Chapter 51: A Test of Loyalty

Chrom walked at a brisk pace through the halls, following the signal from the 3DS; his heartbeat joined it in a duet of uneasiness. Everything had to be perfect, he thought. No more minor setbacks. One small slip would break the spine of the entire operation; and from that, the body of Ylisse would perish, along with every organism winding through it.

Trying to stay focused, he continued through the halls, keeping his eyes out for anything that lurked within the darkness that the torches did not reach. Chrom's only companion was his own shadow – a worthless onlooker that flickered in and out of existence from the light.

Upon turning down another threshold, he saw movement at the end of the hall. His body tensed, tugging on a rope of excited emotions. The 3DS's signal grew more intense, and he pocketed it. He hurried down the hall, making sure each step landed on the carpet, so that the silence would keep its promise of secrecy.

Nearby the exit was another threshold, which Chrom ducked into, and then peeked out to have a gander. It was the throne room. And, to Chrom's delight, Validar was present, placing the Emblem on the ground. Next to him was a purple chest. Inside were the gemstones, each containing a different color: white, purple, blue, red, and green.

Their presence brightened the dreary mood of the castle. Validar removed each gem, tainting its radiance with his long, ash-colored fingers, and placed them in a slot on the emblem. Chrom watched with stilled breath as, one-by-one, the gems were inserted. One remained. This was it, he thought. His restless fingers tickled the Falchion's hilt. He felt like his stomach was swaying back and forth in an ocean of anticipation.

Validar's started to place the final gem into the slot. He stopped. So did Chrom's heart. Validar stood up, and faced the door – his colorless lips twisted into an abnormal smile.

"Come in, your majesty," Validar said in a derisive tone. "There's no need to watch from the sidelines."

Chrom's chin tightened from the sudden crank of disappointment. It was too easy, he thought. Validar probably sensed his presence. But this meant nothing, Chrom thought. Failure had no meaning to him – a definition scribbled out of his vocabular. With a hint of reluctance, Chrom walked into the room, staring right into those eyes – pitch-black voids that showed nothing but contempt for the world.

"Seems like our mighty exalt had a cunning plan," Validar said in confidence. "Too bad it failed. All you did was show how hopeless you are without my offspring's advice."

Hearing that slithering, apathetic voice was like listening to an orchestra of snakes. Chrom couldn't bare the sound.

"Robin was never your child," Chrom said, as his gaze passed through a dark cloud of anger. "How could anyone accept you as their flesh and blood?"

Validar frowned. "The fool was simply naive – failed to realize that Grima's power would have brought a new era of darkness to Ylisse." He smiled again – this time, it glowed, contrasting with the dark haze in his eyes. "With the Heartless, I can now finish what he started. All worlds eventually return to darkness. What's the point in delaying the inevitable?"

"Even after his demise," Chrom says, feeling a lump of contempt lodged in his throat, "Grima's foul words bring illness upon your judgement."

"Nothing you do will change the fact," Validar said, still smiling. "Did you honestly expect me to fall for such an inane trick? I know how resilient you are. Why would the mighty Chrom relinquish Ylisstol's greatest treasure?"

Chrom never lost eye contact with his opponent. His expression was firm, not once peeking out from behind the intimating, thunderous clouds with a hint of demure. "If you are so sure it's fake, why not put in the last jewel yourself?"

"Hm, perhaps you're more cunning than I thought," Validar said, unable to see even an incline on the page of Chrom's resolve. "Trying to deceive me. Why don't you do the honors, then? Only one of exalt blood can use the shield's power, correct?"

He held out the shield and the gemstone. Chrom didn't hesitate to grab both, and placed the gem without another thought. For a moment, nothing happened. Validar's suspicions grew steeper with each passing second; on the verge of becoming a massive dune of doubt. But to his surprise, the shield was coated in a sparkling, golden aura that brightened the room. A surge of energy from the shield seeped into Validar's frail body, massaging every quivered bone.

Chrom's face was expressionless as he stared at the shield. But his mind galloped with the vitality of a workhorse, gathering all the information needed. Right now, that horse could see the finish line in sight, and all that stood in its path were a string of numbers.

And Chrom started counting them: One….Two….

Validar gaped as the glistening shield evaporated the shadows like a heat wave. "You were telling the truth!"

…Three…

"It is the genuine article!" Validar said. He approached the shield with eager hands. "And soon, this will be the last shed of light that gazes upon this world."

…Four…

"Here!" Chrom said, shouting. "It's all yours!"

He shoved the shield into a confused Validar's arms, jumped backwards to gain some distance, and leaped onto his stomach.

"Five," Chrom said, as his face hugged the rug for protection.

Validar's eyes widened in terror as the brilliant light consumed him, resulting in an explosion; it produced a powerful burst of wind, making some objects like chairs and pictures topple over in dismay. The chandler above swayed back and forth, letting out a frightened shriek. But it was drowned out from the agonized screams of Validar.

It wasn't long before the commotion ceased. The throne room's walls were devoid of that brilliant light, resuming its brooding. Chrom lifted his head up from the ground. The smoke vanished, unveiling a severely injured Validar behind its thick curtains. Spread throughout the room were the five gems, resting from their task.

Validar trembled as the immense burning pain rummaged through his body. The sorcerer collapsed onto his hands and knees, refusing to embrace the floor and accept defeat. Chrom walked over to him, gripping the handle of the Falchion. A light of hope started shimmering above his vision. And soon, it would engulf him in victory.

"You…scum…" Validar said, struggling to his feet, fighting through the pain. "How…dare…you….

"Quite impressive, isn't it?" Chrom said, his eyes laminated with a thick layer of confidence. "Our finest mages conducted a spell set to explode upon inserting the gems into a fake shield. Admire the craftsmanship."

"You'll…pay…for…mocking me," Validar said with a weak, but intimidating growl.

