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Return to Us - A Fire Emblem Fanfiction - Part 36

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Past Time

    Kyun sighed as she approached the command pavilion. She disliked having to be the bearer of such bad news, but the Exalt and Queen had to be informed, and such a responsibility naturally fell upon her. Kyun stopped just outside the pavilion as Robin’s voice rose up out of the thin fabric of the tent.

    “She’s a grown woman Chrom,” Robin’s voice argued.

    “I am well aware of that Robin,” Chrom voice answered.

    “Then you must be willing to allow her to make her own decisions.”

    “I know Robin …” Chrom began only to be interrupted by his wife.

    “If this is the choice she wishes to make, then we should be supporting her.”

    “Robin you're not ” Chrom began but suddenly stopped as both he and Robin noticed Kyun standing in the tent opening, their faces quickly turning red with embarrassment. “K-Kyun, I didn’t notice you were here.”

    “Forgive my timing milord,” Kyun answered but Robin waved it off.

    “It’s alright Kyun, is there something you needed to say?” Robin asked and Kyun’s expression fell.

    “Indeed … we’ve spotted Flavia’s force. They’ll be arriving a camp within the hour.”

    “And their status?” Chrom asked, his voice already betraying the sort of answer he was expecting.

    “I count that less than half of the original force remains,” Kyun answered and the royal’s expressions fell, “And while I may have just not gotten a good enough look, I failed to spot Basilio amongst the survivors.”

    “Th-thank you Kyun,” Robin said after a long moment of silence, “We’ll go and meet with them ourselves, can you help prepare the Shepherds for the upcoming battle?”

    “Of course milady,” Kyun bowed before turning to leave.

    “What you heard is true …” Flavia said through clenched teeth, her eyes flashing with anger and sorrow, “I saw him fall myself … He’s gone. Gods damn me for outliving that one-eyed clod! That big bald oaf! That … that … Argh!”

    “That’s twice I’ve failed now …” Lucina muttered to herself grimly.

    “I’ll kill him! I’ll cut that dastard Walhart down myself!” Flavia exclaimed angrily, shaking a fist at the sky, “I swear it before the gods!”

    “No Flavia …” Robin said commandingly, the Queen’s strong gaze succeeding in tempering the riled Khan, “For now you need to rest and heal.”

    “When the times is right, we will avenge Basilio. You have my word,” Chrom promised and Flavia nodded, her face starting to portray how tired she was.

    “Then know that I’ll hold you to that …” Flavia muttered before reaching into the folds of her clothing and producing a red gemstone, “Basilio asked that I give this to you.”

    “Wait … Is that …?” Chrom began as he took the gemstone, his body suddenly jolting as though he had been shocked, “I can feel its power resonating through my whole body.”

    “It’s Gules, one of Naga’s Gemstones,” Lucina observed and Flavia nodded.

    “Don't ask me why in hell's name the oaf hid it from you. He always did love his surprises, damn him,” Flavia said, clenching her fist once more.

    “Whatever his reasons, I accept his gift now, and gladly,” Chrom said as he placed the red Gemstone in its place on the Fire Emblem.

    “It's hard to believe he's truly gone…” Flavia mustered, the exhaustion returning to her face once more, “The larger the man, the larger the void left in his wake…”

    “And Khan Basilio was a titan. There is no replacing him,” Lucina muttered sadly, “I should have tried harder to convince him…”

    Along with the news of Basilio’s death came news of Walhart’s retreat. It came as a surprise to many that the Conqueror had decided to pull him army back to the imperial capital and along with them the dynasts had withdrawn their own soldiers, leaving the Shepherds free to maneuver as they saw fit. Robin set a plan to storm the capital and the others answered in unified agreement as Chrom made the call to march on.

    When they arrived at the imperial capital they were met with no resistance, none of Walhart’s grand army to be found. While this cause to worry, they pressed on until they were standing before Walhart’s castle. The structure was massive, noticeably larger than the castle of House Ylisse and the giant courtyard was swarming with Imperial soldiers.

