Lucina paced around what used to simply be another floor in the castle. Now it was the top floor. Just another showing of the desolation Grima had wrought. However, Lucina was not keen to abandon the capital just yet.

While the exalt had ordered her civilians and most of the military to Mount Prism, Lucina and her most elite had reclaimed the castle as her base. She knew herself and her kin to be high priority targets so she did not wish to bring that danger on her people. Especially not given what they were undertaking.

That undertaking is what had her so worried. Much like her father, she did not have a talent for tactics, and she lacked a tactician to shore up this weakness. All the same, they had agreed on a plan to steal back the Fire Emblem and the gemstones to perform the Awakening. Lucina, however, had been kept back on the insistence of the others. Gerome in particular. She had almost offered Owain Falchion to use, but thought against risking the blade.

"I take it they have not returned then."

Lucina's eyes widened and she turned on her heels to see Tiki standing at the top of the staircase, "Lady Tiki! But what are you doing here? You were looking over those at Mount Prism."

The manakete grimaced, "Unfortunately, we were overrun. Most of the civilians made it out thanks to the valliant sacrifices of your soldiers. I have sent the survivors north to Regna Ferox or…what remains of it. I came here to notify you of the change of plans."

"Even Mount Prism fell?" Lucina was distraught, "Is no corner of this land safe?"

"I'm afraid not," Tiki shook her head, "But you must remain strong and trust that your friends will deliver the complete Fire Emblem."

"Did someone say Fire Emblem?" The two women looked up as Severa dismounted from the back of Minerva who had valiantly managed to transport all three humans though it was a crowded and uncomfortable ride.

"Must you treat this so nonchalantly," Laurent grimaced, more than happy to get off the dragon, "This is a treasured artifact and key to our survival."

"Yeah, yeah," Severa rolled her eyes, "Killjoy."

"You made it!" Lucina was overjoyed to see all of them safe and still their usual misfit selves. As she looked at the Fire Emblem once it was in her hands she finally felt a sliver of hope, "Was there any trouble?"

"Nothing we could not handle," Gerome responded, "What of the others?" His mask hid it well, and Lucina was oblivious, but Severa knew he was particularly concerned about Cynthia's group.

"Nothing yet," Lucina shook her head, "We just have to have faith in them."

Tiki's ears perked suddenly as she sensed danger approaching, "Everyone, behind me! Now!"

"Tsk, tsk," A figured cloaked in shadowy magic appeared at the end of the destroyed floor, "Your kind just loves to ruin my fun."

"Grima," Tiki glowered, "Weren't you just at Mount Prism?"

"Yes, and I still am. One of the benefits of having a vessel. While I'm here murdering all of you, my true form can finish off your puny resistance."

"No!" Lucina drew her blade, "I won't let you!"

Grima laughed, "You're welcome to try." However, before Lucina could do just that, Tiki stopped her.

"No. You're no match for Grima in your current state. Go, find the others and assemble the Fire Emblem."

"Hah!" Grima snarled, "I sent my best agents after your little friends. They should be well and truly dead by now." Grima stretched forth a hand and summoned the corrupted Valentian Falchion, floating horizontally as Grima started to spin it.

"N-no…Cynthia…everyone…" The exalt fell into a daze and lost focus.

"Lucina!" Tiki pushed the exalt out of the way as Grima launched the sword like an arrow. She saved Lucina's life, but the fell blade pierced her chest. She immediately felt the bite of Naga's fang mixed with an almost venom like fell power seeping through her veins.

"Lady Tiki!"

"G-go," Tiki feebly responded as the flesh around the wound permeated with a sickly purple, "Do not…give up…hope."

"Hmph," Grima grunted as Tiki slumped to the floor, "Disappointing, but she was on my list regardless. I suppose I do get to relish in your suffering a bit more at least."

"You…you monster!" Lucina's grip on Falchion turned her knuckles white, "You'll pay for this! For all of this!"

"Oh?" Grima chuckled, but the mirthful gesture was dripping with mockery and malice, "And how will you do that? A heroic but ultimately pointless last stand? Your father already took care of that. Retreating to the shadows plotting to slowly take me out? Hah! You're hardly cut out for that. You're not strong or smart enough."