But those words just disgusted the exalt. "Pay? Me? You're the one who will pay – for every living being terrified by your legion of Heartless. All you've done is hurt my people, my friends, and of course, my loving family!"

He raised his blade, hoping to finally awaken from this nightmare.

"This time I'll make sure you grovel before the hollow gates of the Underworld!"

Something stirred in the air nearby Chrom's cheek. It felt like electricity. Upon looking to his left, he was shocked to see a lightning bolt fly right towards him. With quick reflexes, he leaned back to avoid the small yellow stream of electricity. Before he could question how Validar performed that spell in a vulnerable state, a cloaked figured leaped out of the shadows, wielding a jagged sword.

As the figure brought the blade down, Chrom caught it with the Falchion. The two struggled for a moment; neither one of their strength could overcome the other. Chrom glanced at the sword, and gasped. He had seen it before. The two leaped away from each other. Chrom landed by the edge of the stairs; the mysterious figure landed right next to Validar.

Chorm scanned every detail of the person's wardrobe. His body went numb from a sudden implosion of utter shock. Color started to drain from his vibrant, healthy skin. Sound seemed to become muffled, and only his rapid breathing filled the void of silence. It wasn't possible. This had to be a ruse.

But, the longer Chrom stared, the more he realized that this person was real; he wasn't simply staring at the ghost of a tragic past.

Standing in front of him was a young man donned in a light black cloak, with purple marks traveling down the arms like a small stream. The sleeves were painted with light golden color. He wore brown gloves, boots, and white pants. His face was concealed by a hood. In his right hand, he wielded the jagged sword; in his left, he held a book with a faded yellow color.

Validar performed an incantation to recover his wounds, regaining stamina in the process. He stood up, reforming that wicked smile, delighted with Chrom's horrified reaction. How it sent pleasant goosebumps through his ego. "Looks like you're not the only one prepared. I'd like to introduce you to someone that is very close to me."

Chrom couldn't believe this was real. He struggled to keep the rampant thoughts and emotions from revolting against his composure. Dropping his guard was an invitation to death. But still – some of those feelings peeked through the holes in that repressed fence he built.

"R-Robin?" Chrom asked, still covered in a haze of disbelief. "I-Is that you?"

Robin responded by running straight at him, delivering a fierce swing with his blade. Chrom brought his blade up at a diagonal angle to parry the strike. Next, Robin tried a thrust, but Chrom countered with a downward vertical strike. He then noticed the book in Robin's hand change to a light shade of red. Robin made the jagged blade dematerialize through magic, stuck out his hand, and prepared to launch a fire spell.

Knowing his old friend's techniques like his own name, Chrom pressed his hand against Robin's arm, redirecting the attack to the wall. Chrom took the opportunity to escape by leaping backwards down the stairs. Upon landing, he looked up to see Robin's face hidden within the hood.

And, in a strange way, it was almost a blessing that Chrom couldn't see through it; he didn't want to bear witness to a hateful expression that tainted the once good-natured, benevolent smile.

"No," Chrom said, his voice wilting like a dejected flower. "What did he do to you?"

Robin leaped off the stairs, landed, and lunged forward, and the two ended up in a blade lock. Chrom caught a glimpse of his friend's eyes; they were covered in a purple mist of submission, forced to remained fixated to his target until he had fallen.

"Robin, please!" Chrom said, regaining his voice. "Speak to me! I wish not to fight you! It is I, Chrom!"

No response. Not even a syllable could infiltrate the inner ear; it was guarded by the constant, immoral words of Validar. The two leaped back again, at a stalemate. Chrom's mind continued struggling to believe every image; it was like a farce, mocking him for his excessive optimism.

I finally found him, Chrom thought. For months, I searched, never giving up hope. Now, we're reunited, and can only express words through our blades. It made him sick; his dreams had been contorted into a horrid reality.

Validar stood next to his subordinate; that smirk refused to falter. "It's futile. The darkness has enhanced my power – including the ability to control this child's feeble little mind."

"Validar," Chrom said, lowering his head; anger was bleeding out of an open wound, carrying the sting of endless needles. "This atrocity will not stand." He looked up at Valiar, with rage seeping through his pupils. "You'll be begging for the release of death before I'm done with you."

Validar feigned being both shocked and appalled. "Never expected such a savage remark from the usually compassionate exalt. Sometimes our anger can unveil our true character."

"Enough!"

"I take great pleasure in watching your stable mind crumble into incoherent buffoonery," Validar said, letting out a chuckle. "And I haven't even watched you die yet."

Chrom took a second to catch his breath. Don't let his jeers tip the balance of your equanimity, he thought. Lividity obstructs the rational mind behind stained glass; the only advantage it would give is for the enemy. And, if he were to save his kingdom, plus Robin, he needed to sterilize that flustered glass.

"Why are you doing this?" Chrom asked, regaining his focus. "You've put him through enough misery. Grima is no more. He's of no use to you now."

Validar's expression lowered; he seemed depressed. "You are correct. My master is gone forever." He gave Robin a look of disdain. "You and this disobedient fool saw to that. But Grima's darkness did not fade. Before the final blow was struck, he transferred his darkness into Robin's heart. Imagine my delight when I found out that this stubborn child survived."

"So what exactly does this all mean?" Chrom asked.

"As if you haven't figured it out," Validar said, grinning. He gestured towards Robin. "Grima's darkness lays dormant within him as we speak. And much like his original form, he can be awoken with the Fire Emblem."

A sense of dread perched itself on top of Chrom's shoulders. "Of course! From within the darkness, you plan to summon a Heartless in the form of Grima!"

"Very perceptive!" Validar said. "And its power will be equal to that of Grima. Only this time, it's not bound by the laws of this world, thereby rendering the Falchion useless in sealing it away. And I doubt that brat with the key will be strong enough to slay it himself. Grima's spirit will live on through his Heartless!"

