Looking back, I made a lot of little pronoun errors and little inconsistencies in the last battle of Chapter 15, so sorry about that.

I should also warn you that this chapter has a lot of heavy stuff. Like, REALLY HEAVY. I know you guys are probably expecting that given that this chapter covers the endgame (FINALLY!), but it's even MORE than that. Just get your tissues ready, okay?

Stupid disclaimer aside, enjoy this long, long chapter, and leave a review to let me know what you thought of it!

Chapter 16: The Dragons' Mark

The Shepherds found themselves on the back of the dragon, a reddish gas emanating from the scales they stood on. Chrom turned to face the rest of the group. "Okay, Shepherds…" Chrom took deep breaths, still tired from the fight up the mountain, "The Exalted Falchions will put Grima to sleep for thousands of years. However, if that fails... if all three Falchions are lost… Robin can kill Grima, permanently. But if Robin does that, he will die with Grima, so I'd rather avoid that." The group nodded in understanding.

Robin, however, was pulled aside in the back of the group by Kjelle. "You're going to kill Grima." The tactician didn't know how to reply. "I'm not asking if you will or not. I can just tell." The Great Knight patted Robin on the back. "It's the right decision. I would do the same thing. Chrom and Lucina won't be happy, of course, but that won't stop you." Robin nodded, wondering how many of the other Shepherds knew about his intent.

"Your determination is honestly rather admirable, Chrom. Not that it will save you from me, of course, but I'm just saying." Robin turned around, along with the other Shepherds, to see a figure with his own cloak looking back at him. He was, however, clearly not the same. His body emanated the same dark smoke as the dragon, and his skin was paler and worn. The worst thing, however, was his eyes.

Shining with hues of purple and red, his eyes were filled with malice. He stood tall, slowly walking towards them from the dragon's neck. His cloak billowed in the wind, tattered, torn, and covered in blood and grime. The mark of the dragon was on his cheek. Chrom and Lucina pushed towards Robin's side, as did Phila and, unbeknownst to the other Shepherds, Kellam.

"Perhaps that's why I joined you. Your… determination. Your tenacity. Your willful ignorance of all sensible odds." The sinister figure summoned a blue fire into his hands, tossing it back and forth with himself. "But look at what I have gained, Robin! Look at my power, my reach, my influence! I am the ultimate tactical nightmare! Nothing can defeat me!"

"And what has your power gotten you?" Robin chuckled at his evil doppelganger. "You have no-one by your side. Your army is a small number of worshippers and a whole lot of dead. You'll rule over a graveyard."

"When this world falls, I'll just find another!" Grima held his arms out to the side, cackling as Grimleal began arriving on the Fell Dragon's back. "If I can travel here, then I can conquer every world in the Outrealm Gate!" Grima took a few steps forward, now only a few yards away from Robin. "Although I will say, I don't think I will enjoy conquering anything quite like I enjoyed this world and my own. You should have killed Chrom when you had the chance, because it's immensely satisfying. Pushing a Thoron bolt through his heart as he gasps for life, eyes wide in alarm and dismay…" Grima seemed wistfully sentimental at the thought of murdering the Ylissean royal. "Really, there's nothing like murdering Chrom in any realm."

Grimleal fliers, both Pegasi and wyverns, began to land on the Fell Dragon's back, slowly beginning to surround the Shepherds. Many of them already looked tired, and a few had even sustained wounds. Grima's humanoid form clapped twice. "Enough reminiscing, where were we, uh… oh yes! Props to you for leaving your allies to die down below! I thought you were still trying to keep everyone alive, but you were perfectly willing to damn five people to their deaths! Excellent!" The dragon roared, vibrations rattling across his colossal back. "As for ruling over a graveyard, well…" Robin's twin snapped his fingers and a bird-like screech echoed through the air. The Shepherds grimaced as a kinshi landed on the dragon's back, veins pulsing brightly. Phila shifted uneasily as her son looked over the bird's head.

The bright and regal armor of his time as a Cavalier was gone. His armor was black and red, with an animal ribcage on his shoulder-guard. Blood, none of it his, covered his chest, while the orange accents remained on his leg guards. His right arm had no sleeve covering it, baring the purple mark of the Fell Dragon out for the Shepherds to see. He held a long lance with what looked like a sword blade at the end. The end of a very dark bow could be seen from beneath a tattered black cape. His eyes were red, but not warm- they were cold, almost lifeless. His black hair was unkempt, the blue streak barely visible. He slid off the side of the kinshi, nuzzling its chin as he twirled his weapon. "I knew you would come here. My warning would never be enough." He slid his hand closer to the blade and picked his teeth with it.

"Kenshin, please stop this madness! You're stronger than this!" Kellam took a step towards his son, only for a blade to nearly hit him in a reckless swing.

"It does not matter what I do. Either you'll die here, or you'll die there. At least this way, you won't all have small children orphaned!" Grima's servant stepped back, leaning on his kinshi. "You have felt his power! You can see it all around you! You left four of your greatest warriors to cover your transport- they will all die! Your power is finite! Grima has no limits!"

"I swear, Grima, if I have to carve your mark out of my son's arm, I will do it!" Phila was clearly losing her patience.

"Chrom…" Flavia noticed the number of soldiers around them growing larger and larger. "We can't afford to chatter any longer! It's time to get going!" Basilio twirled his axe and lowered into a fighting stance.

"Oh, that axe won't do you any good. In fact, none of your weapons will!" Grima snapped his fingers, and the dragon began to vibrate violently. Spikes began to protrude from the Fell Dragon's scales, striking the Shepherds repeatedly. A few flew upwards, only to be struck by lightning magic. Grima seemed to take particular enjoyment in watching Phila writhe in agony. His giddy laughter boomed across his draconic back, while the dragon's roar boomed throughout the land. Kenshin sat atop his kinshi, motionless.

Lucina would be asked later what it felt like- the combination of piercing and electrocuting. She knew no effective words to describe it. Flesh, already writhing, ripping apart, burning and tearing and screaming… she had felt each before, but never like this. She held as strong as she could, even as she heard her husband and daughter screaming in agony, but she knew she could not hold out forever.

Grima rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers once more. The magic suddenly stopped, the spikes reverting into the back of the Fell Dragon. The Shepherds collapsed, breathing hard, all still alive, but barely. Chrom leaned on his Falchion, short of breath.

"Wh-what... What manner of magic..." Chrom tried to stand, knees faltering, blue armor stained purple with blood. "Magic?" Basilio clutched at his stomach as Flavia tried to help him up. "That was a damned catastrophe…"

"It better not all be done 'ere… I ain't letting all our fightin' be fer nuthin…" Donnel seized his Brave Sword and dragged his body towards Olivia with one hand.

"This darkness…" Lucina could barely move. "The future is upon us!" She vomited onto Robin's shoulder as she stood. He didn't particularly care. His piercing gaze was focused on his twin, a gaze of determination and fury.

"And so it ends, Robin!" Grima cackled in delight. "You and your humanity. I have faith in my friends! Our bonds are stronger than a fucking dragon! See how frail these human bonds of yours are? How short lived? How pointless? You have all thrown your lives away, and the result is the same!"