With one simple hand gesture, Grima summoned spikes from beneath the four humans' feet. The sheer pain of the attack was enough to bring them to their knees.

Severa was on high alert as were the rest of them. Lucina was frozen with a mixture of rage, hopelessness, and pain, and one look at Gerome and Laurent showed they also did not have a way out.

She was quickly forced to try and think what her mother would do. Surely she could have found a way out. Though, Severa knew what Cordelia would have done. She would have already done it, but Severa was not about to be so easily outdone.

"Lucina, go!" Severa forced out as she drug herself over between the fell dragon and the exalt.

"Severa?" Lucina panted in confusion, "What are you doing?"

"Buying…you time," She grunted, "It's what my mother would have done…now go. Don't make everyone's sacrifices meaningless."

"Hmm, so you're Cordelia's brat," Grima mocked, "Unlike her, you will be the first one to break."

"Do not be so certain," Laurent pulled himself up and joined her, "For she does not stand alone."

"One or a thousand, do you really think it makes a difference?"

"Then you won't mind if I cut in," Gerome and Minerva also joined in the defense of their liege, "On my father's name as a knight, you must go through me to get to the exalt."

"What are you doing?" Lucina cried, "Don't throw your lives away for me!"

"What I should have done earlier," The wyvern lord nodded, "It is, after all, in my blood."

"This is simply the logical course of action," Laurent replied, "Take the Emblem and go. Finish the Fire Emblem and avenge humanity of its losses today."

"You humans sure do talk a lot," Grima growled, "You were amusing for a time, but I grow tired of your continued existence." Grima stretched out a hand charging enough energy to vaporize all of the exalt's would-be defenders, "Today marks the end of the human race's pitiful existence on this world!"

Lucina backed up with a few steps, unsure of what she could do, but it all seemed hopeless. Grima shot off a large blast moments later. The purple sphere of energy flew forward forcing the humans to flinch.

"Wrong!" Grima watched as the Fire Emblem charged through the attack as if it were nothing, and before the dragon could react, a glowing Falchion pierced Grima's chest and the shroud of darkness revealing Robin's stolen form.

Grima howled as the blade cut through flesh, but the dragon took note of the glowing edge, "You are not of this world."

Chrom glared up the length of his blade and roughly pulled his Falchion out through Grima's shoulder, "No, but I won't let you terrorize this land any longer!"

"You meddling little nothings!" Grima snarled even as bone and sinew patched itself back together at an inhuman rate, "Fine then. I will enjoy butchering you for old times' sake."

"Father?" Lucina's mouth was agape at the seemingly impossible savior that started to clash with Grima as if it were any other opponent.

"Phew, glad he made it," Sumia landed beside Lucina and started to heal her, "I'm not too experienced with warp magic so I was worried that he wouldn't make it far enough."

"M-mother?" Lucina feared her mind was on the verge of shutting down and she had grown delusional.

"Mmm, close but not quite," Sumia clicked her tongue as she pulled her staff back and felt Lucina's forehead, "How are you feeling?"

"I…I'm fine, but, Mother…please leave."

"What?" Sumia looked more hurt than anything else, "Is this because of the clumsy thing? I swear I'm better."

"No one doubts your combat abilities, least of all me," Lucina shook her head, "No, I just can't bear the thought of you being hurt for my sake."

Sumia smiled as she fixed some of Lucina's hair, "That's sweet, but no, I'm staying. You'll understand when you have a husband and kids of your own, but when your family is in danger, you'd do anything to protect them."

"But…this is Grima we're talking about!" Lucina pleaded, but Sumia was not fazed.

"This isn't our first Grima. Trust me, we'll be fine. You just be ready for when your friends get here with the gemstones."

"Not your first…" Lucina was dumbfounded.

"Just trust us, dear."

The exalt blinked, "Okay. It's…good to see you again…Mother."

Sumia smiled again, "I won't let anything happen to you. Mommy's here now."

"Are you okay?" Cherche landed beside Gerome as Frederick similarly found him soon after being warped in, "No scratches or bruises?"

"Mother? Father?" Gerome grunted as he pulled himself up in his saddle, "I'm not dead am I?"

