A/N: Might as well plop this ahead of time: This fic is going to get dark, some points might come out as unreasonably so. Character death is substantially less, only about two this time. Now then...

This fic will contain huge variations on canon. The order of the events will not change, but what happens in those events will. The largest change is all things related to Plegia as a country. The animosity between Plegia and Ylisse is also higher.

The sky seems to grow more red by the day, at least, the parts of the sky that aren't covered in a near endless source of clouds. Nighttime wasn't much better, in fact, it looks worse, with the way the red from daytime mixes with the darkness of night, creating an atmosphere that crushes any sense of safety. That's just how it is, though, the ever looming feeling of hopelessness, never being able to get a decent night's sleep, approaching paranoia from the near daily attacks from the Risen. They never stayed long enough to kill or even maim, it didn't take a renowned tactician to know how they were being ordered. If Grima wanted them dead, he could have came himself, crush them beneath his massive feet, obliterate them with a single spell, or even throw them all down his throat, but he didn't. He thought them a waste, so why bother? Just keep pestering them, let exhaustion and starvation kill them off.

It made Lucina's job as commander an endeavor that no leader should face. How can she convince the remaining Shepherds that they can win? When their supplies run low, with over half of them ready to collapse from exhaustion? Her best… their best fighters were losing muscle, the rations were too few to spare for extra training sessions, there were more healers than staves. Yet, they kept pushing, to give in meant there would be no chance at all. Her eyes glaze over her troops, the ones who look up to her, who counts on her. "Father…" She startles herself from her own thoughts, she forces the tears to stay unshed. She can't bend, she can't show weakness, she can't…

"Just a few more days." Morgan, probably the only reason they are still capable of movement, says in a manner for comfort. Being versed in magic meant he was already relatively skinny when compared to such powerhouses like The Vaike, but the lack of food really shows, even if he tries to hide it behind his mother's cloak. His already over sized Grimleal cloak seems to swallow even more of him. "We can make it." He smiles at her.

"I know, we have to." She finds her stomach tightening, not from any illness, but the mere sight of his gentle smile. Before Father married his childhood friend Sully, it was known that he harbored deep feelings for Robin. Yet, she denied any advances, it was a relationship that would be doomed to fail, the commander simply couldn't be with the tactician. However, Lucina found herself falling down the same road, she's the commander, but she finds herself attracted to Morgan, he just has that aura about him. Unlike Robin, he doesn't show any signs of wanting it to stop, if anything he encourages her. "How is the Convoy fairing?"

"As tight as ever," He falters, he seems to have been expecting a different question, "Our only saving grace is that the Risen aren't taking the wildlife from us." His eyes look her over, "How are you?"

"I'm well." It was an obvious lie, she couldn't hide the fact that she looks thinner, but it's a lie that must be told. She can't show weakness. "And you?"

"Well enough." Unlike everyone else in the army, Morgan seems to be running on something that keeps him going, he can sit in his tent the entire day, reading his books over, and still be ready for the next fight. Was it part of being a Manakete? Nah shows similar signs, but she occasionally gives in to exhaustion. It doesn't mean she actually sleeps, her eyes always dart around the camp, her body always tenses. Perhaps it's her improved senses? She, Yarne, and Morgan are all that remains of the Shifters, and they always inform the Shepherds of an attack several minutes before it actually happens.

"Another staff ran out of magic." He informs her, "We're down to one." He looks ashamed, he doesn't need to say it, because she knows. He's blaming himself, he takes in every mistake, even if he had no part of it. It's something he hasn't learned from his mother yet, something he can't learn from his mother now. He's still so young, he simply lacks the experience, but here he is, thrusted into a position without warning, just like her. "Perhaps…"

"You're doing what you can, Morgan." She interrupts him, before he starts berating himself, "Have faith in your abilities, we wouldn't have made it this far without you." He looks away, unconvinced, then reaches for his hood, ready to hide. "Morgan…" She extends her own hand to stop him.

"I can't keep doing this." He lacks self-esteem, despite the fact that he acknowledges his own achievements. His eyes land on her hand, which hovers a few inches from his, "Lucina…" His face flushes, before he ends up pulling the hood over him anyway, but this time it's to hide his increasingly red face, rather than fade away from the entire world.

"Yes, you can." Her hand brushes his over sized robe, but even that provides a warmth she craves. "We need you, Morgan." She stops herself from saying what she wants to say, what she wants to get off her chest. ' I need you.'

"If I were more like mother," His self-deprecating attitude resumes, "We would be so much better. We might have already made it. I'm…"

"Morgan." He steps away from her, the way he flinches sends a pain that no sword can match. He turns away and walks off, she doesn't need to ask to know where he's going. His mother's tent, to drown himself in books. "Gods…" She looks up to the nighttime sky, still tinged with red. Her eyes widen as Grima himself soars past them, it's nothing more than a fright tactic, to remind them of just how bad their situation is. His presence alone does more damage than any of the Risen attacks. She can almost make out his laughter, or maybe that's in her own head. "We will stop you!" She shouts to the sky, bolstering her own courage with the clearly insane declaration.

And as if in response, Grima makes a second pass, his head turns towards the princess and she can see his six red eyes boring into her, causing her to lose grip on her sudden rise of courage.

The Risen attacks had stopped as the Shepherds start their march up Mount Prism, Fire Emblem in tow. Each and every one is weary, more so than ever before. Why is Grima letting them go this far? Is it so he can turn around and crush them? Those are the types of questions running through everyone's minds, but none ask. Lucina shifts her weight to better support Morgan, whose boundless energy has finally seem to have ended. As expected, he is out cold, nothing is getting through to the boy. He literally passed out and his head landed on a rock, but he didn't cry out in pain, as he was already unconscious before he even hit the ground. The last staff was used on him and Brady assured her he simply passed out, there's nothing serious.