"We're not dead yet!" Robin grunted four words as Lucina lifted him to his feet, stumbling as he regained some balance. His twin rolled his eyes, groaning and arching his back. "Details, details… But yes, I suppose it's time I got you all off my back, so to speak—permanently." The Fell Dragon charged up another attack. Robin began stumbling towards his nemesis. His shambling was barely recognizable, but his intent was clear. But Kenshin's mount lunged as he struck the tactician to the ground with the butt of his Naginata, then drew an arrow and aimed his bow for his uncle's head. Grima waved his servant off and stepped towards Robin, hands pressed together. "Now, you don't want this, do you? You do have a choice, you know. It doesn't have to be this way. You can still save all your friends..." Lucina growled in anger at this, stumbling after the two of them. Chrom followed close behind. "Become one with me, and we shall spare their lives. ...Refuse," Kenshin notched three arrows on his bow, "And I think you can guess the result. Chrom will die, your daughter will die, and you will know the suffering of losing your one true love..." He summoned a spike from his dragon form's back, stopping just before Lucina's neck, "Just like I did."

Lissa knew exactly what Grima was up to, even from far away. "It's a trap, Robin! He's lying! Don't even THINK about it!" Kenshin slowly turned his bow to face Lissa, ready to pierce her stomach with three arrows. "Don't make this more difficult than it has to be, Duchess."

"I will have your answer! Will you save these worms? Will you JOIN ME and become a GOD?" Thunder rumbled as Grima shouted madly, but Robin merely chuckled. It quickly developed into full-out laughter, floating eerily through the sky.

"Do you think me a fool? You'll kill them anyway. I know you better than I know myself."

"You can't know me better than yourself! I AM yourself!" Grima punched his doppelganger in the stomach, bringing him to his knees. "Well, of COURSE I would kill them anyway. I only thought you might want to leave your comrades with a heroic, selfless image before we became one." Grima sighed, an obnoxious display of fake sympathy. "But so be it. Leave them with the final memory that you were their undoing!" Grima grabbed both sides of Robin's head as red and purple lights circled around them. Unbeknownst to Grima, Donnel pulled himself up and swung his sword at the Fell Dragon's human form, but the two were gone before the swing impacted. Donnel turned just in time to block Kenshin's Naginata, and being weakened, he was far overmatched.

It was dark. Dark as far as the eye could see. Robin was standing on something, but he could see no floor or ceiling or corners, though he COULD see himself- and the grinning menace standing before him.

"Where am I?"

"Where your god wills you to be." Grima giggled madly as he began walking away. "Now if you will excuse me... I have some fleas on my back to take care of."

"No… I won't let you!" Robin rushed forward and seized Grima's cloak.

"You still DARE resist ME?! Then perhaps I should end you first!" The fell god impaled Ylisse's Grandmaster with a blade identical to his own. He vanished into the darkness as Robin collapsed, vision blurring, utterly defeated.

"I have...no final strategy... No cards left to play... He has won…"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"They're gone… All of them…"

"Who's gone? Slow the hell down!"

"Oh gods… I don't know what…"

"One thing at a time! Who's gone?"

"Chrom, Robin, Lucina, my parents, your parents… everyone…"

"WHAT? They're not even here! They went through the Outrealm gate for the holidays!"

"Yes… to their deaths… I watched them die… their life fade from their eyes…"

"Oh gods… How did-"

"I don't know…"

"Who did it? Who? We have to take them down! And… find Dad's body… oh gods, I'm gonna throw up…"

"There's too many of them… A whole army, tens of thousands of them... And that's just what I saw. They'll follow us here before too long."

"Well, how do we beat them?"

"Beat them? Haha… we can't. We need to run."

"RUN?!"

"Take all our friends and run. As many as we can bring, and leave this world. If we keep jumping between realms, they won't find us."

"How? They won't come with us. You might convince Bradley and Yorre, and maybe Morgan, since she's the youngest, but what about the others? Oak and Kelly will want to stay and fight, and Lucia and Cyndie won't leave the kingdom."

"Then we leave them."

"LEAVE THEM?!"

"You're the most important one. If I can save you, I still have a reason to exist. Nothing else matters."

"I… you can't… my parents… my sister…"

"We can't save them. Throwing our lives away at an unbeatable enemy does us no good. We should tell everyone else and give them a chance to come. After that…"

"I… Okay… I'll go with you."

"Good. Now come on, we're running out of time."

"—ve to —ack!"

Even as his being was fading, he heard a voice. He thought it was his mind playing tricks on him at first, but then it continued.

"Yo— ha— fi— back! —ghting!" Robin rolled onto his side, desperately trying to focus on the voice.

"Fight ba—! —ave to keep —ing! Fight back, Robin! You swore to do so, remember? Now keep your damn word!" Chrom's voice echoed through the darkness, proud, bold, and defiant.

"Chrom… Chrom! I can hear you!" Robin began to muster what strength he had left, desperately clawing to his feet. Grima's form reappeared, growling in fury, trying to hold him down.

"No! You are mine now! The dragon's grip cannot be broken!" He tried as much as he could, but he could not hold Robin down. Grima punched and scratched and slashed, but still Robin rose, hearing the voices around him. His friends, his family, all calling out to him to return.

"Come back to us, Robin!"

"I know it would take more than this to stop you, sir!"

"You gonna let that ugly snake get the last hiss? Come on!"

"History is watching, Robin! The bards would sing of your triumph!"

"On your feet, soldier! Don't make ol' Teach give ya a lecture!"

"Wake up, Robin! Only I get to oversleep!"

"Arise from your hypnopompic state! You are sorely needed here!"

"Hello? Can you hear me? I need you! Kenshin needs you!"

"If I can be saved, so can you! And so can my son- but only if you fight back!"

"Robin, remember all the days we spent together!"

"Answer, Robin. You must answer."

"Please, Robin! You're too important to us!"

"Get up right this instant, or suffer a swift smack of my parasol!"

"Do not rob the taguel of one of our last true champions!"

"Up and at 'em, Robin! One dragon oughta be a piece of cake!"

"We're all right here by your side! You can do it!"

"Gregor will snap you out of it! Gregor does with the YELLING!"

"I thought I was your favorite dragon! Forget about Grima!"

"You ARE the Shepherds! The gods gave you to us, and I do not believe they wish you taken away!"

"Get up, Robin! No one goes down without my say so... and certainly not you…"

"Please, Robin! I still haven't shown you my new dance!"

"Minerva wants you back, and so do I!"

"I know the darkness is warm and delicious... But too much of a good thing is just bad!"

"Pull it together, lad! Death is overrated, believe me!"

"Basilio's right! You don't bow to dragons. You break 'em!"

"I need ya to come on back, y'hear?!"

"Robin, you can't close up shop on us now! We still need you!"

"Heed not the dark's eerie call, friend! Summon forth the strength inside you!"

"I can think of nothing worse than dying alone. ...No, seriously. I can't."

"Come on, bud! No givin' up now!"

"This is a test, and by the gods, you're gonna pass it!"

"Come on! You can do this! You need to fight with us- with my sister!"

"If you don't come back, I'm never going to forgive you!"

"We lost to the fell dragon once. Do not grant fate a second victory!"

"You're going to be okay, right? ...I need you to keep me safe."

"It is inconceivable that our rollicking adventures might end at this juncture! Do not let the current circumstances persist!"

"BLOOD AND THUNDERRRRR!... R-return to us! Now!"

"You'll return. I know you will."

"You are not Grima, nor is he you. Remember that, Robin!"

The amnesiac rose to his feet on the words of his friends, while Grima tried to stop him, writhing in fury. "Stop this at once! SILENCE those wretched voices! You are all powerless! Frail! Insignificant! You are NOOOTHING!"

But then he heard them. The last two voices. The two voices he was happiest to hear, and the ones that would prove to be all he needed.