"No, you're quite alive, though you wouldn't have been had lord Chrom not intervened. I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. That was quite noble to defend your liege like that."

"I should have acted sooner. I was too concerned about Minerva."

"As a knight, perhaps," Frederick spoke as stern-faced as ever, "However as a father, I would have to ask you not to do that again."

"What?" Gerome looked at him in bewilderment, "You? Hmph, perhaps you are more different than you look. My father would, and did die for his liege without a second thought."

"Perhaps, but I also doubt it wasn't without a second thought. I cannot speak for your father, but I know now the weight of having those that care and depend on you."

"Frederick…"

"I simply think that everyone would be better served if you lived rather than died. I know there may come a time when it is the only option, but by my lance, that day is not today."

"Hmph, you're certainly confident. Let's see if you can really help us turn the tide."

"Stay to the rear," Cherche ordered, "You've been through enough. It's our turn now."

"How are you holding up?" Cordelia landed beside Severa.

"Mother!" The redhead coughed, "I'm fine. No thanks to you."

Cordelia simply smiled, "That was very brave what you did."

"I just did what you would have done. What you did."

"Ah, I see. Well, I'm sure she would be just as proud of you as I am, but let's hold off on the death for now. No one needs to sacrifice themselves today. I think we've both had enough of that."

"Hmph, I'll try," Severa looked around, "Is…is Dad with you?"

"He should be warping in soon. We barely made it in time so the staff users started warping the non fliers in. Starting with Chrom as you could see."

"At least he's okay. You'd better take care of him, okay?"

"I don't think he needs the help, but you have my word."

"Good. I won't forgive you if something happens to either of you, got it?"

"Heh, understood."

"So, you have come too," Laurent observed what looked to be his parents arriving to render aid, "I know my mother's body was never found, but my father's was. I presume there is something at play beyond my knowledge."

"You would be correct," Miriel nodded, "We are from another world known as an outrealm. Our purpose is twofold. We are to recover an ally and to render aid in your time of need."

"I see. You seem to be doing well on the latter. Have you found your ally?"

"We don't know," Kellam answered, "That was being handled by our second team. I hope so though."

"I see. Well, I am grateful for any aid that you can render. You have already saved my own life. I daresay that was the most terrifying moment of my life."

"You saw the logical course of action and acted accordingly," Miriel nodded, "While natural to feel fear when facing one's own demise, I commend the dedication to action. However, as traveling with the Shepherds has shown me, the odds are not always accurate. What say you we defeat the statistics?"

"It would be an honor."

"This," Grima growled as Chrom relentlessly fended off the dragon, "Is not your world, how can you draw upon such power? Why won't you pathetic humans just roll over and die?"

"So long as we draw breath, we'll never surrender to you."

"Then let me rectify that!"

Grima prepared to attack again, but was interrupted by an arrow. It did not deal any damage, but Grima was more surprised by the audacity to try and use such simple means to attack the Fell Dragon's vessel.

"Nice shot!" Cynthia exclaimed as she let down her pegasus and let Noire drop down, "Sorry we're late! Ugh, can't believe Severa beat us here."

"Better late than never, slowpoke," The redhead stuck out her tongue.

"Sorry, we're late, Lucy," Cynthia apologized, "We ran into some trouble."

Lucina hugged her sister in response, "I was so worried."

"Hey now," Cynthia pulled back, "That's no way to preserve your heroic image. Besides," She held up the gemstones, "We got work to do."

"Yes," Lucina held up the Emblem so that Cynthia could affix the gemstones, "We do."

"Then it's a good thing we're here."

Severa rounded on her heels. Inigo wore a big grin, but she walked right past him, "What took you so long?"

"Sorry," Owain put his hands up, "We got held up." He shared a knowing look with his comrades, their agreement holding.

"Bah, you can be all lovey dovey when this is over," Brady panted as he leaned on his staff, "Let's hurry this up."

"Right," Owain presented the two gemstones, "Let's slay this beast so that all may fear the name of Lucina the Great."

"Heh, thank you, Owain," Lucina took the gemstones and placed them within the Fire Emblem. However, as she held it up, Chrom felt something was off. His suspicions were confirmed when Grima stopped fighting him and started…clapping?