Chrom's throat tightened. This was his entire plan, and it was worse than before. If they failed, there would be no second chances. No use of time travel, or assistance from the gods. Grima's Heartless would bathe the light of this world in an endless sea of black flames; every voice would muffle before its intense cackling.

Chrom raised his sword, encouraged to keep that image as nothing more than a failed notion. "As long as the Emblem stays out of your traitorous hands, you'll never bring that wish to fruition. I'll make sure of it!"

"And how will you do that?" Validar asked, raising an eyebrow. "Robin is more than willing to protect me from anyone. Doltish as he may be, he does bare loyalty towards his father. Seems your only option to face me is to defeat your friend. At the very least, you can rid this world of Grima's darkness." He then laughed. "Oh, that's right: Robin will be gone, too. How foolish of me to overlook such a minutia."

Chrom's expression remained stone-cold despite the conundrum staring him right in the face. "Think that will stop me? You're more arrogant than I thought. Not only will I defeat you, but save Robin as well. Clearly underestimating my friends and I is what lead to your downfall last time."

"I can't stand your overly disgusting optimism," Validar said, repulsed. "Your idealistic naivety is going to get you killed right here and now. Robin, let us fulfill our master's destiny! End him!"

Robin prepared for battle, and Chrom did the same, even with reluctance trying in a vain attempt to restrain him. "Sorry, old friend. Looks like beating the memory out of you is the optimal choice here."

Even if it meant making Robin teeter on the edge of his life. Robin was family to him. Raising his blade against a friend might be the hardest thing he ever did. It was like self-infliction; every cry of pain felt like a lash to your own stomach. But, right now, the entire world was counting on his success. He had other people that were just as important to him. They were the current that kept his motivation airborne.

And, if Robin's voice could reach through the cleft of Validar's control, he'd tell Chrom to fight, too. Armed with the Falchion and his resolve, Chrom ran straight towards Robin. He swung straight down, but Robin leaped back up the stairs. Upon landing, he launched a lightning attack, which Chrom avoided by stepping to the left

Then, Chrom leaped up the stairs, and brought his blade straight down again. This time, Robin held his blade up at a horizontal angle to block the attack. But Chrom continued his assault with a thrust; Robin twisted his wrist downward, forcing the blade to point towards the ground, and blocked Chrom's attack.

After taking a small hop backwards, Robin made his blade vanish, and launched a fire spell. Chrom leaned right to avoid the blast; he sprinted forward, hoping to strike while Robin was defenseless. But as Chrom swung inward, Robin performed a back flip, just missing the attack.

Upon landing, Robin launched another fire spell. This time, Chrom held his blade up at a diagonal angle, deflecting the blast. Although he could feel particles from the flames bite against his skin. Robin summoned the jagged blade, performed a full rotation with his body, and swung inward. Chrom pointed his blade upward – while still at a diagonal angle – and caught the strike.

Then, Robin tried thrusting towards Chrom's knees; he curved his blade downward to block the attack. It was difficult to find an opening; Robin's strikes moved with the grace and agility of the wind. But Chrom knew how his friend fought; his weakness would clog that endless rush of air soon enough.

Robin thrusted, and Chrom rotated his body left. With a downward slash, he pushed Robin's blade towards the ground, catching him off guard for a moment. Chrom tried going on the offense with an inward punch, but Robin leaned back to avoid it. Then, Robin swung his sword in low towards Chrom's feet, but the exalt hopped up before the blade made contact.

Chrom tried bringing the Falchion down again, and Robin brought his blade up at a horizontal angle to block. And this was when Robin found an aperture within the whirlwind of Chrom's strikes; he dematerialized his sword – startling Chrom in the process – and unleashed a blast of electricity right into his foe's abdomen.

A painful shock of electricity discharged throughout Chrom's body, caressing every muscle with an affectionate, paralyzing stroke. And yet, despite struggling against the aches, Chrom would not submit to their will; his mind subdued the painful noise, focusing on a clear image amongst the static – and it was everyone he was fighting for…

…including Robin.

At that moment, Robin tried attacking again, believing his opponent to be immobilized. But when he swung downward, Chrom tilted to the left, and countered with an elbow to the chest. Even Validar raised an eyebrow, both impressed and revolted; his fortitude never thawed into hopeless slush despite the odds.

Not giving Robin a chance to recover, Chrom delivered a slash right at the chest; he took great care in assuring the blade didn't dig in enough to hit a vital organ. Robin leaned back, clutching onto his chest. His rapid exhales slid out between the clefts of his teeth, producing hot, irate air. Seems it wasn't enough, Chrom thought. He'd have to try harder, even though the frequent trembles in his body urged against it.

He ran forward, but a dark tendril emerged from the ground, wrapping itself around his leg. Chrom spun to his right, seeing Validar giving him a sinister smirk; his left hand was covered in a thick smog of purple energy.

"At no point did I indicate I was merely spectating in this conflict," Validar said.

Chrom gritted his teeth in aggravation; he wasn't surprised. Why would he expect even a trace of honor to beseech an unyielding, immoral conscience? Distracted, he was unable to avoid another shock of electricity. This time, even the image of his loved were concealed behind growing, dark vines of agony.

Chrom was yanked towards the ground by the strong thrust of fatigue, but he landed on his hands and knees. He could hear footsteps pounding along with his heartbeat. Looking up, he saw Robin standing over him, blade drawn, face still concealed behind his cloak.

Chrom stared into the catacombs, searching for a faint flicker of light to wave back at him. "I know you're in there somewhere. He may have control of your mind, but not the memories. Reach deep inside to find them."

"Desperate advice isn't going to work," Validar said. "Just accept your fate. Take comfort in knowing that, at the very least, you were slain by one of your own. And he won't live long enough to carry the burden."