"Father! You mean everything to me! I can't lose you again! I can't lose anyone ever again!"

"My love, you have fought through hell and high water, for me, for my father, and for the world. We need only beat one more foe. I will stand by your side, and we will bring this demon down."

Robin felt new power surging through him. His wounds were gone, the stab vanished. His burns were healed, and he felt new power surging through him. He reached up into the void and tore through it. "I'm coming! Chrom! Everyone! I'm coming!"

Grima let out an ear-splitting roar as a massive scale broke off of his back and Robin emerged from the space it had occupied. The Shepherds had clearly recovered as well, as they were in full fighting shape, or even stronger. Blue and green light shone all around them, accumulating at the dragonstone in Tiki's hand. Just as it all united, a voice spoke forth from the stone.

"Children of man, take my power! Grima is now trapped in his humanoid form! Rise now, and face the Fell Dragon!" Chrom drew Falchion and hoisted it high. Its orange glow broke through the air and displayed the power of the Divine Dragon. Robin drew a Killing Edge and a Bolganone tome, while the Book of Naga remained in his coat. "Well Robin, this is it. This is what we've been fighting towards for as long as we've known each other." The Exalt, even facing these odds, couldn't help but smile. "Soon we can go home, sleep well and eat good food, and finally live somewhat normal lives."

"As normal a life as a king and a tactician can possibly live." Robin chuckled too. "Now come on. Let's get going." With a yell, Chrom triggered the advance, and the Shepherds got moving.

"Grimleal! HEAR ME! KILL THEM! KILL ALL OF THEM!" The Grimleal began swarming in on the Shepherds, desperate to save their deity. Grima's human form fell back to the dragon's neck, then turned to face Kenshin, who had already drawn his Naginata and was awaiting orders.

"Keep your uncle alive; I still need to unite with him. I will handle Chrom and his whore daughter. Kill the rest- especially that boy wielding Mystletainn. He has no right to wield power that should be mine." Kenshin nodded. Then he spurred his Kinshi into the fight.

Robin sidestepped to avoid the first bolt of a Sorcerer's Thoron tome, sending the sorcerer into a plume of fire shortly after. The grandmaster ducked under a berserker's swing, slashing his neck with a Killing Edge and using his body as a shield from multiple arrows and wind spells. When he dropped the body, A sword-master was about to strike him down, but Lissa sprung up, axe in hand, and lopped the assailant's hand off. Gaius jumped past her, deflecting an arrow that would have hit her, then drawing his own bow and shooting down two snipers with quick shots.

Dark Fliers shot spells from the air at the Shepherds, only for Tharja to absorb them all with dark energy. Vaike swung recklessly into the fray, slashing away at the Sages nearby, while Stahl threw some javelins at the fliers above them. Maribelle rode beside him as Stahl drew his sword, imbuing it with lighting as they stormed into the fray.

Virion placed five arrows on a silver bow's string, and as two Paladins got close, he fired, putting two arrows in one rider and three in the other's horse. As the second paladin fell from his horse, Minerva grabbed the rider and tossed him off the dragon's back, taking down a warrior as he went. Cherche surged her mount forward, covered by her husband's bow-fire as she buried an axe in an enemy Wyvern. Seizing another axe from the straps on her saddle, Cherche sliced a dark flier's lance in half, then knocked the rider off her Pegasus with a well-placed kick. The falling rider fell into the jaws of Yarne, who tossed the now-corpse hastily towards a Bow knight. Two paladins flanked the Taguel, readying lances on either side. Yarne turned sideways and kicked down one horse with his hind legs, but the other managed to bury his lance in the taguel's shoulder. Before Yarne could deal with the other Paladin, Cynthia brought her Pegasus down low, pulled the lance out, and heaved it over the other side, skewering the Taguel's assailant. With a yell, she pulled the lance out, and she and Yarne pushed onward.

As the pair pushed further towards the dragon's neck, where Grima stood, they found themselves by Lon'qu and Panne. The Dread Fighter wielded Tyrfing with power, slashing through an enemy Hero's shield, cutting open his chest before ducking under a Thoron bolt and skewering the Sage who shot it off at him. Holding the hilt of his sword with his right hand, Lon'qu pushed the Sage's body off his sword as a Bow Knight charged, arrow aimed for the Dread Fighter's head, but Panne punched him clean off the dragon before he could release his shot. Turning to face the Dragon's neck, she waited for Lon'qu to climb onto her head, then pushed him up as high as she could. The Dread Fighter grabbed onto a Griffon's harness, pulling himself up behind the rider. He punched the rider in the back of her head, grabbed her steel axe, and pushed her off the side of the Griffon.

Ricken spurred his horse forward, a small but fearsome warrior clad in black armor. He readied a steel sword and charged towards a berserker, but a rider's body fell on his head before Ricken got there. Changing plans, Ricken sheathed his sword, pulled out Forseti and shot off the powerful wind spell, sending three Grimleal warriors flying off the Dragon's back and sending two Fliers off of their mounts, who were then quickly dealt with by blasts from Nowi. The Manakete soared just above Ricken's horse, shooting blasts at Paladins attempting to outflank him. She surged upward for a moment to take down a wyvern, but her daughter had already taken the wyvern's tail in her teeth and dragged it down to Grima's back. The rider rolled off and readied his axe for an attack on the Manakete, but Brady warped her away from the rider with staff magic before the wyvern lord could catch her. Having left his Griffon at the camp, he opted to help in healing his allies, wielding a staff and axe. Brady blocked a Grimleal Hero's sword with his staff, then quickly brought his axe around, sticking it in the Hero's side.

He noticed Gerome's wyvern getting hit by an arrow overhead, so he cast a Physic spell to heal her. Reinvigorated, Gerome directed Minerva downward, dive-bombing a trio of sorcerers. He caught one in the torso with his axe and let Minerva grab another in her claws. He left the third to Kjelle, whose heavily armored horse trampled over the Grimleal caster. She took a lance in one hand and an axe in the other, charging into a line of Paladins. The five paladins were faster, but her armor and weapons were superior, as she just let steel lances glance off of her, slicing one Paladin's stomach and knocking another from her mount. The Great Knight veered her mount left to avoid a sword slash as Laurent took her assailant down with Arc-fire, then reached out with her lance to clothesline another Paladin, letting a well-placed arrow from Noire eliminate the fifth.

Sully reared her arm back and threw her lance as hard as he could, skewering two parallel bow knights next to her. Reaching out with her left hand, she grabbed the lance of the Paladin that Noire had just shot and pointed it down, killing a berserker that had been attacking Gregor. Laughing in satisfaction, Gregor swung Helswath around himself quickly, forcing enemies to back away- right into Tiki's open dragon jaws. She threw them around, blasting a few sword-masters and forcing one to back away, only to be taken down by Anna, who sliced a sword-master's neck and healed Severa, who had a bad wound from a lance hit. Sighing in relief, she rode past Owain, providing a distraction while his sword hand worked its magic.

Mystletainn moved with surprising speed in Owain's two-handed grip. Sword held above his shoulder and pointed forward, the "scion of legend" charged forward, sliding under a berserker's axe and impaling him with his mighty sword. He jumped over a low swing from a steel sword, then elbowed its wielder as he withdrew Mystletainn. He swung it around sideways to block a downward slash from a Brave Sword, then rotated upward to block a diagonal slash from the same sword-master. He pressed the blade forwards, pushing the sword-master down, the blade slowly getting closer to his throat. Panicking, the Grimleal sword-master kicked Owain in his right knee. Owain hobbled for a few seconds due to the wounds remaining on his right leg, but when the sword-master attempted a counterattack, he parried it with ease and swung Mystletainn as hard as he could, decapitating his Grimleal enemy.