"What a wonderful performance. Though, you did need help, I must admit that I never expected you to get this far. Bravo. That said, it's time to end this charade."

"What is the meaning of this?" Lucina pointed Falchion at Grima who laughed at her gesture.

"You don't see it?" Grima arched a brow and looked at Chrom, "But you do, don't you?"

"The Emblem…it isn't complete."

"Correct!" Grima relished in the look of despair as Lucina looked the Emblem over.

"What? How?"

"Did you really think I would have left the Emblem just sitting there with a gemstone in it to boot? How stupid do you think I am? It had a fake installed. A guarantee in case something like this were to occur. Now, hand it over, and let's finish this, shall we?"

Chrom responded with a jumping slash but Grima caught it with fell power building underneath Falchion, "I grow tired of your meddling! Begone!"

With one large blast, Grima knocked both Chrom and Falchion off the side of the castle forcing Sumia to dash after him at top speed.

"Now," Grima turned back to Lucina while the Shepherds prepared to defend her and the others, "Where were we?"

Lucina rushed at Grima in a rage at having potentially lost another father. Grima, however, merely knocked her aside like a child throwing a tantrum.

"Tsk, tsk. At least your father could better back up his bravado. Not that it saved him in the end." Grima held up a hand to finish the exalt, "Let your hope turn into despair!"

"Grima!" Bellowed the one of the only voices that could cause the dragon to pause in that moment. Looking over the ruined castle, Grima's blood red eyes narrowed.

"Missing something?" Robin held up the missing gemstone between his index and middle fingers.

"How?" Grima did not doubt the authenticity. It was obvious to those sensitive to it.

"I happened to be there when they stole it, yet I could still tell something was there after they left. A smart play, and it almost worked."

"How could you even…gah! No matter, I'll just have to remove it from your cold, dead corpse!"

Grima moved forward to do just that, but was interrupted by Chrom backhanding his Fire Emblem into the dragon's face, "You're not done with me yet!"

Grima snarled before summoning a horde of Risen to the castle, "BRING ME THAT GEMSTONE!"

"Shepherds," Robin addressed the younger generation, "You know the objective. Let's finish this."

Lucina nodded afterwards and drew Falchion as the Risen encroached, "Show Grima, show this world, that hope will never die!"

Robin intercepted a Risen fighter as it tried to reclaim the gemstone. There were a lot of them, that was certain, and they were mostly aiming for him. Expecting this, Robin had already passed off the gemstone to one of their fastest sprinters. He could not resist a smirk as he watched her rush past the enemy line.

Severa bobbed and weaved through the Risen hoard. This was second nature to her at this point, but she refused to let old memories distract her. It was different this time. This time, they were on the offensive.

The path was not entirely clear, however. Risen dared to block her path, but the swordmasters were quickly torn apart by Owain and Inigo covering her escape. Ducking and weaving through, Severa continued her mad dash, but by now it was obvious that she had the gemstone. With more and more Risen surrounding her, Severa grunted.

"On your sixth!"

Severa was able to pass off the gemstone to Yarne who was able to clear the Risen with a large leap. Keeping it in his mouth, the panicked Taguel dashed for the far end of the castle as fast as he could.

A cavalry line laid between him and the exalt though, forcing the Taguel to turn to the side. Running out of options, he shifted back to humanoid form and threw the gemstone to Cynthia before cowering as the Risen caught up to him, but they were burnt to a crisp as Morgan came to his aid.

"Good bunny!"

The princess ducked under an undead wyvern's ax as she expertly maneuvered through the wall of corpses, all seeking to get the gemstone she carried. A wyvern rider nearly took her head off, but a well placed shot by Noire kept her airborne. With Noire and Laurent providing cover, she was better able to push forward, but she was still in danger of being overwhelmed.

However, Cynthia responded to a blockade by sticking her tongue out before dramatically dropping the gemstone, "Oops."

Down below, Gerome sped past grabbing the stone and tearing through the blockading pegasus knights as he turned himself and Minerval into a spinning projectile. Breaking through to the other side, he could see this world's Lucina and their own Chrom battling with Grima. The Fell Dragon was repelling Chrom with a steady stream of magic, forcing him to block with the Fire Emblem. Lucina, however, was relatively unencumbered.