    “That’s him isn’t it? Walhart …” Chrom muttered as he gazed out upon the battlefield. At the far end of the courtyard, rode out from under the shadow of the grand imperial castle was a massive man, covered head to toe in heavy crimson armor, with a long curved red white sword, atop of a large horse covered in matching red armor. Even from the substantial distance the Shepherds could feel the imposing aura of superiority that radiated from the conqueror. “Brave of him to face us.”

    “Brave? Aye,” Say’ri answered as she gazed upon the man she had been fighting against for several long years, “But more likely he just wants to enjoy himself.”

    “I welcome you Ylissean, you do your sister’s legacy proud, Prince!” Walhart’s voice boomed over the battlefield, his powerful voice carrying what felt like pure determination and authority. “But humanity already has a savior. A conqueror who broke stronger men than you when they refused to bow! Warriors of Valm! Ride with me now! Together we shall stamp out this final pack of insurgents and unite the world!” A resounding battle cry echoed through the Valmese ranks as they lowered the weapons towards the Shepherds in unison.

    “Forward! Tonight we shall free Valm of the Conqueror’s tyranny!” Chrom shouted as he pointed Falchion out towards the incoming imperials and a shout rang through the Shepherds as Robin began to direct the army’s actions, beginning the end of the Empire of Valm.

    The Valmese defenders proved to be the most difficult enemies that the Shepherds had ever clashed sword with. However, despite the Valmese’s impressive defense and unbreakable spirit, they stood little chance before Robin’s strategy.

    “Why do you resist me, little Prince!” Walhart’s voice boomed over the clash of steel as Falchion came before the blade known as Sol.

    “You enslave the weak and kill the able!” Chrom replied as he forced the large blade away from him, “You are the enemy of peace!”

    “I would end the reign of the gods, and you object on moral grounds?!” Walhart retorted, seemingly unable to understand the words Chrom spoke, “Blood is spilled in any new birth, Prince. And in many a just cause as you know …”

    “There is no justification for what you’ve done!”

    “By whose laws do you judge me?!” Walhart asked as Sol clashed once more with Falchion, “Yours?! Your sister’s?! The gods’?!”

    “You cannot …” Chrom began but was interrupted as Walhart slashed downward and Chrom rolled out of the way, stumbling as he tried to regather his footing.

    “Look at you! Are you not ashamed? Your mind is filled with nothing but secondhand beliefs,” Walhart scowled as Chrom got back on his feet. You dance upon the stage of your gods like a mindless puppet! That is what I reject; being a slave to tradition, to obligation. The old ways! Damn the gods! Damn their fates and their destinies! I will have true freedom! And man who offers less is my enemy!”

    Chrom grimaced as he parried the force of another mighty attack, his arm jarring under the force of the man’s strength. However, Chrom forced Walhart back with all the power he could muster and the Conqueror seemed surprised at the Exalt’s display of determination. “ Enough! I don't require every detail of your twisted philosophy. You're a villain and a murderer, plain and simple. And I am the justice you deserve!”

    “Better prince. Much better!” Walhart laughed, a massive grin coming over his face as he brandished Sol. “Be not an agent of someone else's justice, but justice itself! Now, let us fight as two great men, freed of their gods. I grant any challenger the chance to test his will against my own... But you, too, shall be found wanting!”

    “Walhart has retreated to the castle!” Say’ri called out, “Fie, will this war never end?!”

    “His men gave their lives to secure his escape,” Chrom panted as he adjusted his grip on Falchion, only having been able to win his duel against Walhart due to Robin’s intervention.

    “They won't lay down arms until he does,” Robin added as she closed the thoron tome in her hand and gripped Fate tightly.

    “Then we must pursue and see that the deed is done!” Lucina announced but was stopped as Danos brought the group's attention to the fields behind them.