"Your skill is impressive, as is the blade conveying it." Owain turned over his left shoulder to see Kenshin hovering near him, his kinshi fluttering its wings just enough to stay off the dragon's back. "I will take it from you, and its power will belong to the Fell Dragon."

"Kenshin, I'm sorry." Lissa's son pleaded with Phila's. "We should have tried to understand you better. If we had just let you be comfortable with us, we might have been able to help you face Grima's power, just like Robin did."

"Begging will not save you, Owain." Kenshin twirled his Naginata quickly, creating a blur of silver and red. "You wanted to see my ability in combat. Now you will. In fact, it will be the last thing you will ever see."

"Gods, you're bland." Severa rolled her eyes and rode up alongside Owain, bow drawn back with five arrows notched. "I sure hope you're more interesting when we get Grima's slick purple jizz off your arm. I don't know how Morgan withstood you."

"She didn't. Nor did your Scion. I thought maybe you would. You, the one person I thought I could rely on. But no, you turned your back on me, just like all the others. At least now you'll die quickly."

"Oh, forget it. Come on, Owain." And at that, she fired her five arrows, while Owain began his charge.

Kenshin's mount quickly surged upwards, passing over the five arrows. Pushing his kinshi down, the Grimleal Shepherd stabbed downward, diving towards the Bow Knight below. She spurred her horse forward, just barely passing under the kinshi's feet. Validar's grandson quickly whipped his naginata upwards, deflecting a slash from Mystletainn while his kinshi shot upwards once more to avoid arrow fire from Severa. The kinshi spiraled diagonally away from the two of them while Kenshin drew his bow and began firing down on the two young warriors. One arrow hit the front left leg of Severa's horse, making it buck her off in pain. She quickly drew her sword from its scabbard, only to look up and see Kenshin's naginata aimed for her neck. Owain jumped in front of her, parrying the naginata down, but the kinshi rider struck Owain under the chin with the butt of his naginata. Kenshin swung it back to the blade side and was about to kill the self-declared scion when the butt of a throwing axe hit him in the side, knocking him off his bird. The servant of Grima rose to see his kinshi fly away, revealing Kellam and Phila standing where the kinshi was. Kenshin let out a long, sad sigh.

"Why do I have to kill you? Why couldn't Grima do it and spare me the agony?" His question yielded no response from them. "Alright. Let's get on with it." Holding his naginata in his right hand with the blade pointing downward, Kenshin stood on his right leg, his left foot resting on his knee. He gestured for them to attack with his left. Phila obliged.

"No… we can't leave… Lucia won't come with us."

"No, she will not. But you can."

"What, are you saying we should leave her behind?"

"We already asked her. She wants to take responsibility and rule Ylisse."

"We warned her that she'd be killed- or worse. But you know her. And now she has Lucina's Falchion, so she thinks she's a big hero. Doesn't even know how to wield the thing. But since Lucina left it behind, there's nothing we can do."

"I agree with Morgan. If one of us stays, we all stay."

"We need to fight! They'll pay for this- whoever they are!"

"WE CAN'T! Don't you get it? Our parents were the best fighting force this land had ever seen- and they DIED! We're a bunch of teenagers with no battlefield experience!"

"So, what? We just run? Just condemn everyone here in Ylisse to death? And what about Plegia, Ferox, Rosanne and Valm?"

"There's a thousand other versions of Ylisse in the Outrealms. We can jump between them as necessary."

"I t-think K-Kenshin is right. If the Shepherds of Ylisse could not win that fight, how could we possibly stand a chance?"

"WHO CARES if the odds are against us?! We can't just leave Lucia here to die!"

"If she does not want to be saved, then we cannot save her."

"Of course, you'd say that."

"What is that supposed to mean, Yorre?"

"You're always like this. Your first choice is always to run and hide. That's all you ever did, and that's exactly what you're doing now. You're like my brother. You inherited your father's stealth, but you sure didn't inherit his fucking courage."

"Yorre, stop!"

"No, let the rabbit speak. I'd love to hear the survival opinion of one of the three taguel remaining in this realm."

"You both need to calm down! Our parents are DEAD and you're bickering like a coop full of chickens!"

"Indeed. We've wasted enough time. I'm not waiting around to watch you die. Come on, Morgan, we're going. If any of you don't want to be killed or worse, you'll come with us."

"I'm not going with you! I'm staying with Lucia! I can't leave my cousin!"

"I'm your cousin too, Morgan. You must come with us. It could be our only chance at stopping all of this."

"We're not letting you take her!"

"Let me? No. Stop me? Also a no."

"What the- ugh… ack…"

"W-what is this… smoke…"

"Oh n-no… sleeping gas… Laurent told me about this…"

"No! Let go of me! Stop!"

"Kenshin, what the hell are you doing?!"

"Morgan may be our only chance of stopping all of this!"

"So you're KIDNAPPING HER?!"

"We don't have a choice! Now come on!"

"Kenshin, I… goodbye everyone, I'm so sorry… I wish it didn't have to be like this… oh gods, please stay safe, if you can…"

"Severa! Are you coming or not?!"

Sumia's lance burst through the chest of a Grimleal warrior as his axe slid from the Falchion. Chrom pushed the warrior out of his way and sliced a sniper's bow in half, decapitating him with a powerful swing. He turned to his right to see a berserker charging at him, only to fall dead by the Falchion in Lucina's hands. The Exalt nodded to his daughter as they turned towards the Dragon's head- stopping as they noticed Robin and Morgan stood still.

Standing before them was the man he knew as his friend, with his shining white hair, his tattered old cloak and his relaxed posture. He held a bronze sword in one hand and a fire tome in the other- just as he had when Chrom first saw his face. But Chrom knew that this was not the kind-hearted, loveable friend he knew. His sneering smile was unmistakable, and the eyes had not changed from before. Slowly, Chrom raised Falchion in his right hand, pointing the blade at his enemy.

"I come to end you, Grima!"

"Arrogant fool…" the Fell dragon's human form rolled its shoulders. "I AM THE END!" The five Shepherds surrounding Grima heard the dragon roar as spikes burst out of the Dragon's back towards them. Chrom, Robin, Lucina and Morgan jumped out of the way, while Sumia's Pegasus burst into the air.

"Hear my words, Awakener!" Naga's voice echoed through the thin air. "Grima's servants will beset you to no end. Dispatch him as soon as you are able! Once the fell one is weakened, a choice will await you... If Chrom lets fall the final blow, Grima shall survive but return to his slumber..."

"So be it." Chrom took two strides and crossed his blade with Grima's. He moved backwards quickly, circling around Chrom's assault. Robin's twin shot a Fire spell at Sumia, but Morgan blew the fire away with Arc-wind. Grima turned back to fight Chrom, unable to avoid a blow from Sumia's lance.

"If you strike in Chrom's stead, both your life and Grima's are forever over. Only in this way may the fell dragon be destroyed for good and all." Robin grimaced. He knew what he had to do.

"The final decision...is yours."

"Go ahead, Sumia! Hit me! Hit me all you damn want! You can do nothing to me!" A bow of dark energy formed in Grima's hand. He drew it back and fired a dark bolt into Sumia's Pegasus. It fell onto the Dragon's back as Sumia hit the ground hard. She started to get to her feet as her Pegasus whined in pain. She was about to go to her mount when Lissa rushed to the beast's side, with Gaius tailing just behind.

