rested his chin on the palm of his hand, vexed over Chrom and the others for defeating the Phantom; it put a delay in his plans. He didn't want to wait any longer in realizing Grima's dream. Humanity would be delivered onto karma for its atrocities.

Out of his peripheral vision, he saw Riku leaning against a pillar. "Your friend continues to be a menace. How do you continue to tolerate his existence?"

"Well, having long hair certainty keeps the volume down," Riku said.

Validar smirked. "You really do hold nothing but ill-will towards him.

"That's none of your beeswax." Riku said, a bit irked. He stood up from the pillar. "You want my help to get the Fire Emblem or not? If we don't do something soon, your buddy Chrom is gonna have a whole platoon at your door. And they're not coming for a banquet."

Validar stood up from the throne. "Is that concern I hear? Never thought someone who exhibits the emotions of a stump would care."

"You're the one who should worry," Riku said, maintaining his stoic gaze. "With Sora's help, they'll easily be able to take your new soldiers. And then, I'm sure Chrom will be thorough in slaying you this time."

"As much as I hate listening to your ungrateful tone, your words ring true. We need a plan if we are to obtain the Emblem. I think I have an idea." Validar's wicked smile lengthened. "Let's put those new powers of yours to good use, hm?"

Riku remained silent, but agreed with a small grunt. This was all for Kairi, he thought. If things didn't work out, he'd take his leave. He would never stop searching for a way to find her heart.

Even if the darkness ended up taking his own life in the process.

Chrom's castle was far more inviting compared to the likes of Ganondorf's and Dedede's abodes (Ganondorf's lair made a funeral home look like a candy store in comparison); his cordial personality reflected off the bright yellow walls of the throne room. Long green flags hung downward on them, displaying the kingdom's crest with pride. A large red carpet liberated of dirt extended from the door to the throne itself.

Candles also hung on the walls; in addition, shimmering chandlers hung overhead, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. But right now, the mood was about as jubilant as a drab winter's morning. Present in the room was Chrom, some of his troops, Lissa, Fredrick, and Lucina. Standing before the exalt were Sora and his friends, giving an explanation on the Heartless (being sure to omit any vital details for the sake of the world order).

Chrom had no need for an actual throne in the room. Sitting could sometimes hinder the conversation. He always listened with an intensive ear, letting those details dry in his mind like paint. There was a lot of information Chrom had to sort through. Many of it was troubling, as if written in red capitalized marker.

But Lissa's disposition remained cheerful despite the grim ambience sweeping across the room like dust. She was excited to see Lucina again. Not a day went by where she didn't worry for her well-being.

Lissa grabbed her niece's hand with an affectionate squeeze. "I missed you so much. I'm so glad you're home."

"Technically I didn't go anywhere," Lucina said with a chuckle. "You've probably been showing me off to everyone."

Lissa placed both hands on her hips. "You know what I mean, silly. You're sounding more like your father every day."

"Well, I try," Lucina said. She became intrigued. "How is my younger self?"

Lissa's face beamed with excitement. "Oh, you should see her! Turning more into you every single day. Teaching her how to say Aunt Lissa."

"I think teaching her two words might be tricky."

Lissa grinned. "Ha! Just you wait! You haven't seen the full potential of Aunt Lissa's teaching abilities!"

"I can't wait." Lucina was glad to see her aunt again, too. She was a joyful spot that stuck out within a cesspool of despondence. Her upbeat attitude kept everyone's spirits afloat.

Once Sora finished, Chrom took a moment to comb through the wealth of sentences he just consumed. "So, this keyhole can cease these creatures' incursion of our kingdom. Do you know its whereabouts?"

Sora and his friends gave each other indecisive looks.

"We have no idea," Sora said. "It seems to appear at random. Every encounter has been pure luck."

Luigi exhaled. "Unbelievably lucky, if you ask me."

"Maybe a ladybug juggling horseshoes while riding a rabbit through a four-leaf clover field is watching over us," Yoshi said, and noticed everyone giving him peculiar stares. He let out a feeble smile. "Just in case you need a visual example of how lucky we are."

Fredrick formed a small frown; too bad it wasn't at their beckon now. "Then it could be anywhere. There must be a quicker way to locate it. If our search lingers, the number of casualties will rise."