    “We seem to have some visitors.” Behind them a host of green clad warriors emerged carrying a banner the Shepherd's didn’t recognize.

    “Damn! We're surrounded! The dynasts ride against us!” Chrom grimaced as he readied Falchion but Say’ri put a hand out before him as she pointed.

    “Hold, sir. Look!” Say’ri exclaimed as she pointed at the banner they carried and as the soldiers pointed their weapons at the Valmese castle “This...boggles the mind…”

    Do you recognize them?” Chrom asked and Say’ri nodded in amazement.

    “Aye, sir. They're from the southlands... States that betrayed us for the empire. ...Or so I thought.”

    “Well, their allegiance seems clear enough now,” Robin grinned as the dynasts began hoisting siege weapons, aiming the mighty war machines at the massive gates that barred their way.

    “I can hardly believe it... Theirs are the lands my brother commanded. Finally, now, they come to answer the call?”

    “Finally is right. It's taken a lot of hard work to get here, Say'ri,” Robin said as she put a hand on the swordwoman’s shoulder, “A lot of sacrifice. From you, from Basilio, from your brother. Don't forget this moment.”

    “Aye, my lady. Aye.”

    “Now, let us finish what we began!” Chrom shouted to the Shepherds and their allies, a cheer running through their ranks. “To the capital, friends!”

    As they charged into the castle Robin separated the Shepherds into three groups, each one tasked with bringing down one of the Imperial’s three remaining leaders. The first group, lead by Lucina and Danos went after the Valmese Tactician Excellus. The second, lead by Say’ri and Frederick against the Valmese General Cervantes. While the third and final, lead by Chrom and Robin, sought to finish their duel with the Conqueror himself.

    With a swift movement Lucina blocked an incoming slash and jumping just before a fireball illuminated the ground she had stood on a moment before. Carrying her momentum she brought Falchion down upon the mage who had been attempting to hit her, using her own potent magic power to stop the spell the man had prepared as she brought him down. Turning the clash of steel echoed through Lucina’s ears as she brought Falchion before the weapon of the other man she had been dueling, before pushing him back and slashing Falchion across his midsection.

    Turning her attention across the room, Lucina found Danos engaged directly with Excellus, runes encircling them as magic filled the space between them. While Excellus certainly proved to be a powerful spellcaster, he appeared to be rather poor in terms of magical combat and it was immediately obvious that there was no way he would be capable of defeating the well-versed Ylissean tactician. With a bolt of magic lightning Danos knocked Excellus off balance and the man squealed as his tome skitted across the ground, out of his reach.

    “Please please I surrender!” Excellus exclaimed throwing his arms out as he rested his forehead on the ground and Danos stopped the spell he had been preparing, looking down at him in disgust, “Please spare me, W-Walhart forced me into this, I’ll give you anything just please!”

    “Be silent before I change my mind,” Danos ordered as he closed his tome, turning away from the groveling man. While Danos certainly held disdain for the Valmese tactician, he couldn’t bring himself to strike an unarmed man begging for their lives.

    “T-thank you for your mercy, thank you!” Excellus bowed. However, from where Lucina stood she could see the intent in the man’s eyes, one of his hands snaking into the folds of his cloak as he fished out a tome hidden within. Panic immediately set in and Lucina acted solely upon instinct as she ran at Danos as Excellus screamed, “Die!” Danos began to turn as Lucina sprinted up to him, pushing him aside as both of them were engulfed in a torrent of flames.

    Both of them were sent flying back across the room from the force of the explosion. Danos tumbled against the hard ground before colliding into the hard wall while Lucina slid across the ground, coming to a stop between Danos and Excellus, along with the clatter of Falchion skidding across the ground. Her entire body ached and she could feel the spots on her body where the flames had burned her skin. She could hear as Excellus got to his feet, a cold hearted chuckle coming from this throat.