"I'll help her! Gaius will cover us! Now go, Sumia!" She nodded, stumbling to her feet. Then she picked up her lance and charged back towards the fight.

"Do you know what it's like, Chrom?!" The Fell Dragon transformed the bow he had been holding back into a sword and swung downwards, while Chrom caught his swing with the Falchion. "To watch the person closest to you die in your arms, calling your name, and no matter how tightly you hold their hand, they still let go?!" He released the blade with his left hand and shot off a blast of dark magic, sending Morgan careening into her father. He formed another blade in his hand to block Lucina's parallel blade. "YOU put me through that suffering! YOU made me this way!" He jumped backwards, pursued by Chrom and Lucina.

"He didn't MAKE you kill him! He never MADE you slaughter innocents and turn Ylisse into a wasteland!" Lucina slashed clean through the sword in Grima's left hand, then grazed his stomach with Falchion. The Dragon rumbled and roared in agony, shaking all who stood on its back. "I lost to you once, monster. I shall not lose again! Die now, that our future can live!"

Robin's twin laughed, and so did the Dragon, a deep cackling echoing across the sky. "You cannot kill… what is already dead…" Chrom turned suddenly to see Robin to his left and Morgan to his right. Sumia stood by Lucina with Gungnir in her hand, while her daughter readied Falchion in a fighting stance.

"I'm sorry, Robin." The tactician turned to face his friend, only to realize Chrom was not addressing him. "I don't know what I was like in your world, but I should have tried harder to save her. It will not save you from what's about to happen, but if I had been able to save Say'ri-"

"Keep her name… OUT OF YOUR MOUTH-"

"-I would have. You were my friend, and I failed you. But you've slid too far into darkness for us to save you. Goodbye, Robin. No matter how this battle will end."

"It will end with you DEAD!" The dragon's head reared up and shot fireballs into the air, while spikes surged out towards the five warriors across the dragon's back. "No, I have to disagree with, well… me." Robin drew a sword and the Book of Naga as they entered one more fight.

"There it is. Come on."

"I'm coming as fast as I can!"

"Please, Kenshin, let me go. I won't try to stop you, I promise, but… I don't want to go."

"You have to, Morgan. It's our only chance."

"Where do you think you're going, Kenshin?"

"Yorre, come with us through the portal or get out of our way."

"Behind us!"

"Nice trick back in Ylisstol. You may have slowed us down, but you were never going to outrun us."

"Stay right where you are, Kelly!"

"Or what? You'll kill Morgan? You wouldn't do that. There are some lines even you won't cross."

"Don't even think about it, Oak. I see you over there."

"Kenshin, we have to try and fight them! We don't have a choice! We can't just leave! We owe it to our parents! I owe it to my sisters!"

"THEY ARE NOT YOUR SISTERS!"

"Wait, what do you mean, Kenshin?"

"Cynthia's not your goddamned sister, she's YOU! …Oh, don't tell me you guys didn't figure that one out…"

"What on earth are you talking about?"

"None of you have siblings except Cyndie! They came from the future- a future where our parents were all slaughtered by Grima! Did it never occur to you that you tend to look extremely similar? Most of them just changed your names slightly!"

"Wait, Kenshin, what do you mean?"

"They came back in time to save our parents from certain death, and they succeeded. Morgan and I are the only ones who didn't, because Phila and Robin died before having children."

"That is not relevant at all! What's relevant is the fact that kidnapping is a criminal offense. You need to face Exalt Lucia's judgement."

"Oh, you've already gone and given her the title, have you?"

"I'm next in line, after all."

"…"

"Lucia."

"If you don't want your brain to share head space with an arrow, let go of Morgan. Don't do anything stupid, Kenshin."

"And let you destroy the only chance we have at preventing this from happening? Heh. Not a chance."

"You can save it by yourselves, Kenshin! Just let me go and you can leave!"

"You want us to fail! You want to stop us from saving them, just so you can rule Ylisse!"

"I am NOT my grandfather, Kenshin! I was born to be Exalt of Ylisse! Don't blame me because you were born to a family of nobodies!"

"…Lucia… You might want-"

"MY FATHER WAS NOT NOBODY! HYAH!"

Before he even knew what he was doing, it was done.

Her blue eyes grew wide in shock, slowly shifting downward to see a steel sword piercing her torso. Her blue tunic was already growing red. The new exalt tried to speak, but found herself choking, unable to form a word. She looked up again to see several young faces looking on in shell-shocked stupor, as well as her cousin processing the fact that he had murdered his own kin before he had even turned seventeen. She reached out her right hand to hold onto Kenshin's shoulder, but found it was out of reach as she slowly slid off the blade towards the ground. As Chrom and Sumia's daughter succumbed to death, she managed to form a legible phrase.

"I-I-I'mm-m-m s-sor-r-ry… I di- dn't me-ean it…" Her sister's sword slid out of its scabbard at her side as she went to rest in a pool of blood- the last remnant of her family's legacy.

Chrom's beloved daughter was dead at her cousin's hand. Kenshin's right hand began to shake, faster and faster with every passing second. He closed his eyes, not hearing Oak screaming behind him, charging towards him with Missiletainn prepared to land a killing blow. His movement was not of his own control as he reached down, seized the Falchion from his cousin's corpse, and swung it around to meet Missiletainn in the air. He kicked Oak in the knee and hit him in the head with the flat side of the Falchion, knocking him out cold. As Kelly and Yorre drew close, Kenshin grabbed Morgan by the arm and pulled her over, placing her hand on the Falchion and drawing it up to her throat. The Falchion grew sharp and glowed orange as Kelly and Yorre came to a halt.

Tears covered Morgan's face, but only about a third of them were hers. Kenshin's eyes were red as he slowly moved towards the Outrealm Gate. Cyndie was openly sobbing, while Lento was holding an axe ready, looking for an opening to attack. Bradley held an Arc-Thunder tome in his hand. Naya was trembling with a bow in her hand, but no arrow notched. Gerald stood in front of the Outrealm gate, lance in hand. Severa began to approach the Exalt-Killer as he stopped in front of Gerald. It started as a barely legible growl, but slowly developed into a defiant demand.

"Get… out… of my way." Kenshin's bloodshot eyes were filled with a mixture of sorrow and rage as he staggered towards the Gate with Morgan. Gerald did not move an inch. Cherche's son held his lance high and pointed it at his former friend.

"Not until you PAY for killing Lucia!" Gerald lunged forward, sticking his lance through the Falchion's circular gap, but Kenshin merely jerked the Falchion to the left, ripping the lance from Gerald's grasp and seizing it in his right hand.

"I'm sorry, I'm SORRY!" Kenshin screamed over and over as he spun the lance around, slicing Naya's bow in half before her developing rage allowed her to shoot him. Yorre assumed his Taguel form and charged at Kenshin, nearly killing Morgan in the process of trying to hit the nimble warrior.

"YOU KILLED MY SISTER!" Cyndie's silver sword sliced just right of Kenshin's head, trimming his long hair. She slashed away in rage, tearing Morgan's cloak as she tried to slay the unwilling murderer. She lunged towards his throat with a forward thrust, but Kenshin slipped under it and struck her in the head with the butt of his lance. Horrified, he staggered backwards, almost falling and letting go of Morgan before seeing Yorre approaching once again and instinctively plunging his lance into the Taguel's side.

Yorre reverted to human form and fell to the ground as Morgan screamed, begging for it all to stop, completely unheard. Still shaken and horrified, Kenshin staggered back towards the Gate, grabbing Cyndie's sword as he went. He ducked under an Arc-thunder from Bradley, then ran under an axe swing from Lento as he dragged Morgan ever closer.