Chrom closed his eyes. Maybe he was right. The catacombs were empty – only Validar's voice meandered through each corridor, hissing out venomous words of enmity. For the first in in his life, Chrom's confidence wavered before an inescapable predicament. He was alone, and would leave this world with the thought of failure.

Chrom remembered that, in the future Lucina hailed from, Robin was the one who killed him. Perhaps fate was unavoidable; it could only be delayed, until the wounds of interference were stanched.

Robin raised his blade. With a weak smile, Chrom said, "Thank you for being my friend. This….wasn't your fault."

Validar's eyes widened with wild excitement; the day he envisioned had been presented to him as a gracious gify.. His master was about to be avenged, and a new age of darkness would take the throne of Ylisse. Robin prepared to swing the blade; Chrom shut his eyes again, making the last image be of his loving family.

Including his loving daughter, who had matured into a strong, courageous woman. But nothing happened. Chrom opened his eyes; Robin was frozen in place, struggling to bring down his blade. The gavel had been halted, undecided in where it should declare a verdict of death.

"Yes!" Chrom said, being reinvigorated with a splash of hope. "I knew you were still in there! Fight! Liberate yourself from his grasp!"

"Silence!" Validar said with an angry roar. "Robin, you are my child! Do not let him change your unavoidable destiny!"

Robin found himself being tugged between two voices. Which one should he learn towards? The two opposing forces drummed in each ear, growing louder, trying to assert its dominance. His voice grunted as he fought to regain control of his body. But Validar's long, viscous grip started crushing his free will like ice cubes.

Before Robin could move, a blur dashed into the room, wielding a familiar sword polished with the cloth of royalty, and slashed Robin right in the shoulder, making him slide back, shouting in pain. The blur took on the form of Lucina, who hurried over and kicked Robin in the chest, knocking him onto the floor.

"What!? Where did she come from!?" Validar asked, having been struck with a dagger of shock and appall.

Lucina helped Chrom onto his feet. "Are you alright?"

"Wh-what are you doing here?" Chrom asked, staring at her in disbelief. "I told you to help the others."

"I was given orders by Fredrick to assist you." She smiled. "Should I not disobey my captain's command?"

Chrom shook his head, chuckling. "No. He always knows what's best. Glad you're here."

Lucina focused her attention on Robin, who she didn't recognize in all the chaos. He struggled to stand up, ignoring the pain that pattered on his shoulder like acid rain.

"Oh, no!" Lucina said, gasping in realization, placing a hand over her mouth. "Please don't tell me that's…"

"It is," Chrom said with a grim expression. "Under Validar's control. But he hesitated in slaying me. He's still in there. I just know it."

Lucina's expression saddened. She almost didn't want to believe it was him. Not after everything they've been through. In the past, there was some tension between them because he killed her father in the future. But they overcame their differences, forming a bond akin to family. She was devastated to lose him. This should've been a joyous reunion.

But, right now, that bond was walking a thin wire of estrangement. She started to wonder (much like Chrom) if time was trying to undo all her hard work, by having Chrom fall before his most loyal ally. Her back tensed at the prospect; she squeezed her hand into a fist, trying to quell the nervous jitters.

But then she looked into her father's eyes; they blistered with that usual confidence. And it didn't simmer for even a second. He never lost faith in his friends. Turing a callous eye was never the answer. Everyone with a decent heart suffered. Sometimes you must dig deep to unearth the sorrow. And Chrom never stopped for his closet friends until he reached the core.

Lucina was inspired by her father's determination. She would help in making this reunion a joyous one.

Valider glared at Robin. "Perhaps you'll always be nothing more than a fragile child." He faced Chrom and Lucina. "Fine! I'll take you both out myself!"

He launched a lance of purple energy at the two. Seeing that Chrom still needed time to recover, Lucina pushed him aside, and held her blade up at a diagonal angle.

"No!" Chrom shouted as he stumbled backwards.

He watched in horror as the blast exploded in front of her, and shielded himself from the forthcoming smoke. Once the commotion died down, he opened his eyes, scanning the clouded area in a panic. No sign of her. The world around Chrom paused, as if giving him the opportunity to digest the real possibility that she may not have survived. But Chrom forced it to resume motion, as he wasn't giving up hope.

Validar just grinned. "Such a dangerous position you hold. Many are willing to selflessly sacrifice themselves in the name of their monarch."

"Lucina!" Chrom said. "Gods, no! Please tell me you're alright!"

To Validar's surprise, and Chrom's relief, Lucina's face pushed through the veil of smoke. She looked over herself for the slightest hint of injury. "Yes. It appears I'm unscathed."

"Impossible!" Validar said. "What sort of trickery is this?"

Suddenly, an egg with green spots spun out from the smoke, ramming itself right into Validar's groin. In his lifetime, he's experienced all types of anguish. But, not once, did ever experience pain this severe – it lunged into the stomach, throbbing, sending a numbing sensation throughout his body

The egg rolled over to Chrom and Lucina, who just stared at the scene in stunned silence. Yoshi emerged from the egg, looked to see Validar grasping onto his groin, and winced. "Ooh, sorry. Me wasn't trying to aim for there. I no stoop that low."

"Yoshi!" Chrom said, overjoyed.

Yoshi turned to him, panicked. "Me didn't mean it! No tell Luigi!"

"Don't worry," Chrom said with a chuckle. "We're just grateful for your assistance."

Lucina tried restraining a smile from seeing Validar in such a pathetic state. "Never thought I'd see that before. Will make future conceptions a grueling task."

"Lucina!" Chrom said, in shock.

Lucina blushed and covered her mouth. "How did I let such rubbish glide past my tongue?"