"Agreed," Chrom said, feeling dread slide against his stomach like a razor blade. He inspected a shelf full of ideas, and found them barren. Searching this world could take weeks. Possibly years. Time didn't show mercy on the helpless. Only a god could scour the globe in seconds. Wait! He saw a lone book protruding from the shelf. "Naga might know!"

"Yes!" Fredrick said, uplifted. "An excellent idea!"

"Naga?" Luigi asked.

"She is the divine dragon that watches over our land," Lucina said. "Her power is unparalleled."

"We can use the Fire Emblem to perform an Awakening," Chrom said. "Then she could unveil the keyhole for us."

"Do you think she would fulfill such an unorthodox request?" Fredrick asked, on the cusp of doubt.

"It can't hurt to try," Lucina said. "She cares about the well-being of us all."

Déjà vu echoed in Sora's head. "Fire Emblem. Isn't that the thing Riku wants?"

"Yes," Chrom said. "It is an ancient relic passed down from my family. Upon uniting it with five jewels, a ceremony can be performed to summon Naga. Her power can infuse my sword, the Falchion. However, we've never tried something like this before. But it might be our only chance to stop the Heartless."

Sora crossed his arms in thought. He was trying to construct an adequate model of Validar's plan. And the result instilled worry. "Maybe that's why Validar wants the Emblem! He's going to summon Naga and turn HER into a Heartless!"

"Absurd," Fredrick said, incredulous. "Only someone of Exalt blood can perform the ritual."

"Think that'll stop him?" Luigi said. "He has the power of darkness on his side. It doesn't play by any rules."

"We should heed his warning," Chrom said. "Validar knows this fact quite well. He must have a clear motive for wanting the Emblem. There are many preparations that must be initiated immediately."

Their first order of business was to retrieve the jewels for the Emblem; due to their immeasurable power, keeping them in close range wasn't ideal. Uniting them without proper protocol may yield destruction across the kingdom. And with the Heartless trying to fulfill that prophecy, they had to take every necessary precaution.

Chrom turned to one of his guards. "Send some of our Pegasus Riders to the villages where the jewels have been secured."

The guard nodded and left. Locating the jewels was a straightforward task; but the real challenge was about to begin. Chrom wouldn't be intimidated by the pressure enfolding in his chest. He was the leader of an entire nation; all eyes looked to him for hope. And that was something he planned to deliver – not just for the people, but for his loved ones, too.

"Our main objective is to locate Validar's place of refuge," Chrom said.

"I know how to find him!" Luigi pulled out the 3DS, opened it, and looked at the radar. "Good. He's not too far from here."

Fredrick's leery eyes zoomed in on the strange box. "What sort of contraption is that?"

Luigi flinched upon realizing his major blunder; showing advanced technology to a primitive world may have dire consequences. Even he failed to heed his own advice. Sora couldn't help but become smug; Luigi deserved it after the number of times he chastised him for making similar mistakes.

"Yes, Luigi," Sora said in a mocking tone, leaning into him. "Please, do share."

Luigi scrambled for an explanation, even if it was flimsy like an onion skin. With a dramatic wave of his hand over the 3DS, he said, "It's a magic person locator box."

"How does he do it?" Yoshi asked, stepping in front of Luigi, performing the magic thumb trick again.

Luigi slapped his hand in annoyance. "Stop it!"

"Your friends are….eccentric, to say the least," Lissa said in a whisper to Sora.

"You don't even know half of it," Sora said, shaking his head.

Chrom cleared his throat. "May I take a look at it?"

"Sure," Luigi said, reluctant for a moment. But the plumber knew Fredrick would bestow two red lumps upon his head if he didn't comply. "Wouldn't hurt."

He showed Chrom how the 3DS functioned. The whole time, he stared at the contraption with child-like wonder. It didn't seem to be crafted from any magic that existed. He wanted to understand its inner workings. Sometimes the path to knowledge was through exploring the unknown.

"Fascinating," Chrom said in awe. "Your magic is quite advanced. Are you positive this will lead us to him?"

"Trust me," Luigi said. "The 'wizard' who made this for us might be a kook, but he's a genius."