He had almost made it to the Outrealm Gate when he was waylaid by Lento and Kelly. The two were closer than any of the others and fought in harmony. Lento tried to bury his axe in Kenshin's hip, while Kelly attempted to land a clean shot with one of her twin swords. Moving on instinct, Kenshin pushed Morgan and the Falchion towards Kelly, staggering her for a moment, then turned to face Lento, ducked one slash, and got a clean hit in with Cyndie's sword. With Lento incapacitated, Kenshin whipped the Princess's silver around to hit Kelly, and while she blocked it, the force sent her staggering. She tripped on the steps leading to the gate, and a kick to the head from the Exalt's killer was enough to keep her down. Kenshin was about to run through the gate when he heard someone approaching- and turned to cross blades with Severa.

"How could you, Shin?!" Kenshin backed up as the woman he loved attacked him in a fury, drawing blood in both of his arms. "She's my friend! My best friend! And you KILLED HER!" Henry's daughter elbowed Kenshin in the face, knocking him to the ground and sending Morgan careening into the portal, hanging onto the side of the gate with one hand.

"I-I'm s-sorry!" Kenshin sobbed through his angry, bloodshot eyes. "I didn't mean to, I didn't MEAN TO!" He rolled away towards the gate and grabbed the Falchion, struggling to come to his feet. Propping himself up on the ancient blade, he came to his feet, only to see Severa right in front of him.

"SORRY DOESN'T BRING HER BACK!" As she screamed in her lover's face, Severa slashed upwards, the edge of her sword cutting a gash into the side of his neck and face. Howling and sobbing in pain, Kenshin clutched at his face and staggered backwards, stepping through the portal and knocking Morgan in with him.

And as he faded, two words repeatedly echoed into Ylisse from within the portal.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm SORRY!" Screaming in an enraged hysteria, Kenshin swung madly at his mother's Pegasus, jumping over a thrust from his father's lance. Landing with his feet on the lance, he snapped it and struck Kellam with the blade of his naginata, sending him staggering back. Wasting no time, Grima's slave drew his bow and quickly loosed an arrow into Phila's shoulder. She grunted in pain, snapped it off, and spurred her mount back in towards him.

"It's not too late, my son! You can still come back to us!" She drew her mount back to avoid a wild whirlwind swing, then moved back in. "Reject his power!"

"I CAN'T!" The young black-haired warrior attacked with rage and anguish, slaying his mother's Pegasus and covering himself with even more blood. "Not after what I've done, after who I've killed… you don't understand!"

"Nothing will EVER make you beyond saving, Kenshin!" Kellam tried to grab his arm, only to be elbowed in the face. "We can see you for who you truly are!"

"I am TRULY a MONSTER!" The young man kicked his father in the knee, sending him falling to the ground due to the heavy armor he wore. He hoisted his naginata high, preparing to land the killing blow, only to be drop-kicked in the back. Kenshin staggered to his feet to see Severa and Owain up again, ready to fight.

"You… YOU…" Seething in rage, Kenshin charged towards the two, spinning his naginata like a madman. Owain and Severa were good, but their skill did them no good against Kenshin's fury. "I LOVED you! You BETRAYED ME!"

"That was not her, my friend! Please, Kenshin, you cannot give up on your legend!" Purple eyes flaring bright, Kenshin swung around the wooden end of the Naginata, knocking the Scion of Legend to the ground. Ducking under a slash from Severa, Grima's best warrior buried his naginata in her right leg. As she began to scream in agony, Kenshin dropped his Naginata, wrapped his left hand around her throat, and punched her as hard as he could with his right.

Kenshin reclaimed his Naginata as fast as he could, turning to deflect a heavy blow from Mystletainn, forcing Kenshin to back up a few steps. Owain swung in a wild fury, pushing Kenshin towards the edge of the Dragon. Kenshin gripped his Naginata in two hands and tried to push Owain with the wooden part of the staff between his hands, but Owain cut straight through it, glancing Kenshin's face. Owain froze up upon seeing his former friend rise back to his feet.

The left side of his face was bleeding now, from his forehead down to his chin. His eye, red and black, was swollen shut. Aside from the eye, it was almost parallel to the sealed scar on the right of his face. The young Scion was too shocked to notice Kenshin sweeping his leg, tripping Owain to the ground. He tried to swing Mystletainn up, but Grima's warrior stomped down on Owain's elbow, and the sound of bones cracking could be heard across the Dragon's back, followed by an agonized scream from Lissa's son.

Kenshin slowly lifted the blade of his broken Naginata in his left hand, pointed down at Owain's stomach. Even though it were filled with Grima's aura, guilt was clearly also in the young man's remaining eye. Chin quivering, he mustered the same two words he had been shouting before: "I'm… sorry…"

Owain's vision was blurry. But as the world was spinning, hearing Kenshin's words brought him some focus. To his right was his mother and father, charging to his aid, but he knew Lissa and Gaius would never arrive in time. Above him was his friend, and one in desperate need. The mark on his arm glowed brightly, and so did the Exalt's mark on his own. But as Owain braced for the end of his saga, he saw Severa to his left, struggling to one knee, seizing her sword, and sliding it towards him.

And he knew what he had to do.

Swirling green energy surged out of Robin's right hand as the Book of Naga's power surged towards his doppleganger. A shard from the Dragon's back broke free, bursting up into the air and blocking Robin's spell. The dragon itself shot multiple fireballs from its mouth and into the air, arcing towards Grima's assailants. The corrupted Robin's white hair was singed as two fireballs landed next to him, blocking off Lucina and Chrom from attacking. Loss and malice glowing from his eyes, Grima cast a gust of wind towards his uncorrupted twin, sending him careening back. Morgan charged towards the maniacal duplicate, crossing Falchion with what appeared to be a bronze sword as the fire circled around them. Grima kicked the young tactician back, a sinister grin stretching across his face.

"Oh dear, Daddy can't save you now, can he? What a shame… you bear my blood, but Naga has poisoned your power… I have no choice but to kill you. Such waste."

Morgan rose to her feet, reached into the pocket of her cloak, and seized Forseti. Grima saw what she was doing and rushed to shoot off a lightning blast, but Morgan summoned enough focus to send Grima's humanoid form sprawling back several yards, clearing all of the fire away in the process. Growling in fury, Grima charged towards his young assailant once more, spinning his blade quickly and trying to find an opening to kill her. Morgan successfully defended these strikes a couple times before one nicked her shoulder. Shouting in anger, Morgan kicked her right leg out towards Grima's chest, but he pinned her leg to his side and spun around, throwing her to the ground. Falchion slid out of her hand as Grima cackled, quickly raising and lowering his blade towards her throat.

But it never struck. Grima heard an angry shout to his left, and turned just in time to see Inigo's shoulder strike his face. The dancer's son raised his own blade to do the same, but a spike rose out of the dragon's back, stabbing Inigo in the thigh as Grima sent him flying with a wind spell- straight into Lucina and Robin, who were just about to rejoin the fight.

Lucina's vision was blurry and spinning as she struggled to get up, but she focused in her vision to see Grima rise to his feet. She could just barely see that Grima was looking right at her. He held Morgan's Falchion in his bloodied hands, standing with one foot pressing down on her neck as Lucina's daughter struggled for dear life. "You bastard… not my daughter! NEVER my daughter!" Grima laughed as Lucina rose to her feet.