"Me don't get it," Yoshi asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Validar, while still fighting through the pain, glared at the dinosaur. "Y-You will die first inflicting damage on my lower region's sanctum."

Before Validar could conjure another spell, he saw Sora and Luigi out of the corner of his eyes. They both launched fire spell at him. Robin, having recovered, leaped in front of Validar, deflecting both blasts, and then retaliated with a lightning attack. The two leaped out of the way, and regrouped with the others.

Validar couldn't believe his eyes. How was he starting to descend the scale of battle? Every piece of his ideas had been stacked with meticulous care. He then focused a dark gaze on Sora.

That Key. Always unlocking the latch, making those pieces topple over. And he was forced to scour through them, salvaging for even a vestige of that plan. But he wouldn't let his mood dwindle into a tiny spec of pessimism. He still had the Heartless' attached to his thin fingers like strings on a puppet. Same goes for Robin.

"Impeccable timing," Chrom said.

"Think nothing of it," Sora said with his famous grin. "We always have your back." He noticed Robin. "Who's that?"

Chrom hesitated for a moment. "My friend. The one I told you about."

"Oh," Sora said in a flat tone. It seemed Chrom had been weaved into the same troubling thread as Sora. Fighting against your friend was the worst feeling in the world. But he couldn't respond with words of heartache. Not if they wanted to win this battle. He then remembered what Chrom told him earlier: "Hey, is there a slight bit of hope?"

Chrom smiled upon hearing that echoed sentence. "Yes. Yes, there is." He faced Validar with desire to succeed pulsating throughout body. "And if we conflate our strenght, we can overwhelm Validar and save my friend!"

The group assumed their battle positions. Lucina was grateful that Sora and his friends arrived just in time. They knew Chrom for just a day, but haven proven their loyalty to him. Perhaps it was her own fears of an unknown future that prevented Lucina from trusting them. But now, she needed to step out the confinement, and fight alongside these strangers.

"Once again, your sanguinity disgusts me," Validar said, his forehead wrinkled from contempt. "Think those bumbling idiots can make a difference?"

"Last I checked," Sora said, "these 'bumbling idiots' have taken down the likes of Ganondorf and Black Shadow. Might want to rethink those words."

Validar formed two giant spheres of purple energy. They were cackling with power, and an uncontrollable rage that brewed from within their master. "Very well. How about that your demise will be slow and painful!?"

"So we're bumbling idiots," Luigi said, gulping in fear.

"Lucina, you and the others deal with Validar," Chrom said. "Leave Robin to me."

"But father," Lucina said in concern, "you're not fully recovered yet."

"And do you think you can even face your friend without holding back?" Sora asked. "Let me help!"

"Appreciate the concern, but I must do this alone," Chrom said in a firm tone. "He is my closest friend. I have the best chance of breaking through to him. There's no room for interference. Please, trust my judgement."

Lucina was a bit skeptical, but again, she had to relinquish that old habit. "Absolutely father. If anyone can prevail, it's you."

"And we'll help if things go bad," Sora said, giving him a thumbs up. "Which won't be happening. These guys don't stand a chance!"

Chrom was delighted to be encircled in such a positive ring. There was no doubt that they would win. He had complete faith in his friend's abilities. Their teamwork would outmatch Validar and his reliance on mind control.

"My friends – thank you!" Chrom said, preparing his blade. "Now fight to your full potential!"

Validar looked at Robin. "Let us resurrect our master's lingering desire! Smother them in the shadows!"

Lucina was the first to attack, running right towards Validar, delivering a fierce swing. He created a transparent image of himself for her to cut through. Conjuring magic from below his feet, the sorcerer hovered away from her. Extending a thin, gray finger, he fired a small purple beam, which Lucina deflected.

Lucina lunged forward, once again prepared to strike. This time, Validar held out his hand, covering the tip of Lucina's sword in a purple mist. She came to a halt, and found herself unable to free the blade from the mist's clutches, as if a giant hand wrapped its fingers around it. Sora hurried over to attack while Validar was preoccupied.

But the sorcerer could see Sora's brown spikes sway like branches into his line of sight. With a gesture of his hand, Validar commanded Lucina to swing upward at Sora, forcing the boy to counter with a downward strike. Validar enveloped himself in a dark purple mist, and converted it into a howling burst of wind, which knocked the two backwards.

Sora pushed through the relentless pressure as it delivered a flurry of light jabs. Once the attacked ceased, he ran towards Validar again. The sorcerer swung a dark tendril from his hand like a whip. Sora side stepped to avoid the attack; he then went on the offense with a fire spell. To the boy's surprise, Validar caught the scorching ball of magic like it was a baseball.

Validar drained the spell of vibrant colors, filling it with a murky liquid of darkness. The spell grew, and then Validar tossed it right back at Sora, who caught the attack with the Keyblade. He was struggling to deflect it; the pulsating orb was close to his face, whispering with wicked desire. Finding his strength, Sora managed to send the attack right back at Validar. He hovered into the air, avoiding the blast.

Upon sticking out his hand, he fired an endless barrage of dark spheres in retaliation. Sora deflect all of them with quick reflexes. But he was stuck in a vitriol loop, knowing that one false move would be lethal. He had to think of some way to escape. Or else exhaustion would break the cycle. Validar prepared to launch a spell from his free hand, but it became trapped in a familiar long tongue.

Validar looked to his left, glowering at Yoshi. "Vile beast! You shall not violate me no more."

He gripped his hand around the tongue, discharging a wave of heat onto its sensitive surface. Sensing the danger, Yoshi started to reel the tongue back, but Validar used his dark powers to stop it midair. The dinosaur struggled to release it from Validar's grip; he felt like it was stuck to a frozen utility pole.

Validar then swung in his hand in the opposite direction; as if being pulled by an invisible string, Yoshi flew into the air, past Validar, and then fell right on top of Luigi. Before Validar could return to Sora, he saw Lucina leap at him, and failed to avoid an incoming slash right across the cheek. His once paled skin had been struck with a marker of blood.