Chrom's confidence unrooted itself from the dubious earth. They had a chance to bring about Validar's end before he could cause some serious damage. "I'll take your word for it. You'll head out with some of our troops to scout out his location. This is a mission of great importance. Everyone will be counting on you to secure our victory. The fate of Ylisstol is in your hands. Do you accept this task?"

He noticed Luigi was frozen in a sculpture of fear.

Fredrick cleared his throat. "Might've come off too strong, sir,"

"My apologies," Chrom said.

Sora placed both hands on Luigi's shoulders. "Of course he accepts! Just give him time to get over the shock! Perhaps Yoshi and I should tag along just in case he his feet plan on moving in reverse."

"For that I am grateful," Chrom said. "I must prepare to address the citizens. They need reassurance amidst a time of trepidation. Fredrick, prepare our Shepherds for battle. Even if we do secure the keyhole, Validar may have conceived a backup strategy. He's dangerous. We plan to march at dawn."

Fredrick nodded. "Understood."

"Everyone's dismissed," Chrom said.

As everyone started to clear from the room, Yoshi stared at Chrom, perplexed. "So we invading with sheep? Guess that could put Heartless to sleep. Make them an easy target for Yoshi to eat."

"Oh, father," Lucina said, chuckling. "You still call your troops Shepherds?"

Chrom smiled with pride. "And it's a name that commands honor."

"Let's get going, guys," Sora said to his friends.

"Before you depart," Chrom said, "I want to thank you again for your willingness to help us." His eyes shifted away from them as somber memories returned like an estranged relative. "This past year has been difficult for all of us. Even though we've been successful in preventing our kingdom from perishing, we're still picking up scraps from the concrete. I'm glad that there are those who haven't relinquished the virtue of kindness."

Sora rubbed his head. "Hey, don't mention it. You helped me out, too, remember? Seems only fair to return the favor."

"We've been through a lot as well, too," Luigi said with a huge sigh. "We get it. Oh, boy do we get it." The image of his precious sleep being tributed before obstinate chickens would haunt him forever.

"And as a token of my gratitude," Chrom said, "you're more than welcome to stay at the castle tonight. My cooks will prepare the finest feast for you."

Yoshi licked his lips in delight. "And this why royalty the best."

"You're not wrong," Luigi said, chuckling.

"Wow, thanks, Chrom!" Sora said.

"My pleasure." Chrom extended a hand towards Sora. "With our combined forces, we will be able to defeat Validar and save your friend!"

"Right!" Sora said, shaking his hand.

Chrom's confidence remained sturdy before oppression. He believed in everyone who was willing to fight. And he had faith in Sora and his friends; their alliance seemed genuine. Sure, they were unusual, but isn't that a trait that rippled through the personalities of every person?

What mattered most was the light of good-will that reflected off their stream of conscience.

After Sora and his friends left, Lissa stretched her arms. "Think I'll head off, too. Have some unfinished business with my beauty rest." She gave Lucina a stern look. "And you better not try running off again! Trust me! Aunt Lissa's got a watchful eye on you this time!"

"Don't worry yourself," Lucina said with a reassuring smile. "I have no plans of leaving anytime soon."

"Good thinkin'." Lissa expression turned dim. Her voice became soft, and played a plaintive melody. "I missed you."

Guilt scratched at Lucina's neck like a branch. She hated seeing her aunt in such a saddened mood. It made her feel selfish for leaving in the first place. She knew everyone would be worried to death about her. And yet she still ignored the warning signs that were held right in front of her face. Now she just felt worse.

Lucina took her aunt's hands. "Me, too. I just…had a lot on my mind. But this wasn't the way to sift through them. I can understand why you're so upset with me."

"I can never be upset with you," Lissa said in a gentle tone. "You're my niece. I'll always love you."

Lucina fought through tears in her eyes and embraced her aunt. Despite the anxiety she plagued upon her family, they still welcomed her with open it arms. She was grateful to be a part of their lives. Words weren't shouted over each other; they were heard with kind and understanding ears.

After good-byes were exchanged, Lissa left for her quarters. Lucina stared at the spot where she left. "Aunt Lissa's always full of life and joy."

"Except when it comes to long distant walks," Chrom said in an amused tone. "Her complaining is unpleasing to the ears. But that's just one thing a sibling must grapple with, right?"