"First your father, now your daughter! Ha HA! Oh, your bloodline sure is unlucky! And boy, do I love to wa- AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHH!" Grima suddenly dropped the Falchion and stumbled back, clutching his right arm as he fell to his knees. The dragon roared in agony, shaking the combatants on his back violently. Morgan rolled onto her side, coughing up blood and gasping for breath. Chrom helped Lucina to her feet as Sumia helped Robin and Inigo up.

"He's incapacitated… Grima is incapacitated… but how?" Chrom and Lucina weren't sure what had happened- until Lucina turned towards the screaming she heard behind her. She took one good look and her eyes went wide, covering her mouth in horror at what she saw.

Mystletainn slid off the side of the shaking dragon, falling quickly into the clouds, Owain's right hand still gripping it tightly. The mark of the Exalt faded on his arm as it vanished into the mist, still spurting blood and baring marrow to the breeze.

Back up on the Dragon's back, Owain screamed in agony, dropping Severa's sword by his side and clutching his arm tight, blood gushing between his fingers where his elbow used to be. One good slash had cut his sword hand clean off, and thus the Mark of the Exalt with it. He rolled over to his side as he let out a bloodcurdling scream, crying out in pain. Severa stumbled to his side, spitting out her own blood and tears as she held his left hand tight, while Lissa quickly worked to slow the bleeding, staying surprisingly calm under the circumstances. Gaius turned his bow to face Kenshin, one arrow notched, but quickly realized this would not be necessary.

The purple in Kenshin's right eye quickly faded, the orange eyes of his mother now visible. He shuddered uncontrollably, watching as Grima's mark dissolved from his arm. The Grimleal had been standing motionless ever since the dragon had shook violently, but one sniper had realized what was happening and notched an arrow to kill Kenshin, but Nah seized him in her jaws and tossed him off the side of the Dragon's back. In a panic, the remaining flying Grimleal fled into the wind, some being shot down by Gaius, Noire, and Virion, while the remaining Sages and Sorcerers teleported themselves and the other remaining infantry away. Lon'qu and Panne killed the last of the Risen who were up there with them as the Shepherds all turned towards the head of the Dragon, where Chrom and Grima were, except for Phila, Kellam, and Kenshin.

His broken weapon slid out of his hands as he slowly looked around. He saw his mother standing in front of him, clutching her leg, still in pain from being stuck under her pegasus's corpse. Next to her, Kellam stood stoic as always, only wanting to see whether his son was back. Then Kenshin turned to see her face, gazing down at him as he careened through the Outrealm's gate. The anger and the shame in those eyes was just as strong on the dragon's back as it was at the steps of the gate. Then his eyes lowered to the one at her side- blood spilling down his chest, staining his tunic purple. Some of the same blood still drizzled down Kenshin's face, still warm and unpleasant. Kellam's son shuddered in horror as he saw Lucia lying dead in front of him, Severa by her side, a steel sword impaling her abdomen. He closed his eyes tight, but his vision continued to blur Owain and Lucia together, a harrowing reminder of all that he had seen and done. His breath quickened as he fell to his knees, mumbling four words in various orders, growing louder and louder each time.

"I… I di… I d-idn't… didn't m-mean it, I di… I didn't MEAN i-it, I didn't MEAN IT!" He fell to the ground, shaking uncontrollably and sobbing loudly, blood and tears oozing from his swollen left eye. He tried to grab his Naginata blade once more, but before he could slice his own throat, Kellam had pinned his arm down. His desperate screams remained unheard as Libra ran over and poured an elixir into his mouth, but he continued to scream and shout and wail until the world had faded around him.

Lucina watched as the Grimleal retreated in awe, as shocked as every Shepherd by what was occurring before them. Then she heard the sound of Falchion sliding across the scale of the Dragon's back as Chrom slowly walked towards the dragon's humanoid form. She quickly grabbed her own blade and steeled herself. She had fought for this moment for years and years. Once the Fell Dragon became dormant, her father would be safe, the kingdom would thrive, and she would be able to enjoy living a peaceful life.

Then she heard the sound of swords dropping from a belt behind her. She turned to see her husband tossing his weapons to the ground, breathing hard. She was puzzled as to what he was doing. "Robin, come on! You need to be by my Father's side when the deed is done!" Then he tossed down the Book of Naga and revealed a dark tome.

It did not take long for the realization to settle in.

"You… what are you… no… my father can defeat him, you don't need to do it… STOP!" Robin turned to face his wife, retching internally upon seeing her growing anguish. Her hand slowly lifted and wrapped around his right shoulder. "Robin… You better not… Don't do this, Robin, you told us you wouldn't…" He turned to face his twin and began to walk towards him, but Lucina wrapped both of her hands tight around his arm, bruising him as he went. "The Shepherds will fall apart without you… Morgan needs her father, now more than ever…" Her breath was speeding up, an uncharacteristic desperation evident in her shaking voice and pleading eyes.

"I need you, Robin…" She slowly took his right hand in her left. "Please, my love… Don't…"

For a moment, she had gotten her wish. For a moment, he squeezed her hand tightly. For a moment, his forehead pressed against hers. For a moment, she heard a tactician tell her he loved her. For a moment her suffering had ended.

"If you love someone new… when I'm gone… it's okay."

And just as quickly as it had begun, just as quickly as he had given her all that she had wanted, just as quickly as her father was pushed aside by his best friend and trapped outside of a magic dome, her love had slipped through her fingers.

In the blink of an eye, the moment was over.

"Alright, Robin! This is our chance!" Chrom stood triumphant, breathing hard as he raised the Exalted Falchion high. "I'm going to finish it!" Robin smiled at the sight. His closest friend had won the day. He was a great warrior, a fine king, and the best companion he could ask for. And yet, Robin was about to break the biggest promise he ever made to that friend. But he did not doubt. His smile just shone brighter.

Just as he was about to stand by Chrom's side, his eyes locked with Sumia. She was no fool- she knew what he was doing. After a second or so, she closed her eyes, nodded, and smiled. "I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law." Robin saluted her solemnly, a message of gratitude to a close, unyielding friend.

Then Chrom turned to face Robin with a smile. His tactician had seen them through. Every ally, every friend, had survived to that point. Their friendship stood strong against all that could have ended it. Their bonds had proven stronger than a fucking dragon. One more enemy stood between him and a long, happy reign with his wife by his side and his best friend's counsel.

He was completely unprepared for the kick that sent him sprawling away. When he lifted his head, a glowing dome of energy encased his greatest enemy and his closest friend.

And in an instant, he knew the promise was broken.

"For once, I'm glad you and I are the same." A bolt of lightning began to form in each of his bloody, calloused hands. "Now I can give my life to protect those I care for..." Grima slowly looked up, surprised to see Robin standing over him and not Chrom. It took him a couple seconds to realize what was happening.

"No… NO! YOU CAN'T!" Grima tried to push himself up onto his feet, but his twin held him down with his left foot. "You… YOU...YOU WOULD NOT DARE!"

"I would and I will. The evils you would visit on this world are unthinkable..." His voice slowly faded as he heard Chrom slashing away at the barrier next to him, while his granddaughter screamed at the top of her lungs.

"You PROMISED, Father! You promised us that you would stay!" Morgan quickly grew hysterical, slamming her fists on the barrier over and over again.

"In some way, I—we share the blame. It's only right we meet our end together!" The sound of his friends surrounding faded out, blending with the wind as he stood before his greatest enemy, electricity cracking at his fingertips. He nearly fired them off in surprise as Tiki casually walked through the barrier as if it was never there. She stood next to Robin and spoke in a voice that was not her own.