"Lucina! Catch!"

Gerome's aim held true, however, before Lucina could grab it, Grima was simply faster and reached out to seize victory.

"Hng!" Grima's eyes flared as a Falchion pierced flesh.

"I won't let you win," Lucina whispered with malice as the other Lucina was able to catch it. The other Lucina quickly slammed the gemstone into the slot left by the fake gemstone, and almost immediately it began to resonate with power.

"Grah!" Grima pushed Lucina back with a furious pulse of dark magic, the energy radiating off the vessel, "Do you want to hear how wonderful of a job you did?" The stone singed beneath Grima's feet with each step towards the exalt Lucina, "All you're doing is delaying the inevitable! Do you think I kept that sword around for the memories? Naga is dead! And with her your hope of ever saving this wretched world!"

"No," Lucina looked at the newly completed Fire Emblem in desperation as if it would provide some sort of answer, "No! It can't be for naught!"

"All of this," Grima raised an arm to prepare to annihilate her. Chrom tried to intervene, but Grima kept him at bay with another blast to his shield, "Just to die clutching a completed trinket. Hopefully you think it was worth it."

"It was."

"You," Grima snarled, turning back to what the Fell Dragon had thought to be a corpse. Instead, Tiki was standing, her eyes aglow as her body radiated energy. The manakete walked forward, pulling the Valentian Falchion from her chest, the wound closing nearly immediately as her power burned away the fell corruption.

"Yes," Tiki looked at the corrupted Falchion before burning away the fell influence, "We age slowly, we tend to die just the same from non instantly fatal wounds. Your sadistic nature betrays you, beast, or perhaps someone stayed your aim. Regardless, I am energized and ready now to fulfill my birthright. I shall become the new Naga."

"You can try!" Grima unleashed the spell towards Tiki instead, however, once the dark flames cleared, Tiki did not seem to have so much as moved. That, naturally, infuriated Grima.

"Do you know why I have spent so much time sealed away?" Tiki slowly walked between Grima and the exalt Lucina, "It is because I had the potential to surpass all dragons before me. So great was my potential, that I was sealed away for fear that I might also degenerate and risk the destruction of humanity. For so long, this power has isolated me. You have forced my hand though. I will unite my power with that of the Naga and realize my fullest potential.

"You, Fell Dragon, at this point may be stronger than my mother," Tiki narrowed her eyes, "But I am stronger than my mother. Lucina," The dragon looked behind her, "Say the words so that you may lay this beast low."

"R-right," Lucina held the Fire Emblem aloft, "Lady Tiki! I bear proof of our covenant! Try me in your fire so that I may become your true champion!"

Tiki stretched out a single arm and Lucina was encased in a green flame. The pain forced her to her knees, her fist barely keeping her from falling flat. It was agonizing, but she had come too far to back down now. Clenching her teeth, the exalt forced herself to her feet. Holding Falchion parallel to her body, she brought it down and tempered her mind and with it, the flames.

"Faced with my flames, your will has proven to burn stronger. My power is yours," Tiki narrowed her eyes, never looking away from Grima, "As is Grima."

"This isn't over!" Grima stepped back, feeling that the intensity of these flames were indeed greater than anything the dragon had previously felt. However, Grima was not without a backup plan as a roar heralded the arrival of its true form.

"It is time we ended this charade. I'll burn you all to ash!" With that declaration, Grima retreated.

"You must follow," Tiki told the exalt, "Put an end to this once and for all."

"As you say," Lucina nodded, Tiki's flames still blazing around her.

"We're coming too," Her sister demanded, the others behind her.

Lucina opened her mouth to turn them down, but Tiki interrupted, "Go. Defend your exalt and put an end to this darkness."

This had the exalt reluctantly agree as Tiki warped them to Grima's back. Task done, she let herself catch her breath as she addressed the travelers, "I am still not fully healed, but I must give Lucina as much strength as I can spare. While my power is indeed greater than my mother's, this Lucina is still weak from years of hardship and famine as well. Grima's forces will try to slay me, or at least distract me. I fear I must ask for your protection until Lucina can finish this."