Furious, he summoned a dark spot from her beneath her feet. Tendrils emerged, wrapping themselves around Lucina's legs like an enraged octopus, prepared to pull her into the depths below, where she'd draw her last breath. Lucina struggled to break free, but they squeezed against her legs, discharging what little feeling she had like toothpaste.

Validar flew right towards her with a sphere of dark energy. Sora used his Gravity spell to stop him. While startled, Validar was unfazed by the boy's inept use of magic; to him, it felt like small twigs galivanting on his skin. With a flick of his wrist, he sent the spell right back at Sora; he leaped back, just avoiding the giant sphere. Had he waited not a second later, Sora would've become an etching in the throne room's carpets.

Validar once again flew towards Lucina, prepared to deliver the fatal sting of retribution. But Luigi leaped in front of her, and swung his hammer. The sorcerer concealed himself within a magical, transparent orb that blocked the incoming attack. Lucina freed herself from the tendrils, going on the offense with horizontal slash; it was strong enough to knock Validar backwards.

Yoshi rammed his head into the orb like a cue stick to a billiard ball, knocking it straight into a nearby wall. Validar gritted his teeth; the glacier of composure started sliding off the bedrock of his emotions. He was annoyed by their persistence. Coping with the loss of his master was difficult; for a while, he floundered throughout a thick mist of uncertainty, unable to see a lantern gleaming with purpose.

But, upon bracing the darkness, the mist dissipated; his mind was clear, and he knew what must be done: to fulfill his master's wishes. It was the only way he'd find peace. And these meddlers would not trap that desire in a restless crypt. Sora tried attacking with an over the shoulder strike, and Validar leaped left to avoid it.

As Sora prepared to thrust, Validar conjured another spell; this time, a spike rose from the ground in front of the boy, knocking his Keyblade upward. After regaining balance, Sora felt a sudden chill seep through the soles of his shoes. He rolled to his left, and avoided being skewered by another spike from the ground.

Sora threw his Keyblade at Validar, who once again created a transparent image of himself, and moved away from the attack. Turning to his left, he saw Luigi prepared a downward swing. Validar summoned a dark wall that knocked Luigi onto the ground. Summoning another dark tendril from his hand, Validar grabbed Luigi's hammer, and tried bringing it down on him.

Yoshi leaped in, catching the head with his shield. Then, Lucina knocked the hammer out of the tendril's grasp, lunged forward, and tried striking Validar in the chest. The sorcerer was quick to deflect with another dark wall. An orange light filled the corner of Validar's eye, and he turned to see Sora launching his spiral attack.

With just moments to spare, he concealed himself in another orb. Although the attack was strong enough to knock him into a wall. Sora's aggravation started to thrash throughout his chest. This guy will not give up, he thought. But they had to keep pressuring him, in hopes of that he would lower his defenses.

Validar was determined to keep that notion a fallacy. He would not leave this world having failed his master's aspirations. Closing his eyes, Validar unrooted a large strain of darkness, and expanded into an explosive wave that covered his body. The group braced themselves; they had a hunch that Validar was unveiling his true power.

Meanwhile, Chrom and Robin continued their virulent conversation through an exchange of blades. Neither seem to overpower the other. But with each strike, each successful hit, a shred of vitality was torn from their stalwart cloth. Chrom fought through the fatigue, determined to save Robin, even at the cost of collapsing onto the ground.

Robin delivered a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree swing; Chrom held the Falchion at a diagonal angle – with the blade's tip pointing downward – and caught the attack. Next, he tried swinging downward, but Robin brought his blade up at a horizontal angle to block the strike. Robin unleashed a fire spell, and Chrom jerked his head to dodge it.

Then, Chrom punched Robin straight in the jaw. However, Robin was quick to retaliate by slashing right across Chrom's shoulder. The exalt hissed as the sharp pain glided across his receptors. But a powerful, obstinate voice forced those sensations into a submissive bow. And it said: Fight through it. Fight through it. Fight through it.

Chrom gritted his teeth, spun around, and slashed at Robin's arm, making him shout in pain. Hearing the agony in Robin's voice was like receiving a wound in the heart: he hated hurting his close friend, but it had to be done. Chrom kicked Robin in the chest, making him stumble backwards.

The two stared at each other – the weight of exhaustion started leaning on them. Both took slow, deep breaths, trying to shred off some of the pounds. Chrom's body ached from an amalgam of exertion and battle scars. He wiped off the sweat that protruded from his eyebrows, preventing them from impeding his vision with a splash of dull watercolors.

Soon, he found himself leaning on the Falchion for support. Robin started falling towards the ground, but caught himself with one hand.

Despite the graveness of the situation, Chrom couldn't help but muster a weak smile. "Must admit…you'd make a good sparring partner. We should engage in a scuffle when this ordeal is behind us." Although his confidence was starting to dwindle. Every muscle refused to obey even simple commands like flexing a finger. I don't think my body can take any more abuse, he thought.

To his dismay, he saw Robin stand up, conjuring another thunder spell. And this time, he was letting it charge, confident that no outside force would intervene. The electricity danced through the palm of his hand, growing violent, letting out hysterical cackles of pure delight. Chrom tried standing up, but his body had surrendered to the overwhelming might of its limits. He could hear Robin's uneven footsteps grow closer in his ears, along with the baneful snarls of the spell.

Finding a morsal of vitality on an empty plate, Chrom looked up, seeing the electricity morph into a spear-shaped object. And it grew stronger with each passing second. Chrom could feel the hairs on his skin flail around in a panic.

Validar looked upon the situation Chrom was in, and his eyes lit up in excitement. "Yes! Finish him off! Chrom has been nothing but a burden to you! Keeping you from your dear old father for so long!"