    “You fools! If you truly wish to die this badly! I’ll gladly grant it to you!” Excellus exclaimed and Lucina could feel as the mage readied another spell. Instinct kicked in and ignoring the screaming pain in her limbs, Lucina reached out, her hand finding a tome that Danos had dropped in his fall. Pulling the tome out in front of her the pages began to flap wildly as she drew upon its power, acting far quicker than the Valmese tactician and with a shout Lucina directed the magic towards him.

    An unnerving chill ran through Lucina’s spine, starting from her extended right hand and flowing into the rest of her body. The runes formed around her and from them extended a cloud of black energy that effortlessly consumed the spell that Excellus had been attempting and the horrific realization came upon Lucina as she finally realized just which tome she had grabbed. Excellus’s screams filled the room as Soul Syphon enveloped him and Lucina could feel as the dark power began to fill her. A part of her said that this was wrong, to stop the spell, and to throw the tome away. However, the other part, the part which was still allowing the nosferatu spell to linger, drank in that power, reveled in that power, craved that power. The sensation of dark magic filled her every thought and while she knew it shouldn’t be possible for her to use such a spell, while she knew she should fear it, she loved it and she wanted more.

    “Lucina!” Lucina’s mind finally snapped out of its trance as a pair of hands came around her, prying the tome from her hands. Just as suddenly Lucina felt as the excess dark power within her was drained out, clearing her mind in the process and giving her back control of her thoughts,

    “Lucina, snap out of it.” the voice that had shouted earlier said again and this time Lucina recognized it to belong to Danos. As her senses returned Lucina realized that Excellus had crumpled down into nothing, his body drained of every ounce of life and Lucina shivered, how had she been capable of this?

    “D-Danos …” Lucina began but Danos shushed her as he held her close. Lucina felt relaxed in his arms and it helped to calm her, as well as making her realize just how tired she was.

    “It’ll be fine, just relax. We’ve won, Chrom and Robin defeated Walhart. You just need to rest.” Danos reassured her and Lucina gave a dull nod although so many questions ran through her mind.

    “Milord! Walhart's soldiers have agreed to cease hostilities!” Frederick called out as he approached the Exalt. Chrom leaned up against the wall of the castle throne room, Robin treating a wound on his arm. Both of them looked exhausted, blood splattered across their armor but they had finally won.

    “Finally... Then pull our men back immediately.” Chrom ordered and Frederick bowed as he turned to leave. “It's strange, Robin…” Chrom muttered to his wife, her amber eyes raising to meet his, “Walhart and my sister were complete opposites. One gave her life to stop a war. The other took lives to create one. And yet they both inspired those around them; both walked a path to end all war. Both lived, and died, trying to unite the people.”

    “Yes,but as they say, the method is the message. Your father suffered from beliefs similar to Walhart, and the wounds of his legacy dug took more than two generations to mend…”

    “These are matters too weighty for this moment,” Chrom said with a small smile as his hand grazed Robin’s cheek, guiding their lips gently together, “There will be plenty of time for reflection now that the war is done.”

    “Sir Chrom, Lady Robin” Say’ri’s voice came up to the couple, the two of them pulling quickly away from each other. “A thousand thanks from every Valmese couldn't repay what you did for us. But I recovered Vert, the Gemstone that was stolen from Chon'sin as a trophy.”

    “You're giving it to me?” Chrom asked as she presented a green gemstone.

    “Of course, sir. It seems the fell dragon will soon threaten us all. I would feel safer knowing the Gemstone was in your hands,” Say’ri said with a respectful bow and Chrom gave her a large smile.

    “Then so it will be. Thank you, Say'ri.”


End of Shadow’s of the Past
Alright to technically it's been Sunday for like two hours but close enough right? Here is the conclusion of Shadow's of the Past, and there's only one more section remaining, so close to all the fun stuff, I can't wait! Well as always I hope you enjoy and I really encourage any feedback you may have, I want to really be able to fix as many shortcomings I can for my next story.

Sincerely, Thank You
-RobinQueenofYlisse


Next: Part 37

Previous: Part 35

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