"You can count on us," Chrom nodded and Tiki smiled.

"You may not be the same, but it is good to see you regardless. Now, prepare yourselves. They're here."

"So, this is where you ran to," The sorcerer from the manor ascended the stairs, "Seems I'm just in time. Master Grima will surely reward me for killing you all."

"You," Chrom narrowed his eyes, "What makes you think this will go any better than the last time we fought?"

"Oh, I'm no match for you. I know that now, and I now know why. See, I went for some backup, and I saw why you looked familiar." Stretching his hands out, he summoned a small hoard of Risen. This time, though, they looked all too familiar. Leading the band was what used to be this world's Chrom.

"I borrowed Master's Elites and realized that you're from another world. Well, I look forward to making Elites of my own out of your corpses!"

"Just try it!" Chrom snarled, "It will take more than soulless corpses to best us!"

The sorcerer smirked, "We shall see, won't we?"

"Well," Chrom looked to his side, "Any genius plans after all the effort to get you back?"

"They can't think for themselves," Robin analyzed the corpse soldiers, "But they'll be even stronger. Well, except maybe yours. If they retain any knowledge of their styles and they happen to match, use it against them. We have the numbers advantage, use it. The 'second generation' can help tip the scales in our favor as well."

"Heh, good to have you back."

"Good to see you too, Chrom."

"If you're done," The Grimleal snarled, "Elites! Hmm?"

He looked back just in time to magically block an ax strike, "What are you doing?"

Lucina gasped seeing the Morgan from the gorge atop her wyvern without her helmet, "What I should have done years ago!"

"Bah!" The man waved his hands and blew her off her wyvern. As she pulled herself up, the outer shell of her ax began to crumble from the strain and revealed a golden blade beneath, but she did not have time to question it.

"I'll deal with her myself. Elites, kill them."

Robin eyed the undead Shepherds, and doing so he saw a face that caused him to pause. However, as he clenched his fist, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Lead the way," Lucina smiled with Morgan behind her, "We're with you. We'll fight as a family."

Robin nodded, "Together then."

Chrom led the charge against his fallen counterpart, his exalted Falchion crashing against the twisted mirror that Grima had forged. Above him, the Risen Sumia tried to replicate her strategy in life, but was headed off by the living Sumia and her daughter.

This freed up Chrom to pull his blade from the stalemate and attempt to get the drop on the corpse. However, they were not called Elites for no reason and the Risen hit Chrom with enough force that had he not blocked the blow, he likely would have had at minimum a few broken bones.

The exalt grimaced as he was pushed back, but he had not come all this way to lose to a corpse. The emotionless eyes watched him as he wiped the sweat from his brow and he brandished Falchion. WIth lightning fast reflexes, he deflected a blow from his opponent and moved in for the rekill.

"Your end has come!"

Leaping into the air, Chrom pulled his blade down with his full might. Cleaving through armor and flesh all the same, Falchion cracked the floor below as black ichor sprayed out and the body crumpled.

"It's over now. You can leave this world to the kids."

Perhaps he was just delirious from such a long battle, but he could have sworn the Risen smiled in his last moments before evaporating. That was impossible though, so he focused on the battle around him. Fortunately, it seemed the battle in the skies was going well. Cynthia, Gerome and Nah helped provide the edge they needed. No matter how strong they were, they were just husks.

Satisfied that they had matters handled, Robin set off to aid his grounded Shepherds.

Robin had immediately engaged with the one Risen that none of the other Shepherds recognized. Her white hair was dead and wiry, but he recognized those twintails.

"I'm sorry," Robin spoke softly, "Too little, too late, I know. You didn't deserve this life, and I promise I'll do what your mother and brother couldn't. I'll end this twisted farce."

Opening his palm, Robin shot off a thoron bolt. It did not hit her. It was not supposed to. It forced her to move to a position where Morgan was able to surround her with fiery explosions meant to restrict her movement. That gave Lucina the opening she needed to cut her tome in half with a quick upward slash before retreating. Robin finished it as he stood before her and braced himself.

"You're finished," Robin spoke calmly as he planted the sword into the corpse. He watched solemnly as the body evaporated. There was more work to do though.