"Your lies are venom!" Lucina said. "You won't succeed!"

She hurried to help Chrom, but Validar unleashed a purple chain from his hand, which wrapped itself around her waist. Try as she might, Lucina could not loosen herself from the chain's cold, iron grip. Validar then hoisted her into the air, appearing as a restless decoration to brighten the dreary throne room. Sora and his friends went over to help, but they too were restrained by chains. Yoshi receive special treatment as the chain was wrapped around his nose.

Validar watched with heightened elation as the group's helpless bodies dangled in front of him; their sounds of struggling were a soothing melody in his ears.

"Too strong!" Sora said, grunting.

"Black magic is a very dangerous magic," Yoshi said in a nasaled tone.

"Good thing you noticed that now!" Luigi said.

Lucina continued squirming to break free. She would not let that horrible future pass the horizon again. Her anxious eyes darted towards Robin; the spell was reaching its peak of power.

"Robin!" Lucina said, shouting, hoping her voice would unearth a glimmer of humanity from within. "Stop! Father's your best friend! Killing him will bring you regret!"

Validar turned to her, looking content. "It's useless to plea. This worthless child has no need for those feelings anymore. Soon, he will bring forth an era of endless darkness. You're the only thing that's prolonging his return."

Robin moved his arm backwards, preparing to strike Chrom's chest. Tears started streaming out from Lucina's eyes. She couldn't believe this was real. After everything she did to prevent a bleak future, it was all for naught. She failed everyone. All she did was delay their fate, by giving them false hope.

Perhaps the future was never meant to be rewritten. And those that tried scribbling on the pages would feel the sins of their actions. For Lucina, it was to watch her father die.

"No!" Lucina said, overcome with panic. "Please! I never meant for this to happen! It's all my fault!"

But, despite everyone being encircled within a hopeless vortex, Chrom remained in the center, calm and collected. He looked at Robin with a gentle smile. Earlier, when he was in this situation, success seemed like a distant dream. Every avenue was slammed shut with a loud, doubtful echo. But things were different this time.

Everything was going to be okay.

"You won't harm me, Robin," Chrom said. "I know this for a fact. Despite the tough times, I always trusted your judgement. Our friendship is forever melded in our minds. You'll make the right choice."

Robin brought the attack back further. Everyone continued struggling against the chains. Lucina shut her eyes, unable to watch the key turn, unlocking that horrific future again. And this time, not even a divine drop could alter the ripples of fate.

Validar's eyes widened with a maddening fume, on the verge of exploding with jubilation. "Yes! End that failure of a ruler once and for all!"

….and then Robin threw the attack directly into Validar's chest, releasing a wild burst of electricity throughout his body. He felt like every organ was still from a sudden surge of surprise. His breathing stopped. Every muscle refused to cooperate. But, worst of all, his mind began sinking into a bog of disbelief.

"But…you're under…my control…"

He fell face first onto the ground, producing a loud crash that echoed throughout the room, instilling a cry of optimism into this scenario. The chains vanished, releasing Sora and the others from their captivity. Robin started to collapse, but Chrom, having been injected with a renewed fortitude, ran over, catching the tactician in his arms.

Chrom lifted back Robin's hood, revealing his short silver hair and pale skin. He was motionless. His eyes were closed. Chrom's hearted pounded with the force of a hammer through a nail; he was not going to lose his best friend again. His spirits would not be swept under a carpet of grief.

"Robin," Chrom said, giving his friend a gentle shake. "Are you alright? Speak to me."

No response. Not even a subtle hint of movement. Chrom closed his eyes, prepared to accept the ill-fated reality, when he heard grunting. Robin opened his eyelids halfway; inside, two rose-tinted eyes could be seen, smearing away the dreadful cold with its warm presence. Chrom struggled to hold back a stream of emotions from bursting through the dam that housed his strong demeanor.

Robin let out a weak chuckle. "When will the day come where we can just greet each other with a simple handshake?"

"Well, if you keep sleeping on the job," Chrom said, hiding his relief behind a playful smirk, "then progress will be very minimal." He couldn't express the joy that fluttered through his chest like an explosion of elated feathers. "I knew we'd meet again one day, old friend."

Robin nodded. "I knew it in my heart, too. Our fates are forever forged by the bindings of friendship."

Sora couldn't help but feel somewhat envious by that sentiment. If only that same bind didn't tear his friendship with Riku apart. Overcome with exhaustion, Robin fainted. But he was fine, as Chrom could see his chest rise and fall like the constant movement of lively waves. Chrom's quest had reached its conclusion. He was so happy to be reunited with his friend.

But reaching this point was a struggle. And there was one person that made the road uneven. With furious eyes, Chrom spun around to face Validar. The sorcerer was struggling to stand up, fighting against the immense pain that brushed across his body like a rough comb. Chrom could never forgive him for the illicit acts committed. Threatening his people and loved ones was the ultimate insult.

And he wouldn't receive even a speck of mercy. In a loud, commanding voice, Chrom said, "Everyone, now's our chance!"

Before Validar knew what was happening, Yoshi rolled behind the sorcerer, jerked his head backwards, and rammed him straight in the back; he staggered forward from the powerful strike. Luigi delivered a fire uppercut, knocking Validar straight into the air, forming a long tail of smoke behind him.

Yoshi leaped above Validar, and rammed him straight into the ground with his backside. As Validar scrambled to his feet, he saw Sora and Lucina run right for him, blades at their ready. His body was too weak to raise a finger. All he could do was watch in terror as the two slashed across his chest, making him reel back in absolute pain.

Sora and Lucina brought their blades together, and they were enveloped in a golden light. With a powerful thrust, the two pierced through his chest. His screams of agony echoed throughout the hall, crying out along with him. Then, Sora and Lucina stepped aside, allowing Chrom to pass by them. He leaped into the air, Falchion held over his head, wielding a blade of indignation in his eyes.