The temple is within sight, just a few more minutes and… the red skies darken as Grima makes another, no. He is actually slowing down, his massive body shakes the ground as he lands between them and the temple. "Children…" His voice echoes, a tinge of disgust in it. Every Shepherd's weapon is out, they ready themselves, despite their target is the Fell Dragon himself, and her Falchion isn't blessed. "I was hoping you all would give in by now." He sounds disappointed.

"Get out of here, you dummy!" Severa's ever defiant voice rings out.

His eyes round on her, but she doesn't falter, her body is being fueled by adrenaline, ready to... "Or else what?" Grima asks, "So you can prove how inferior you are to your mother?" That statement struck a nerve on her, the mercenary's stance falters for a half-second.

"The words of a villain mean nothing to us!" Cynthia is up next, "Good always triumphs over evil!" Her ever optimistic outlook raises morale, the Shepherds' forms become more energized.

"Tch." Grima scoffs. "I came here in a rather good mood, I was hoping to strike a little deal, but if you…"

"You have nothing to offer us, fiend!" Owain steps up, "Any deal you offer is as unwanted as bull's shit!" The ground shakes as Grima slams the ground with one of his feet.

"I care not for your thoughts." Lucina is unsure why he still hesitates, if he means to stop them, then why not just do it? Why even bother with a deal? "The commander is the one I wish to speak to."

"You won't get anything from me." Lucina gently lowers Morgan down and unsheathes her Falchion. "Even if it means Morgan's survival?" The princess grimaces as his voice goes straight to her head, "The only thing I desire of you is your death, Fell Dragon." She fights through his taunting mental laughter. "I'll allow you access to your 'Awakening' Exalt." Still she stands strong, unwilling to budge. "Very well." Grima roars, the sound is enough to almost pierce her ears.

"I do not understand why you push yourselves so." The Dragon's voice leaves her head, "But, if you are unwilling to negotiate…" He raises a foot once more and shakes the ground, "Then show me your resolve." With his taunt, the Shepherds charge… and he just stands there, seemingly amused as spells and blades bounce off of his scales. Cynthia and Gerome take to the skies, they hope to get a decent strike in and he just lets them fly around. "I'm still waiting for you to attack." The confidence in the durability in his scales is far past being cocky.

Lucina takes the opportunity to rush towards the temple, if she can slip… "Will you truly leave Morgan alone?" She falters as his voice enters her head once more. "I'm not asking for much, Exalt." She pushes past his offer, despite her curiosity growing. She shakes her head and resumes, 'He has nothing he can offer me.'

"Cynthia!" Gerome's voice echoes as the princess looks towards the skies, the Pegasus Knight is falling and the Wyvern Rider swoops down and saves her, but where is her Pegasus? Lucina returns her gaze to Grima, whose mouth is slightly parted, just enough to show off Cynthia's Pegasus, the majestic beast is trapped in a cage of teeth. The Fell Dragon keeps his mouth like that, enough to trap it, but not enough to crush it. "Lucina?" His voice still swims through her head. "If you don't cooperate, I might have to actually start doing something." Why is he acting like this? Why bother? "One small favor for the safety of your Shepherds."

No, she refuses to bend, she can't show weakness, she can't… a loud crunch echoes as Grima's maw snaps shut, Cynthia's scream follows soon after. "Disgusting." The Fell Dragon spits the beast back out after shredding his teeth into the corpse several times. The pegasus lands on the ground, gashes are strewn across its body, one of its wings is almost torn off, the head is bent at an unnatural angle. "Well?" And still he persists. 'I can't give in, no deal with Grima will turn out good.' She finds her will wavering as she tries to keep walking. "Stubborn fools." The Fell Dragon roars as one of his feet looms over Severa, and as with Cynthia's pegasus, he presses just enough to prevent movement. Kjelle attempts to slice into the underside, going with the assumption his scales would be weaker there, but his scales are still too tough… or maybe her sister just lacks the strength.

"It'll take… more than that!" Severa pushes back, doing everything she can to keep the massive foot from turning her into a puddle. 'No…' Lucina has yet to feel this hopeless. Her legs lock, unable to make the intended destination, "That spell should keep you there, princess." Lucina notices a dark cloud surrounding her legs. She feels the presence leave her mind, giving her a moment of reprieve, 'That voice is nothing less than horrid.' The Fell Dragon stands there, almost in a contemplative stance if he could perform such a thing.

"Hmph." Grima scoffs once more, like he's losing interest in toying with the Shepherds, "I had hoped to at least get your consent, princess. But, given the circumstances…" He removes his foot from Severa and his wings start moving, "I will get my due." He… takes off, and a sigh of relief washes over everyone.

"Good to see you are as stubborn as ever, sister." Kjelle smiles at her.

"I won't ever give in." The dark cloud has faded and she resumes her trek towards the temple.

"Why is he letting us go?" The question is finally brought up, it's from Yarne.

"I'm going to perform the Awakening, now." Lucina deflects it, preferring not to think about it. "This will be interesting, princess." Grima's voice echoes through her once more. She shivers, what does he have planned? Why does he spare them? Why did he sounds like he cares about Morgan? Lucina pushes all of her questions away, now's not the time. She has a duty to perform, after all. Steeling her nerves, she walks into the temple and requests for Naga. Now is the moment of truth.