"Why?" The mad Grimleal launched dark tendrils at the alternate Morgan, "Why betray our father like this?"

"That thing is not Robin!" Morgan ducked under one tendril before cutting another with her golden ax, "And Robin is not your father!"

"What have they done to you?" The sorcerer glared.

"I was reminded of my past. My true past," Morgan hefted the ax onto her shoulder with ease, "Remember, Marc! You are not Robin's son, you're his nephew. Grima warped your memories just like mine to make us easier to manipulate."

"Ylissean lies!" Marc shouted as he unleashed a powerful but unfocused wave of dark magic towards the girl.

"Grima used both of us," Morgan glared, "Remember your parents, your mother!"

"No!" Marc lashed out and hit Morgan in the jaw. Morgan stood coldly and wiped the blood from her mouth.

Without another word, Morgan did not give him room to breathe. With both her genetics and magically enhanced strength, there was little the mage could do to contend with her up close. Bruised and battered, Morgan gave him one last chance on his knees.

"Unlike you, I'm no traitor."

"No, I guess not," Morgan narrowed her eyes as he tried to cast and in a moment, she took his head off. It was clean and painless at least. He deserved worse. As far as she was concerned, so did she.

Marc's death heralded the end of the fighting on their end with Grima's death knells sounding out shortly thereafter. It was over. The monster she had served was dead, but it did little to ease the sting of what she had done under Grima's control.

While the exalt Lucina and her warriors were returned safely as triumphing heroes by Tiki, Morgan made to make a quiet exit. She was stopped, however, by the Lucina from the gorge.

"You came," She smiled as the other Morgan walked up and waved.

"It was the least I could do," She responded, ignoring her doppleganger, "After all I did in Grima's grasp, this hardly makes up for it."

"You fought back when it counted. That's a start."

"I don't deserve redemption," She looked away, unwilling to meet Lucina's gaze, but that did not stop the other Morgan from pulling her into a bear hug.

"Daw, can we keep her?"

"I've no objections, but that's her decision."

"I…don't feel like I deserve such a peaceful life."

"I see," Lucina put her hands on the other Morgan's shoulders, "Come with me then."

She did not resist as Lucina guided her over to where the celebration was taking place. The girl tensed up as more eyes fell on her, but Lucina's reaffirming touch kept her from bolting.

"Lucina," She greeted the exalt, "This is Morgan."

"Morgan," The exalt took in her appearance. She was no mage, but the girl reeked of dark magic. Her dark hair and crimson eyes appeared particularly unnatural and she was dressed in Grimleal armor, "One of Grima's troops?"

"Formerly," Lucina corrected even as the girl tensed, "She was tricked and manipulated by Grima, but she fought for us in the final battle."

"How can we be sure that she isn't some opportunistic agent?" Their Gerome glared, but the exalt Lucina put her hand up to silence him. She then looked the girl in her eyes.

"I have heard stories of you. Why would you turn?"

"I…I remembered my true family. A father and mother that loved me," She looked at Robin who much better resembled her loving father, "I could not continue like that. I had to do something…something to atone."

"I believe her," Lucina spoke in her defense, "It's clear what she was made to do weighs heavily on her, and I don't think she should be left alone. She thinks going with us would be too light a sentence, so I would ask you to look after her and let her help rebuild. At least for a time."

It was clear the exalt was skeptical, so Lucina continued, "It is all I ask. Besides, this way you can keep an eye on her. See for yourself her sincerity."

The exalt seemed to mull it over for a few seconds, "Very well. Since you vouched for her. I will let her prove herself, but it will not be easy."

"I would not wish it to be," Morgan bowed. Upon rising, she looked at the striking image of her parents, "Thank you, and…I"m glad you kept yourself."

"So am I," Robin smiled, pulling Lucina close, "You can still come with us if you'd like."

"Thank you, but I need to try and make it up."

"I can understand that," Robin bent down with a hand on her shoulder, "Just remember, when the time comes, to forgive yourself too."

"I…will try."

"That's all I ask."

"Well then," Chrom spoke up, "We've accomplished our missions," He offered a hand to his fellow exalt, "I leave this world in your capable hands, Exalt Lucina."

The exalt swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded, "Thank you. I will not disappoint."