"Perish for good!" Chrom cut right through Validar with a powerful slash.

Everything was still. Sound had been muffled under a cushion of silence. Then, Validar let out a deafening scream, sending a chilling breeze through everyone's skin. His body writhed from the unbearable torment. Suddenly, darkness started eating away at his being.

"This…can't…be!" Validar said, bellowing in shame. "Forgive me…master!"

Validar then collapsed onto the floor, where the darkness finished feasting on his body; he vanished before everyone's eyes. Nothing was left behind, except for the permanent stigma of failure. Grima's ambitions were forever incarcerated in a steel cage of fallacies.

A weary eclipse started to hinder the Shepherds' strength. They couldn't continue fighting against the hoard of Heartless. Fredrick noticed many of his troops were struggling to catch their breath; some even needed respite from the constant strain of exertion. Others were succumbing to the wounds and injuries that chiseled away pieces of their endurance. Fredrick closed his eyes, standing before a jury of decisions.

Chrom had not returned yet. He didn't want to assume the worst. Validar was a dangerous foe. Even if the trap was successful, it didn't dictate success. And right now, Fredrick's troops were fighting a meaningless battle – he did not want any of them to wither before the oppressive climate of darkness.

There was only one option: retreat. He prepared to give the signal, when the Heartless stopped right in their tracks. The creatures looked around the battlefield, appearing confused, having lost any sense of guidance. Everyone else waited in silence, unmoving like the humid air, but stayed on high alert.

Soon, every single Heartless vanished from the battlefield, as if they had lost interest in the war. The Shepherds started murmuring to each other over what just happened. Some even scanned the area for any stragglers. None were found.

Lissa faced the fortress. Her eye widened, shimmering with an ecstatic, golden light. "I can't sense Validar's presence anymore! They did it!"

Once the message reached everyone, the entire sound barrier was deafened from an explosion of cheers and yells. It was over. The tribulations of war were behind them, languishing in the distance as nothing more than a recollection. Everyone could go home and reunite with their loved ones; to assure them that the danger was over.

While some Shepherds celebrated, others provided support for their wounded allies. And some exchanged pleasant handshakes and pats on the shoulders with each other, sharing the glory together. But they were also grateful that the other didn't perish underneath the dominating tide of Heartless.

"See?" Vaike said with his usual brash grin. "With ol' teach here, this was an easy victory."

Lissa just shook her head at his inane declaration.

"Over already?" Henry asked, appearing glum for the first time. "What a shame. Things were starting to get interesting."

A young woman named Libra raised an eyebrow. "What demented thoughts spin through your mind?"

"Happy ones, of course!" Henry said, with a sudden resurgence of joy.

Libra backed away, not wanting to partake in any further conversation with him, knowing full well it would take a strange turn. Meanwhile, Fredrick stared out into his troops with a smile of both pride and relief. He basked in their positive energy, like absorbing the sun's healthy rays.

Every troubling, unwanted thought had been shredded to pieces, unable to reform. And he let a warm, serene breeze carry it off into the distance.

"I knew you'd pull through, sire," Fredrick said, staring at the fortress.

Sora and his friends approached the spot where Validar once drew upon life's plentiful breath. Lying on the floor was a piece of paper and a card. Sora picked up the paper, noticing it was an Ansem Report. But something was stuck to the back of it. After removing the extra paper with a gentle pull, he saw that it was another torn piece from the Paper World (Luigi was okay with these conveniences. Why couldn't the rest of their journey be this easy? He half expected Mario to walk into the room at any moment).

With five pieces obtained, they were confident that Kraden could mend the book, and bring the world back from the brink of nonexistence. More importantly, they rescued the final Star Spirit. Sora exchanged an ecstatic smile with Luigi and Yoshi; they were on the verge of bringing this saga to its epilogue. And within its pages, a happy ending would greet him: one that featured Kairi's smiling face, and his friendship with Riku restored.

Lucina stared at the spot where Validar vanished; a small, hesitant voice scaled the back of her head, until reaching the crown. "Do you think he's gone?"

"Yes," Chrom said, refusing to let any objections to that claim spring forward in his mind. "Hopefully for good this time."

"What about your friend?" Sora asked.

Chrom walked over to Robin, focusing on his chest. It still moved up and down, uninterrupted. A soft pressure of ease massaged Chrom's shoulders. "Now that Validar has perished, Robin should no longer be under his control."

"Well, that's a relief," Luigi said, exhaling. "Your friend seems tough." He let out a tiny shudder. "Here's hoping we don't have to fight any more guys in cloaks. They spook me out."

Sora placed a playful arm around him. "Guess we should go adventuring when it rains more, huh?"

"That's not funny," Luigi said, frowning. He heard Yoshi's restraint giggle, and redirected that stare towards him.

Chrom picked up Robin. "No time for pleasantries. Robin seems to have sustain injuries. Medical attention is required forthwith."

"Gotcha." Sora outstretched his right arm towards an exit. "Lead the way!"

Once outside, everyone was greeted by the tumultuous cheers and applauses of the Shepherds. Chrom was beyond delighted to see every bright face glisten in the sunlight. Not even one faded behind the veil of the reaper's robes. He was liberated from being struck in the heart with a dagger of potential grief. And now, he was reunited with Robin. His patience and willpower had been rewarded.

Overcome with a seismic wave of emotions, Lissa burst into tears, and ran straight into Chrom's arms, crushing Robin in the process. She was overjoyed to see her big brother alive, and see Robin again. Chrom's eyes soon met with Fredrick's; he couldn't be happier to have a better captain serve under him.

No. To him, everyone one of his troops was family, and they would ride off for home together, embraced in the arms of victory.

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