"You have made the right decision," Naga's gratefulness was evident, even as she spoke through Tiki's body, "Although your friends will never thank you for it." Robin nodded slowly, a smile once again forming on his face.

"Tell me… is there any chance I could come back? Somehow?" Tiki paused for a moment, but then the Divine One's voice continued. "There is, as I said, a small chance that you could survive. It is incredibly unlikely, but you and your friends do tend to beat the odds." Tiki stepped back, leaving him clear to land the final blow. "You are truly a hero, Robin the Fellblood."

"HOW DARE YOU BE-" Grima was not even able to finish his sentence as Robin let out an earsplitting yell and plunged the Thoron bolts into his twin's chest. Grima's draconic form screeched and moaned and shook even more than before, knocking most of the Shepherds to their feet. Chrom, Lucina, and Morgan, however, did not budge. They stood on the dying dragon, eyes wide and watering, as they watched Grima fade into purple dust, floating away in the breeze. Robin stood without any expression, completely still until the last of the dark mist dissolved and disappeared. Then his knees began to buckle as he stumbled forward into Chrom's arms.

"…Why?" Chrom seized his friend by the collar and shook him viciously, sorrow soaking his tired eyes. "I could have beaten him! We could have sent him into a dormant state! Why would you do that to us? TO ME?!" Robin chuckled weakly, placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Because…" Robin spoke softly, unable to speak any louder than a whisper. "I can't just do nothing when I have the power to do something."

"You had the choice, Father!" Morgan wrapped her arms around his chest from behind, pressing her face into his familiar cloak. "H-how… how… How could you do that to Mother and I?"

"Oh, Morgan…" Robin slowly turned and wrapped his weary arms around his daughter, running his hand through her dirty blue hair. A daisy petal fell into her hair as Robin felt himself begin to fade. "It's like your grandfather said." Robin slowly turned to look into the eyes of her mother, tearless sadness filling her eyes. "You deserve better from me than one sword-"

"And a world of troubles." Lucina's voice was still music to Robin's tired ears. He suddenly realized that the daisy petal was from his own hair, as his body slowly began to dissolve into white petals. "How dare… HOW DARE…"

"Lucina, I couldn't let Grima remain able to retu-"

"HOW DARE YOU say that I could EVER love anyone else?!" Morgan slid out of her way as Lucina threw her arms around Robin and held him so tight that under other circumstances, his ribs would have broken. "I can't. You know I can't. A part of me… knew you would do this." She pressed her forehead against his once more as petals began to fall out of his left sleeve and into the wind. "If you don't come back to me, I'll kill you, understand?" Robin burst out laughing, and Lucina suddenly found herself laughing too. Then Robin brought his remaining right hand to caress her cheek. It dissolved into petals on contact.

"I love you. And I'll come back. I promise." Then he took a deep breath and pressed his lips against hers one last time. Tears finally fell from his eyes, slowly dripping onto Lucina's face as he felt his whole body fading away. Finally, he closed his eyes as he felt himself drift away. He had secured safety for his children and their children. He had saved his world, and others, from complete destruction.

And most importantly, one thing was certain to him. Draco Grima was no more. Robin had made his mother proud.

The Shepherds found themselves sprawled across the top of Origin Peak. Many were still getting to their feet, not fully processing what they had just witnessed. Above them, purple dust exploded into the air, while dragon bones fell into the sea near the horizon. The dragon was truly dead.

Chrom took a step back, and was disgusted to find himself standing on the dead body of a Paladin. Turning around, he was shocked to see that their camp, with all of its equipment, was right there on the Peak, somehow transported there. He was puzzled for a moment, but quickly realized how this had happened.

"Emmeryn! Emmeryn, where are you?" He ran as fast as his weary legs could take him, scanning the entire camp for his sister's location.

"Over here, milord!" He followed Frederick's voice to see him standing by Emmeryn's side, surrounded by corpses and blood, kneeling by the side of a pincushioned Say'ri.

"Say'ri!" Chrom ran to his older sister's side and knelt by the dying warrior. She turned her chin towards him, only slightly. Her body was riddled with arrows, and dried blood covered so much of her body that Chrom couldn't see if she had any other wounds. Next to her body, Priam lay motionless, with one arm detached and to the side. His lower body had been crushed under a horse, and a sword had impaled his chest, leaving an ugly, gaping wound.

"I… I can't see you, milord… everything is red… Did Robin do it? Did he kill Grima, once and for all?"

"He did. The damn liar did it." Chrom slammed his fist into the ground, tears once again welling in his eyes. "Grima is gone for good, and more likely than not… so is Robin."

Say'ri managed to muster something resembling a smile. "He hath struck the dragon down. And thus, my brother's sacrifice… Priam's sacrifice… and mine… are worthy. If he does return, tell himmm…" She coughed twice, sending blood spewing into the air as Emmeryn slowly lowered her head back to the ground. "Tell him… not to tear himself up over losing us, like I know he will."

"I'll be sure to tell him that." The Exalt grasped the Chon'sin warrior's hand tight as she slowly turned her face back to the sky. "Yen'fay… my brother… it's good to see you." Then her hand went limp, slipping from Chrom's grasp, as the last member of the Chon'sin line met her end. Emmeryn reached up and shut the dead warrior's eyelids as Chrom came to his feet and looked around.

Ricken and Nowi were holding hands, standing over a bloody heap of red armor that he knew to be Walhart. His wife and younger daughter were moving Grimleal bodies in an attempt to uncover Gangrel's corpse. Lon'qu, Panne, and Yarne stood over Aversa's remains, locked in a conversation Chrom was unable to hear. Sully and Gregor slowly picked up Yen'fay, preparing to bring him to his sister's side. Severa was mumbling something, cradling Owain in her lap while his mother and father worked tirelessly to treat what remained of his arm as best they could. The blue streak in Kenshin's black hair was covered by Phila's hand resting on her son's head, and after a few seconds, Chrom realized that Kellam was on the opposite side of the bruised, beaten, and broken young man.

And at the very top of the peak, staring down at the cloak in her hands, was Lucina. She gripped the cloak so tight that it seemed to hurt her hands. For a moment it seemed like that was all she would do.

Then, just as Morgan came to her side, Lucina collapsed to the ground, bursting into tears.

"Naga has a way of sending a ray of light into even the deepest darkness." Chrom turned in surprise to see Libra standing next to him. "May Robin find that light, just as he became that light for us."

Chrom nodded solemnly, then inquired, "Are all the wounded being treated by others? It is unlike you to want to talk to me at a time like this." Libra nodded knowingly. Then he took a deep breath.

"I do believe Robin will return. However, I seriously doubt that we can keep the Shepherds together until he does." Chrom was surprised to hear of this at the time. "Robin managed to stave off the bitterness and rivalry pent-up in the Shepherds' heads for a while, but things would begin to fall apart even if Robin had survived. One fist-fight wasn't going to solve that problem, milord."

Chrom stood tall in determination, even in the sorrow that filled him still. "The Shepherds still love Robin. His sacrifice will bring the Shepherds together, whether he returns or not." Libra merely let out a sad chuckle.

"Don't you understand? Without Robin… The Shepherds of Ylisse are just a bunch of mercenaries."

WE MADE IT! Oh boy that was some heavy stuff… this was way darker and waaaaaaaaay longer than I originally anticipated, but I think it went well. There's definitely still going to be more, so stay tuned! Thanks so much for reading, and do leave a review- I love hearing what you think.