He smiled, "I know."

Back in Ylisstol, they hosted Robin a grand welcome back feast. All the Shepherds came, even those who could not answer Chrom's original summons. It was simultaneously a grand affair and a casual gathering of friends. Just how Chrom liked it.

"Shepherds!" Chrom arose from his seat at the head of the table, "Thank you all for coming, and thanks to those who agreed to help with our little mission. You went above and beyond your duties as I've come to expect. Now, with that said, I think it's only fair that our guest of honor says a few words."

Robin gave Chrom a dirty look as Lucina gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder. With a deep breath, he stood up looking out on his friends. His family. He did not cry often, but even he had a hard time keeping it together in that moment.

"I don't really have the words. I guess I could start with when I first joined, people would sometimes ask if my amnesia bothered me, and to be honest, it kind of did. I wondered what kind of person I was and what I may have lost, but over time, those feelings faded."

He smiled at his wife and daughter, "I ended up finding a family. In some cases literally, but I want you all to know that I consider each of you family. Our bonds are stronger than most blood families I'd dare say. You helped shape me into the man I am today. Someone I hope you can be proud of, because I know I'm certainly proud to know you all.

"To family. To the Shepherds!"

"You know this party is for you, right?" Lucina smiled softly as she joined her husband in leaning against the railing of the balcony, but her smile fell slightly as he kept looking at the castle grounds below, "What's wrong? You've had something on your mind since our battle in the other world."

"You know me well," Robin gave her an appreciative smile, "It was one of the Risen."

"The one with white hair? She was the only one I didn't recognize."

"Yeah, her. Lucina, I have a twin sister."

"What?"

"We fought at Origin Peak. She…well, she hates me quite frankly. Not sure I can blame her. If I had to guess, mother could only save one of us, so she picked the one that was more dangerous to leave in the Grimleal's grasp. She chose me."

"What happened to her?"

Robin looked up to the starry sky, "Against my better judgment, I let her go. She was so full of anger and hate. I knew it was dangerous, but I felt I owed her in a way. I thought she deserved a chance to be free like me, but I am worried about her on her own."

Lucina squeezed his forearm, "Then let's find her. Together."

"I don't want to rip you away from here like that. You deserve a peaceful life."

"And you deserve your sister. Besides, so long as we're together, I don't care where we are."

"Heh," Robin put a hand on hers, "I don't deserve you."

"Funny. I often tell myself the same thing."

A/N: First of all, apparently the story was on account only comments on Ao3. Not sure why, but I fixed it.

Well, it was smaller, but hopefully you enjoyed this sort of epilogue to Butterfly Effect. I considered doing a Sliders esque adventure using other DLCs as they either tried to reach Robin or tried to get back after grabbing him. I am still open to adapting at least some of the scramble DLCs for some more lighthearted moments and a bit of a send off for much of the cast. Let me know if you'd be interested in that and who you'd like to see.

Yes, much. I may not be quite done with this continuity. In what way? Well, have a look.

Long after most of the Shepherds had disbanded and retired for the night, most of the second generation stayed to take in everything that had happened. The mood was so relaxed, even Severa had opened up a bit sitting next to Owain.

"Well," Inigo grinned next to Noire, "I daresay this is the finest batch of heroes you could ask for. How many worlds have we helped save now?"

"Oh, don't get him started," Severa sighed as Owain stood, "Too late."

"My fairest heroes and heroines," Owain reached towards the sky dramatically, "Hear me for-"

"Heroes…"

"W-what was that?" Noire squeaked.

"Heroines…" The voice continued, "Need…help…power...weak. Great tree…talk…there. Please hurry."

Once it stopped, Nah swallowed, "That was weird."

"What should we do?" Cynthia looked around, "Should we tell Lucy?"

"And bother her after everything she's been through?" Brady scoffed, "For all we know the stress is gettin' to us."

"Great tree," Laurent rubbed his chin, "The Mila Tree perhaps?"

"A logical guess," Gerome grunted.

"Well," Inigo shrugged, "Not like we got much on our plates now."

"And heroes always answer the call to action!"

Severa was a bit less enthused as she buried her head in her hands, "What are we getting ourselves into?"