Lucina turned to him, ignoring the joke. Anguish still skated across the lens of her eyes. "For the past few months, my travels have led me to many villages. All the residents shared Aunt Lissa's happiness." She closed her eyes; her shoulders relaxed. "Everyone was…peaceful. Peace. Something I haven't felt in eons." She opened them. "All I've known was chaos and fear."

"That I understand wholeheartedly," Chrom said. "But you are not at peace. You made that clear in your letter before leaving."

"I'm sorry, father," Lucina said, uncomfortable. "It's just…I feel like I don't belong here. My presence has changed the future, but what else could that lead to? What are the ramifications of both my younger self and I existing in the same world? It doesn't feel right." She became flustered. "Also, since the future has changed, why have I not disappeared yet? Is it still in danger?"

"Please, stop," Chrom said in a firm, yet calm tone. "You've overthinking things."

Lucina clasped her hands together, taking a deep breath, letting out the trembling air. "Y-You're right. I'm just scared of another horrible future – one where I have to witness my loved ones perish again."

"It's alright," Chrom said as he wrapped a comforting hand around her wrist, helping disperse the nerves. "The reason you feel like this is because you can no longer have prescience of our future. Am I correct in that assumption?"

After a moment of hesitation, the truth crawled out from her mouth in a meek, guilt-ridden tone. "Yes."

"That's simply not true. You know full well that your actions saved our kingdom. There's no reason to think you are a burden."

Lucina seemed a bit skeptical. "But what about the future?"

"Regardless of what you think," Chrom said with confidence, "it's never entirely written. It's a notion you're not use to, but, if you remain stuck, you'll never experience the same peace that has blessed us for these few months."

Chrom's guiding voice put her at ease, erasing those woes from existence. It was replaced by a growing garden of hope. She needed to keep it from withering into nothing. Being miserable would just make her feel worse, especially if she planned to help Chrom protect the kingdom.

"Okay, I'll give it a try," Lucina said; a light smile formed on her lips.

"It doesn't matter where or when you came from. You're my daughter. You will always have a place here. There's no need to run anymore."

She hugged Chrom, unable to keep the tears at bay anymore. Her emotions were overcome with relief. She never doubted her decision to return home.

"I promise, father. I'll never leave again."

Unbeknownst to anyone, a pair of yellow eyes had watched the event unfold, and was planning to burry everyone's hope beneath an oppressive carpet.

The afternoon sky began its weary transition to nightfall, and would soon slumber underneath the horizon. Unfortunately, there was so much to be done in the allotted time given. Every second mattered; not one should be tossed aside in a haphazard fashion. Pegasus Riders rode through the brisk air to reach villages that housed the jewels in secret locations.

Some of Chrom's troops followed Sora and his friends towards Validar's lair; including wizards, who used magic to conceal themselves from being detected by the loyal servant of Grima. Once they reached the mountains, two Pegasus Riders flew ahead to scour the area, and saw the fortress. They used the mountains as cover from Validar's cold, sinister eyes.

Most of the troops (especially Chrom) have visited the fortress before. It had housed many, including prisoners whose illicit deeds did not escape the clutches of justice's sharp talons. The sky was decorated in a brilliant pink light. It was wise not to linger any longer. Nocturnal creatures ruled over the night sky, scavenging for food while under the moon's pale, watchful eye. And that would include the Heartless.

They had the intel needed to form a strategy. All they could do was return home, with the belief that their chances for success had increased. But little did they know, those numbers were about to drop, producing a loud, distressing thud.

The Pegasus Riders returned to Ylisstol castle as the sun was consumed by the mountain's jaws. They arrived at the back entrance. Concealed within their bags were the jewels, safe from even being touched by the particles in the air. Before they could disembark from their horses, the mythical creatures neighed in fear from an ominous presence, lifting their hind legs into the air.

Sora's doppelganger, along with a group of Heartless, emerged from the ground. The riders tried calling for help, but their voices were silenced beneath the massive shroud of shadows.

If you wish to support my work, please visit my YouTube page: channel/UCTt8bVl63VokPqhTXg2xRKQ

Check me out on social media:

Twitter: kingdomkey23

Facebook: kingdomkey23

Discord: Send me a message

Instagram: kingdomkey23

Deviantart: kingdomkey23

Twitch: kingdomkey_23

Cover Artist's Twitter: jitart1